Brilliant strategy! Raiden Makoto nodded repeatedly. Kamisato Ayato's abilities were so impressive that others would surely want to poach him.
Fortunately, the Kamisato Clan was in Inazuma and couldn't be poached. Better give the Kamisato Clan some benefits.
Hmm, let's take extra care of that little princess from the Kamisato Clan.
In informal settings, Makoto had met Ayaka many times—what a lovely sister.
Then she glanced at Ei, still eating tricolor dango, oblivious to everything.
Makoto snatched Ei's tricolor dango, saying, "Looks like your political acumen needs more training."
Raiden Ei: "???"
Raiden Ei was puzzled but didn't dare resist.
Political acumen? Was that necessary? Could it match her lightning?
Her eyes could truly spark with lightning—could their "acumen" shoot out too?
They couldn't withstand her blade, so would they dare rebel against her?
It was precisely this mindset that let Ei be manipulated by her subordinates before.
In politics, Ei was just a mascot, with no real influence.
Those subordinates didn't have the guts to rebel outright, but they had plenty of nerve to profit under the guise of rebellion!
As long as they were respectful to the Shogun, the mascot, and didn't foolishly provoke her, she wouldn't react.
Makoto had already seen through how the story would unfold. No one in the Kanjou Commission could counter Ayato's strategy—the outcome was set.
Makoto didn't bother reading further, starting family training instead, planning to read after.
The story's events unfolded as Makoto predicted. Ayato used some tactics, having his people act, easily deceiving Matsuura's spies.
Matsuura's spies would report what they saw to him, and now the "fake becoming real" was on Ayato's side.
Using the same method, both were "widely publicizing." Matsuura spread the marriage, so Ayato spread how eager the Kujou Clan was to marry.
Coupled with the "seed of doubt" Ayato planted in Matsuura's mind earlier, Matsuura had to wonder why the Kujou Clan was so eager to marry now.
Thus, Ayato's plan to turn the tables succeeded. The key to this scheme was the seemingly inconsequential remark Ayato made during his talk with Matsuura.
"Could it be that the one isolated would actually be the Kanjou Commission?"
Without that sentence, Matsuura wouldn't have overthought. In his mind, the marriage was a partnership. Ayato's words gave him a new perspective.
This sentence worked well on someone like Matsuura, who thought himself clever. He'd think, but not deeply.
Ayato sowed the seed of doubt, and rumors made it sprout.
Worthy of a master planter—the skill in sowing seeds was top-notch!
But this strategy wouldn't work on Itto, as he wouldn't even think about what Ayato said.
Another key to the plan's success was that Kujou Kamaji genuinely had no ambitions toward the Hiiragi Clan or the Kanjou Commission.
Otherwise, with the current setup, the Tenryou Shogunate army was already at Ritou, and the Hiiragi Clan's doorstep would be trampled. If the Kujou Clan wanted to make the fake real, no one could stop them.
Ayato used this strategy because he saw Kujou Kamaji's sincere feelings for Hiiragi Chisato.
In the story, Ayato also foresaw the outcome, telling the Traveler that if they were curious, they could check Ritou in two days.
As for himself, he had many other matters to handle and wouldn't focus on this trivial issue.
Truly the "male fox" of Inazuma. Except for Yae Miko and Sangonomiya Kokomi, anyone who opposed him would be outwitted.
Now readers understood why, in the earlier Test of Courage story, Ayato could chat so well with Yae Miko.
They were two foxes! One just lacked ears, the other a tail.
When the Traveler returned to Ritou, it was filled with Tenryou Commission members.
They were there to "receive the bride," but the Kanjou Commission refused to let Hiiragi Chisato leave.
It seemed they finally realized Hiiragi Chisato's "importance," but it also showed she was truly sidelined—she didn't even control whether she could leave the Hiiragi estate.
Her temperament was gentle, not assertive enough. If power had been transferred peacefully, it might have been fine, but her father's sudden imprisonment left her without real authority.
She also lacked a mentor figure. Given enough time, she might have found a way, but the minor families forced her hand.
Fortunately, Kujou Kamaji was on her side. She could use this "deterrent" to slowly solidify her authority, and now time was on her side.
The matter was resolved with Matsuura and other families apologizing to Kamisato Ayato.
The Matsuura who came to apologize lacked his earlier arrogance, no longer daring to shout at Ayato.
Ayato, going with the flow, gave the "benefits" to Hiiragi Chisato, reinforcing her status and position.
Now, with real power and the Kujou Clan's support, Hiiragi Chisato could transform into Inazuma's "merciful mother" and conduct a major purge if she wanted.
But if she did, Ayato might not support it. He pursued stability, and a purge would reduce stability.
Ayato helped Hiiragi Chisato now because the current Hiiragi Clan resembled the Kamisato Clan of old.
Ayato shared the Kamisato Clan's past with Hiiragi Chisato to make her understand what she should do. Having been rained on, he held an umbrella for others.
[Hiiragi Chisato: "Shinnojou once told me he saw my brilliance clearer than anyone, so he couldn't bear to see me accept my fate and become someone's appendage…"]
At that moment, she understood. If Kamisato Ayato could make the Kamisato Clan great again, why couldn't she do the same for the Hiiragi Clan?
Make Hiiragi Clan Great Again
["I'll take this incident as an opportunity to shoulder the Hiiragi Clan's long-standing responsibilities. Once everything stabilizes, I'll consider marriage."]
She resolved to reclaim her power and engage in this political game.
Shinnojou felt both relieved and heartbroken. Relieved that the Hiiragi Chisato he admired had regained her confident, gentle self.
Heartbroken that, in the end, she still planned to marry. Boo-hoo.
[Kamisato Ayato: "My blessings for you both have always been sincere. When your wedding day comes, I'll offer my most heartfelt congratulations again."]
Surely, Shinnojou would be invited to the wedding. When that day came, it would truly be:
"Thank you for the special invitation to witness your love."
"I keep reminding myself not to run away!"
"I let go of all memories to fulfill your love."
"Yet I still can't believe this is fate!"
Let's just hope Shinnojou doesn't show up empty-handed like Ayato when he attends the wedding.
Regardless of Shinnojou's heartbreak, Ayato was at ease. Though this seemed a small matter, it could affect Inazuma's stability.
This was the marriage of two Commissions, and Inazuma only had three!
Now, with the matter perfectly resolved, Inazuma's situation was stabilized.
As for the marriage, Ayato genuinely supported it, as even if it succeeded, he had ways to maintain the current balance.
In Teyvat's high-martial, high-magic world, political struggles weren't solely about politics.
But sadly, Hiiragi Chisato was neither high-martial nor high-magic. She could only play politics—or be played by it.
Raiden Ei saw this and had a sudden realization.
Ei: "Sister, I understand."