Tokyo: Rabbit Officer and Her Evil Partner
Chapter 253 - 174: Country Bumpkin

Chapter 253: Chapter 174: Country Bumpkin

"Speak up, what, cat got your tongue?"

Fujiwara Homare reached out to grab Fushimi Roku’s collar, trying to force him to bow, but failed to move him. It resulted in Fujiwara Homare hanging awkwardly on his chest like a sloth.

The latter was furious and embarrassed, planning to kick the back of Fushimi Roku’s knee, forcing him to kneel, while accusing him of obstructing official duties and throwing him into the police station for a good ten days of discipline.

Before he could act, he heard a cold and weary female voice from the other end of the corridor: "He is my invited guest."

Fujiwara Homare turned back, and the others lifted their heads as the Western-style clock in the hall chimed. The eaves cast diamond-shaped patches of light, and they saw the princess dressed in mourning clothes, her complexion even paler than the newly pasted Tang paper on the paper door.

She stood under the arched corridor, a white jade hairpin tucked by her temples, a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, sparkling like ripples spreading in a koi pond. Her dark blue belt pleated seventeen folds at her waist, giving her a slender and graceful figure.

Fushimi Roku finally understood why Prince Akihito of this world passed away early.

Even Minamoto Tamako felt the princess was stunning, extraordinarily beautiful, even more so than Mama-san. Though she had already given birth, her skin remained smooth and delicate, truly befitting a princess.

Ono Ken quickly stepped forward, reaching out to help the mistress and softly inquired when Nakako was up and whether she needed a meal. The latter did not answer but glanced at Fushimi Roku for a moment, speaking gently, "Forgive my poor hospitality and for keeping you all waiting... please come in."

Fujiwara Homare finally came back to his senses; he had been staring blankly at the woman, whose demeanor could not be compared with the vulgar women outside... He had never encountered a situation where the mother was more beautiful than the daughter, guessing that Prince Akihito’s genes were weak, lowering the daughter’s beauty.

As Nakako spoke, he didn’t have the heart to fuss with a spirit medium fraud. He immediately said a few polite words and was the first to enter the reception room.

The others followed closely and took seats on the floor cushions. In the middle was a low table, with Nakako sitting at the head, personally boiling water and making tea.

According to Japanese tea ceremony etiquette, before the water boils, neither the host nor the guests should speak.

Minamoto Tamako, being a noble lady, knew this rule. She sat properly with sunglasses pinned to her chest, not uttering a word; Yazaki Momo, not wanting to lose face, did her homework thoroughly before coming, catching up on tea ceremony knowledge, and sat silently; Fushimi Roku forgot about this, but he was observant. Since others weren’t speaking, he didn’t either.

Only Fujiwara Homare was oblivious; after sitting down, he asked Ono Ken to fetch a fruit platter, and when Ken didn’t respond, he was displeased and turned to speak cynically to Nakako, claiming he would never hire such lacking-in-sight maids.

Nakako did not respond, her hands folded, sitting quietly by the cushion, waiting for the mountain spring water to boil.

Fujiwara Homare felt awkward and increasingly irritated, as if harboring an evil fire with no outlet.

Darn woman, marrying into the royal family, and she really thinks she’s a phoenix now?

After waiting for a long time, the water in the teapot finally boiled. Nakako lifted the teapot with cloth gloves, the fire burning strongly as she cleaned the tea utensil, brewed the tea, and skimmed the froth in fluid motions, filling the room with the fragrance of tea.

"Ono Ken is not a servant; she has served in the household for over ten years and regards me as the mistress, so I naturally treat her as family." Nakako said calmly and slowly.

Fujiwara Homare’s face flushed red; even if he were simple-minded, he would understand that Nakako was publicly humiliating him.

But that wasn’t all; Nakako continued, "Earlier, Mr. Fujiwara reprimanded Miss Tamako for being ill-mannered. May I ask, Mr. Fujiwara: is coming unannounced and intruding upon a widow’s household something a courteous person would do?"

Fujiwara Homare’s face turned pale with anger, but he couldn’t confront Nakako. As she said, she’s already a widow, and anyone who dares to bully her might as well be insulting the entire Japanese royal family.

Even if he wanted to bully, his demeanor couldn’t be too disgraceful, at least not until Miss Mako’s first seven days were over.

"I care about Mako and want to observe the Spirit Summoning Ceremony. If that fraud... ahem, if Oogami Nui can indeed communicate with spirits, she’ll definitely answer the private matters between Mako and me." Fujiwara Homare said sternly.

Yazaki Momo widened her eyes, hearing shocking gossip, and quietly reached into her pocket to press the recorder.

Minamoto Tamako was equally stunned, thinking, could it be that Fujiwara Section Chief was once Miss Mako’s boyfriend?

Thinking about it carefully, they were indeed a good match; a talented man and a beautiful woman, well-suited families.

Nakako’s facial expression finally showed a hint of change. She tightened her lips, remained silent for a moment, and said, "I know Mako better than you, no need for you to confront Mrs. Oogami... Mr. Fujiwara, please leave."

"That isn’t certain." Fujiwara Homare said with a smug smile, "Some things only men know."

Minamoto Tamako thought about his words for a while before understanding his implications, feeling that Fujiwara Section Chief was somewhat overboard. If it were her, hearing such insinuating vulgar words after a daughter’s death might lead her to splash the scalding tea at his face.

Nakako’s forehead showed veins as she took a deep breath and poured tea for everyone, the water stream steady and unwavering.

"For Mr. Fujiwara’s care, I thank you on Mako’s behalf." she said mildly.

Fujiwara Homare felt he had pressured the princess in spirit; watching her seemingly defeated appearance felt more gratifying than playing with ten popular female celebrities.

Ono Ken saw the mistress being insulted and decided to change the subject, signaling everyone to taste the tea.

Minamoto Tamako picked up her tea cup with both hands, sipped, her eyes brightening, and couldn’t help but praise, "Good tea!"

Upon hearing this, Nakako finally showed some smile, "My husband, while living, was a tea enthusiast. Thanks to him, I know a little about the tea ceremony... This is the first brewed gyokuro tea of the year, infused with fresh mountain spring water. How’s the taste?"

Minamoto Tamako smacked her lips; although her tastes hadn’t degraded, the knowledge she learned in tea ceremony classes had long been returned to the teacher. She only knew how to drink but didn’t know how to praise, finally managing a dry response, "Very good, very wonderful!"

"Tch, country bumpkin."

Fujiwara Homare suddenly interjected, claiming that true wealthy people should drink red wine, which was more substantial and stylish, and only those sinking aristocrats would rely on tea to maintain their stature.

His words were so blunt, Minamoto Tamako felt they were unbearably harsh.

But she reconsidered; perhaps there was some conflict between the mother-in-law and son-in-law. As an outsider, not knowing the whole story, technically she shouldn’t interfere in their family matters.

Yet, Fujiwara Homare’s words became more excessive. At one point, bragging about the history of a wine estate, then stating that tea leaves didn’t retain value, Minamoto Tamako listened for a long time before finally hearing a familiar wine name and couldn’t help but quietly comment:

"What’s the big deal? Mr. Fu Jian often uses it for foot baths!"

The reception room suddenly became silent, except for the crackling sound of the stove burning charcoal.

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