I Formed the Strongest Swordsman Group-Chapter 35: The Pure and Chaste Widow, Lady Tenshō-in

Edo, Kita Bansho, Magistrate’s office——
“Come, come, Tōjō, try the Nagasaki cake my friend brought me yesterday.”
Usui pushed his favorite Nagasaki cake over to Tōjō’s side of the desk.
“Heh heh, smells pretty good.”
Inside the office, Town Magistrate Usui sat across from the Teimachi Squad’s Tōjō Group Yoriki, Tōjō, with a desk between them.
Usui and Tōjō had always been on good terms. During his free time, Usui often invited Tōjō over to share some snacks and chat.
“These days, the world is really getting more and more unstable.” Usui sighed as he poured tea into Tōjō’s cup. “I really miss the peaceful days before the barbarians knocked on our gates...”
No matter how times change, no matter the age—when men gather, they always love to talk about three things: military affairs, politics, and women.
Tōjō nodded muffledly with a mouth full of Nagasaki cake. “Yeah. The world’s in chaos. Who knows when peace will return.”
“At such a critical moment when the shogunate urgently needs unity from top to bottom, inside and out, to face external threats together, there’s still constant infighting within the shogunate...” Usui shook his head bitterly. “I recently heard that Lord Ii and Lady Tenshō-in argued again just a few days ago... The gap between those two seems to be growing wider...”
“...Can’t be helped.” Tōjō paused mid-chew. “Lord Ii’s actions over the past two years have definitely gone too far... It’s only natural that his relationship with Lady Tenshō-in has worsened.”
In June of the sixth year of Kaei (1853), the American Black Ships opened Japan’s doors by force. Just a few months later, the 12th shogun, Tokugawa Ieyoshi, passed away.
After Ieyoshi’s death, his only son, Tokugawa Iesada, succeeded as the 13th shogun of the Edo Shogunate.
At a time when the nation was beset by both internal and external troubles, this Tokugawa Iesada became the country’s new ruler... Many people felt deeply uneasy about this.
Because Tokugawa Iesada was widely known as an imbecile.
Literally an imbecile.
Since childhood, he had been physically weak and mentally timid, extremely disliking speaking in front of others. Only his wet nurse, Uta-hashi, could communicate with him normally. He was completely incapable of handling state affairs.
Due to Iesada’s poor health, people believed—he wouldn’t last more than a few years.
And because of his health, he had no heirs... Given how he could barely walk properly, there was no way he could father children.
Therefore, to ensure national stability, shortly after Iesada ascended, the retainers began discussing who should be named heir.
Japan’s political structure during the Edo Period was quite similar to China’s Zhou Dynasty—it was a feudal system rather than a centralized one.
The Edo Shogunate only governed about a quarter of the land nationwide. The remaining three-quarters were divided into domains ruled by feudal lords.
These feudal lords were called daimyō.
During the Edo Period, daimyō ranks were divided into three levels from highest to lowest: shinpan daimyō, fudai daimyō, and tozama daimyō.
Shinpan daimyō were relatives of the Tokugawa family, granted economically rich or militarily strategic lands.
Fudai daimyō were descendants of those who had served the first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, in establishing the shogunate.
Tozama daimyō were descendants of those who pledged loyalty to Ieyasu after he had risen to power. Except for some exceptions, they were mostly assigned to remote, impoverished, or border regions.
Altogether, there were more than 300 of these daimyō, so the various domains were collectively called the “Three Hundred Lords.” These domains divided up three-quarters of Japan’s land.
Among the shinpan daimyō, the most important and powerful were the so-called “Gosanke”: the Owari, Mito, and Kii domains.
The first shogun, Tokugawa Ieyasu, had decreed that if the shogunal family had no heir, the Mito family would oversee selecting the successor, who would come from either the Kii or Owari branches.
By the middle and late Edo Period, the “Gosankyō” were also established: the Tayasu, Hitotsubashi, and Shimizu Tokugawa families. The Gosankyō ranked just below the Gosanke but, like the Owari and Kii families, were qualified to inherit the shogunate.
Once it was decided that an heir must be confirmed before Iesada passed away, the retainers began to consider candidates from the Gosanke and Gosankyō.
Only two were suitable to inherit the shogunate—Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu of the Hitotsubashi family (one of the Gosankyō), and Tokugawa Yoshitomi of the Kii family (one of the Gosanke).
Both had their strengths and weaknesses.
Hitotsubashi Yoshinobu was born in 1837, older and reputed to be virtuous. The faction supporting him believed that, amid internal and external turmoil, a strong leader was necessary to take charge.
Tokugawa Yoshitomi was born in 1846, much younger but of purer bloodline. His supporters argued that at any time, the shogun must be someone with the most legitimate lineage.
Thus, the retainers split into two factions.
Those backing Yoshinobu were called the “Hitotsubashi faction,” and those backing Yoshitomi the “Nanki faction.” The two sides argued endlessly.
Major daimyō from across the country also joined the succession dispute, each trying to gain a share in this political struggle.
The man who ultimately hammered down the final decision on the “Hitotsubashi-Nanki dispute” was the current Dairō (Chief Elder), Lord Ii Naosuke.
In 1858, two years ago, Lord Ii, a staunch supporter of the Nanki faction, used a series of political maneuvers to become the Dairō wielding supreme power over the country.
After becoming Dairō, he forcefully pushed Tokugawa Yoshitomi forward to become heir, establishing Yoshitomi as the successor to Shogun Iesada, and brutally suppressed the Hitotsubashi faction.
The “Hitotsubashi-Nanki dispute” ended with the Nanki faction’s complete victory.
Shortly after Tokugawa Yoshitomi became heir with Lord Ii’s backing, the frail Tokugawa Iesada finally died.
In 1858, Tokugawa Yoshitomi became the 14th shogun and changed his name to Tokugawa Iemochi.
Iemochi was still very young—only 14 this year—and unable to manage state affairs on his own.
Moreover, with the special relationship that “Lord Ii was the greatest contributor to the Nanki faction’s victory,” from the time Iemochi took office, power was basically held by Lord Ii, who made all important decisions. Iemochi was essentially a puppet.
Lord Ii’s behavior as a powerful regent and his violent crackdown on the Hitotsubashi faction caused great dissatisfaction with the shogunate’s Lady Tenshō-in.
Tenshō-in—this was the posthumous Buddhist name of the late Shogun Iesada’s lawful wife.
According to Edo Period rules, after a shogun died, his wife had to shave her head and become a nun, then receive a Buddhist posthumous name.
Tenshō-in’s real name was Atsuko, commonly known as Tokugawa Atsuko or Lady Atsu. After Iesada’s death, she shaved her head and received the posthumous name “Tenshō-in-den Jusanmi Keijun Teisei Daishi,” commonly called “Tenshō-in.”
In terms of status, as Iesada’s lawful wife, Tenshō-in’s rank was similar to an empress dowager.
Tenshō-in was very young, born in 1836, making her only 24 this year.
Although Iemochi had no blood relation to her, as “empress dowager,” she wholeheartedly supported this nominal son who was ten years her junior.
Lord Ii’s various actions increasingly angered this young empress dowager—it was no secret.
In the streets and alleys of Edo, “the conflict between Lord Ii and Lady Tenshō-in growing ever deeper” became one of the most popular topics among the people.
“Sigh... I still hope Lord Ii and Lady Tenshō-in can mend their relationship soon...” Usui sighed heavily. “The world is already chaotic enough. If the shogunate cannot unite, it will be a complete mess.”
Usui grabbed the nearby tea and drank it down in one gulp.
“Tōjō, do you know the most ridiculous rumor I’ve recently heard about Lord Ii and Lady Tenshō-in on the streets?”
“What?” Tōjō stuffed another piece of Nagasaki cake into his mouth.
Usui sneered. “Some people with questionable brains are spreading nonsense: that Lady Tenshō-in and Lord Ii actually have an affair, that Lady Tenshō-in has never known a man before, so...”
“Absurd.” Before Usui finished, Tōjō rolled his eyes. “Lord Ii is how old now? He’s 45 this year. Even if Lady Tenshō-in wanted to find a man, she definitely wouldn’t choose Lord Ii.”
“Exactly.” Usui curled his lip. “I have no idea what those making up such nonsense are thinking...”
Usui took a bite of the Nagasaki cake.
“But... Lady Tenshō-in’s life has indeed been very difficult...” Usui sighed. “Although I’ve never had the honor of seeing her in person, I’ve heard she’s a beauty with skin like creamy jade and incomparable elegance.”
At this, a sly smile crept onto Usui’s face.
“So young, never even tried the pleasures of the flesh, remaining a virgin widow for life.”
A lecherous grin also appeared on Tōjō’s face. “Usui, you think Lady Tenshō-in is still a virgin, too?”
“Isn’t that obvious?” Usui shrugged. “With Iesada’s condition, let alone consummating their marriage, whether he even touched Lady Tenshō-in is questionable.”
When Lady Tenshō-in married Tokugawa Iesada, his health and mental state were already extremely poor.
Already disliking people and only able to communicate normally with his wet nurse, by the time he married Lady Tenshō-in, his body and mind had deteriorated to the point where he locked himself away all day and refused to see anyone.
His nearly useless physical condition also made it hard to believe he was capable of intimacy.
Thus, people spread rumors that until Iesada’s death, Lady Tenshō-in remained untouched.
Lady Tenshō-in lost her husband at only 23 and remained a virgin widow—this topic was incredibly exciting!
Especially since she was a famous beauty with both brains and charm, making imaginations run wild.
Although Iesada’s death and Lady Tenshō-in’s widowhood happened two years ago, the topic of her virginity remained hot.
Countless Edo men fantasized about themselves as lone heroes sneaking into Lady Tenshō-in’s chambers to soothe her lonely body and soul!
Everyone knew that a woman of Lady Tenshō-in’s rank wouldn’t be interested in just any common man. To win her favor, one had to be a man of kingly stature—but that didn’t stop Edo men from dreaming.
Lady Tenshō-in’s untouched purity—this was a favorite topic for both Usui and Tōjō.
When talking about this mutually beloved subject, the two middle-aged men’s eyes sparkled as they enthusiastically went off on wild speculation.
Just as they were getting into the conversation—
“Magistrate! Magistrate!”
Excited and surprised shouts came from outside.
Usui immediately recognized the voice—it was a dōshin assigned to handle paperwork for him.
“What is it?” Usui called out loudly.
“The Kiyayanagi Town murder case has been solved! The culprit has been captured!”
“Solved?!” Usui’s eyes bulged in shock before he jumped up excitedly, clapping his hands and laughing heartily. “Mr. Nishino is amazing! It hasn’t even been an hour since he was assigned this case, and he’s already solved it and caught the culprit!”
“Incredible! Truly incredible!”
“No, no!” The dōshin outside stammered. “The case solver is not Mr. Nishino!”
“Huh?” Usui’s expression froze. “Not Nishino? Then who solved the case?”
“It was Tachibana Aoto of the Arima Group!”
...
“Magistrate?” The dōshin outside called again after no response.
No wonder there was no reply.
Inside the office, both Usui and Tōjō seemed frozen in place.
Tōjō’s reaction was relatively calm, only his pupils contracting slightly, showing surprise.
But Usui’s reaction was much more dramatic—his eyes widened, his mouth formed an “O,” full of disbelief.
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