The area of ​​Ohiro Room is as high as 500 floors (1155 square meters), which is divided into upper section, middle section, lower section, second section, third section, and fourth section. When the shogun announces a decree, performances will be held on the Noh stage on the south side of Ohiro Room.

The White Academy is mainly used to hold ceremonies. Compared with the Black Academy, the biggest difference between them is that the latter is often used to hold daily activities, while the former and the Daguang Room are usually used to hold formal ceremonies.

Baishuyuan is divided into upper section, lower section, between Dijian, Liange and other blocks. The total area is 150 square meters (495 square meters).

The New Year's ceremony to meet the shogun; the reception of emissaries and envoys from the imperial court; the shogun's announcement of orders; the daimyo of the superior vassals such as the Gosanke, Aizu clan, and Hikone clan to visit the shogun; and the general's appreciation of martial arts performances were all held in this room.

As for the last Black Academy, it is a place that is often used to hold more ordinary daily activities. Monthly royal ceremonies, ceremonies for inheriting a daimyo, being granted a daimyo, and official interviews are all held here.

Ainoto, who was not a feudal daimyo but an ordinary official, was currently waiting for the arrival of Tokugawa Iemo in the Black Academy.

From the time he sat down in the Black Academy until now... Qingdeng has been waiting here for nearly half an hour.

He was let go for no reason... and no one came to explain the reason to Qingdeng.

In such an extremely serious place, Qingdeng would naturally not be allowed to walk around, and no one would come to chat with Qingdeng.

Therefore, Qingdeng could only remain in a kneeling position and continued to wait in agony.

Just when Qingdeng was so bored that he was about to count the number of cicadas chirping outside the window, the sound of "pah, pah, pah, pah" was heard from outside the room.

Upon hearing this, Qingdeng became energetic and quickly straightened his waist and sat up straight.

Kara——

The paper sliding door on the left side in front was slowly pushed open.

A young man dressed with a nickname and walked slowly into the Black Academy along the paper sliding door that was pushed open.

Qingdeng, who had long been familiar with all the etiquette of meeting the general through his recent studies, quickly bowed forward and saluted.

Pashu... Pashu... Pashu... Pashu...

Because he lowered his head, Qingden couldn't see the scene in front of him, and could only hear the sound of people's feet stepping on the soft tatami one after another.

After a moment, Qingdeng heard the light sound of sitting down.

Immediately afterwards, a gentle young male voice sounded:

"Keep your head up."

Qingdeng followed the etiquette rules and said "yes" loudly, then slowly raised his head and waist.

As his gaze climbed higher and higher...two young figures, a man and a woman, came into Qingdeng's eyes in no particular order.

I saw a young man about 14 years old, kneeling in a very straight posture on the main seat of the room directly in front of Qingdeng.

His black hair, which had not been shaved off, gave Qingden an immediate sense of familiarity.

The facial features are quite delicate.

There is a hint of childishness unique to a young man between his straight eyebrows.

The weather is so hot, but I still wear a lot of serious formal clothes like hakama, cloth socks, and haori.

The left and right lapels of the haori are embroidered with a symmetrical set of Tokugawa family crest: three-leaf sunflower.

After Qingdeng glanced at the young man briefly, he raised his eyes, looked over the young man's shoulders, and began to look at a young woman wearing a cyan blouse who was sitting upright behind the young man.

This woman's black hair was specially shortened.

Her lustrous hair was tied back into a small ponytail that only reached the nape of her neck.

Even if no one came to explain to Qingdeng, Qingdeng could tell who the man and the woman were from their seats and clothes.

——Are these two the current shogun of the Edo shogunate, Tokugawa Iemo, and the Odaisho Tenjoin?

Qingden blinked his eyes several times in astonishment - he was surprised by two things.

The first thing: He can actually see Tianzhangyuan.

Although Qingnobo had long heard that Tianzhangin would often accompany Tokugawa Iemo in various public places.

Therefore, it is not that unusual to meet Tenzouin in an occasion where Tokugawa Iemo appears.

However, when he actually met this widow whose name he had admired for so long, Qingdeng couldn't help being surprised.

The second thing: The appearance of Tianzhang Yuan... is quite different from what Qingteng expected...

Tokugawa Iemo's appearance is basically consistent with the image Aoshinobo has heard before - he is very young, has a delicate face, and his hair is not shaved into Tsukiyo.

But Tianzhang Courtyard...

——This... is the famous Tenzouin Highness, who is said to be comparable to Miss Sanako in beauty?

——It’s a complete fraud! How can this dignified appearance look like it can compete with Miss Sanako on the same stage?

Thinking back to a few days ago, Arima said to Aonto with a nose and eyes: I have always heard that His Highness Tenzouin has an appearance that is as good as a fish or a wild goose. It is said that in all Edo, the only one who can compare with His Highness Tenzouin in terms of beauty is the Little Chiba Sword Hall.

Chiba Sanako.

The results of it……?

At this moment, what Qingdeng saw in Tianzhangyuan's eyes was... just an ordinary-looking young woman.

Her facial features can only be considered delicate, far from being called a "beauty", let alone compared to a peerless beauty of Sanako's level.

The only thing that can be called an advantage from head to toe is that the skin is very white and tender.

At this point, Qingdeng couldn't help but secretly thought:

——It seems that the so-called "His Royal Highness Tianzhangyuan is a great beauty" is just a rumor fabricated by a boring person who has unrealistic fantasies about this young widow... Through false rumors, the three of them became a tiger...

…

Thinking of this, Qingdeng inadvertently sighed in his heart - for some reason, Qingdeng felt a little disappointed...

Describing Aonto's inner thoughts in such detail, it seems that Aoto has been observing Tokugawa Iemo and Tenzouin for a long time. In fact, everything is at the click of a finger.

"Tachibana-kun!"

Aoshitogata raised his head and heard Tokugawa Iemo slightly leaning forward and saying excitedly:

"I've wanted to see you for a long time! Haha, now I finally get my wish!"

As soon as Tokugawa Iemo opened his mouth, Aomori couldn't help but raise his eyebrows slightly in surprise.

He originally thought that a person of Tokugawa Iemo's level must be literate in his speech.

Unexpectedly...this young man's speaking style is quite friendly to the people.

He neither used any obscure grammar nor spoke any profound vocabulary.

Even an illiterate person who cannot read a single Chinese character can easily understand what Tokugawa Iemo is talking about.

"Sorry, I just made you wait here for so long. An urgent matter suddenly came up that needed to be dealt with immediately, so it was delayed for some time. Please forgive me."

Not only was his speech style very close to the people, but his personality was also very close to the people... At this moment, Tokugawa Iemo was bowing his head to Aoshinobu with a look of shame on his face for being late.

Tokugawa Iemo is surprisingly talkative.

After he briefly greeted Qingdeng and said hello, he gradually started chatting.

From when he first heard the name "Ju Qingdeng" to how he remembers Qingdeng's name.

Compared to Tokugawa Iemo's enthusiasm, Tenzouin appeared a little cold - she stared straight into the void in front of her the whole time.

Let alone joining in the conversation, she didn't even look at Qingdeng.

Due to Tokugawa Iemo's eloquent speaking frequency and the restriction of his status, Aoden had to say a full 10 sentences before Tokugawa Iemo had the chance to reply to one sentence.

But I have to say - Tokugawa Iemo's cordial and enthusiastic attitude makes people feel like a spring breeze.

Qingdeng's body and mind, which were slightly tensed because he had first arrived in a strange place and met strange people, gradually relaxed unconsciously.

But, at this moment, Tokugawa Iemo suddenly changed the subject——

"Ji Jun, I have always heard that you have extremely strong swordsmanship."

"Two months ago, when you were rushing to rescue the Western settlement that was invaded by the anti-barbarian group, you rushed back and forth among the enemy groups like Changshan Zhao Zilong. It was like entering an uninhabited land! You were invincible in every direction!"

"To be honest, after I first heard about your great achievements of 'fighting against the barbarians alone', I was fascinated!"

"I really want to see your sword skills with my own eyes, so I would like to ask you to compete with the generals of the "Third Division". What do you think?"

Qingdeng was suddenly startled.

"Sanban Group" - This is the collective name for the three standing armies of the shogunate: the Daban Group, the Academy Group, and the Xiaoxuan Group.

These three troops are all composed of Hatamoto and his descendants.

Oban Group - 12 groups in total. Responsible for guarding Edo Castle, Kyoto Nijo Castle, Osaka Castle, etc.

Among them, 2 groups are in the Nijo Castle camp, and 2 groups are in the Osaka camp, which alternate every year. The remaining 8 groups are stationed in the camp and at Edo Castle Ninomaru. During the war, they serve as the vanguard of the entire army.

Sub-surname group - a total of 8 groups. The so-called "sub-surname" are samurai who serve the lord personally and handle various matters. The main task of this group is to stay in Edo Castle and are responsible for protecting the general whether in peacetime or in war.

The Shoin Division - 10 groups in total. Like the Xiao-surnamed Division during the war, they serve as bodyguards beside the general. In peacetime, they are on standby among the tigers in Edo Castle to protect the general at any time.

Because he was on standby between Hakushoin and Hongye Mountain at first, he was called Shoinban.

Each group of the "Third Division" has 1 division leader, 1 division leader (the large division has 4 people), and 50 banshis. There are also lower-level samurai with the titles of "Yu Li" and "Tong Xin" who are responsible for doing chores. 30 people.

From a functional point of view, the "Three Divisions" are the imperial guards directly subordinate to the shogun and responsible for protecting the shogun and Edo.
To be continued...