Onmyoji, a nobleman in Heian-kyo

Page 661

I watched and thought at the same time.

Kyosuke Kosaka was somewhat relieved.

During the first fifteen days of the new year, he just wanted to relax and let others handle the busy work.

Looking around, Kyosuke Kosaka felt apologetic to see his father-in-law, Tomoyuki Fujiwara, Shogo, Maruo, Hiroto, and others busily approving something.

There are also fathers-in-law and others to entertain at home, including five or fewer nobles who may visit, so things need to be dealt with as soon as possible.

This could be considered a part that was not under the responsibility of Kyosuke Kousaka.

It is Kousaka Kyosuke's responsibility to treat those of equal or higher status, like Irei Makoto does.

Kyosuke Kosaka found this troublesome.

While building and maintaining connections is essential, it doesn't necessarily require Kyosuke Kousaka.

He doesn't like these things.

It's better to stay in the bedroom than to chat and laugh with those men.

I stayed for a while longer.

Kousaka Kyosuke left with Kagura without alerting anyone.

After a long while, Fujiwara Tomoyuki, who often tidied up Kosaka Kyosuke's desk, finally noticed the official documents and instructions with written comments on them.

"Kyosuke-sama is really dashing."

Fujiwara no Tomoyuki remained silent.

They and the others were no longer surprised to see Kousaka Kyosuke "appear" in the government office from time to time.

When Fujiwara Tomoyuki handed the official document to Shogo, Shogo realized that Kosaka Kyosuke had come over, and his feelings were complicated.

These days, Yang Nai, the eldest daughter, seems to care more about dressing up than before, and she spends more time getting ready.

In my spare time, I even think about how to blend incense...

This situation is not good.

Is his eldest daughter about to leave him?

The sudden blow left Changwu speechless, like a goldfish; he was deeply saddened.

When Yang Nai was born, he thought that such a day would eventually come, but it came much earlier than he imagined, and it arrived so suddenly.

Shogo, his mind in disarray, routinely thought of various things.

Similar to how Haruno quit smoking about twenty years ago after being born, or how Haruno wanted to take a picture of her when she first made desserts at home but was met with disdain...

Skipping over Changwu's thoughts, Yang was somewhat bewildered at this moment.

When she saw that Fujiwara Yukinari had also sent over the families of the two maids she was temporarily in charge of, she didn't know what to do.

Since Kyosuke Kosaka wasn't there, we could only ask Suyi.

Su Yi was also taken aback.

"Lord Kyosuke has never even met them once?"

"Yes, Lord Kyosuke said I should keep an eye on them for now, and if there are no problems with their character, I can keep them."

"So how do you feel?"

"They are all quite sensible and well-behaved girls."

"Then let's arrange for him to stay in the servants' quarters, which are closer to the northeast room," Su Yi instructed.

She had never actually met Kikyo Kushida or Honami Ichinose.

Yesterday, Kyosuke Kosaka mentioned that it didn't need to be paid attention to, so she ignored it.

But I never expected that Fujiwara Yukinari might have misunderstood something...?

"Let's observe for now and ask again later."

Su Yi made up her mind.

Since moving in, she has kept most of the young and beautiful maids to herself.

This wasn't because she was jealous, but because Kyosuke Kousaka had mentioned it.

Just like with the love letters that other noble ladies sent him every day, Kousaka Kyosuke entrusted them to Kyoko and Fuji Shikibu to handle.

"I understand, Lady Suyi."

Yang naturally accepted the order, inwardly marveling at it.

Fujiwara no Yukinari was a court noble, so of course she knew that.

The way they gave the gift was just indescribable.

"Wouldn't it be better to send some fine grains, silks, and dried goods?" Yang thought to himself.

While I don't mind that Kyosuke Kosaka has many spouses, the more he has, the worse it gets.

Something bad in every sense of the word.

Of course, she was still okay with it. She actually wanted to see how Kousaka Kyosuke would manage his time when there were more people.

There are only twelve hours in a day, and Kousaka Kyosuke often spends time separately with his other wives and concubines.

Hino knew all this, otherwise her younger sister Yukino would have been crying already.

After thinking it over, Haruno ultimately hoped that Kyosuke Kousaka could make the most of it.

The perspective shifts to the suburbs.

Kyosuke Kosaka went to visit the Tsuki-no-Kami (moon-chasing deity) at the shrine.

Except for New Year's Eve when Kyosuke Kousaka summoned her to dinner through a contract, the Moon Chaser usually stays at the shrine.

There are many orphans and widows living at the shrine, who have been taken in by the Moon God.

The Moon Goddess, who does not appear in person, completes tasks by assigning Hayasaka Ai and Shirogane Kei to them, and also helps out from the sidelines.

I heard from Hayasaka Ai that some disaster victims even planned to occupy this place, but they were driven away.

Kyosuke Kousaka had anticipated this.

"Are you planning to support them for the rest of their lives?" Kousaka Kyosuke asked Tsukijin with a smile as they entered the cubicle.

Two days later, the power of faith emanating from the Moon Chaser God became even stronger.

The benefit of saving believers is that they have gained faith.

This is definitely a win-win situation for Kousaka Kyosuke. The faster Tsukuyomi condenses her divine essence, the better, as this shikigami is a great support.

If they become gods in the future, their support abilities will be even stronger.

“No, not at all,” said the Moon Goddess. “Didn’t you say, ‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime?’ I was just thinking of helping them build villages in other places when the weather gets warmer.”

"How dare you think about it."

"...I was planning to tell you later."

The Moon Chaser looked guilty, his eyes darting around, and his two pale pink rabbit ears obediently folded up.

Kyosuke Kosaka rested his chin on his hand: "Building villages around Kyoto is more complicated than you might imagine."

How to say?

Whether in ancient or modern times, nations are supported by the taxes collected from their people.

Building a village means being prepared to have money taken from the government.

If the relevant officials in the Ministry of Civil Affairs find out, they will definitely send people to collect taxes.

A head tax is definitely in order!

If you can't pay taxes, you'll become a commodity, a lowly status.

Furthermore, establishing a village requires food and drink, which necessitates developing land.

Land reclamation is also a pitfall.

This is illegal, unlike the earlier "Three Lives One Body" law, which was encouraged by the government.

At that time, I used newly built irrigation facilities to develop reclaimed land, which was allowed to be owned by three generations.

At present, the only people who can cultivate the land are—the royal family, the central nobility, temples, and local powerful families…

In general.

These homeless people without household registration are destined to wander.

The better cases are those similar to Yang Nai's.

If a fugitive is strong and healthy and is chosen, he or she will be taken in as a villager.

This way you not only get legal tax avoidance, but you also get to eat, but don't expect it to be that easy.

They work harder than oxen and horses, and it's common for them to eat even less than oxen and horses.

In this way, Kyosuke Kousaka explained all the intricacies to the Moon God in a very concise manner.

The Moon Chaser was dumbfounded.