Spy Wars: I am the Captain of the Military Police

Chapter 1051 Welcome to Tianjin

Seeing that the two young men did not come to the gate, but only stood on the steps in front of the building, a complex emotion flashed in Prince Asaka's eyes.

He stopped and stood by the car door, letting the cold wind blow the hem of his coat.

The pause lasted for three seconds, then five seconds, long enough for Masaki Yamaya to glance at him sideways.

Then, he stepped forward.

The military boots clattered rhythmically and heavily on the swept stone pavement.

One step, two steps, snow splashes around the edges of my boots.

He walked slowly, even somewhat slowly, but each step was extremely steady.

As the soldiers passed two rows of military police, they raised their guns in unison, the clanging of their weapons crisp and cold.

He didn't look to the side; his gaze remained fixed on the two people on the steps.

I was young once too...

This thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

In 41, at the age of 21, he was promoted to major general. He graduated from the 20th class of the Army War College and was awarded the rank of second lieutenant in the infantry. He then served in the 2nd Guards Infantry Regiment. At that time, he was so full of vigor and arrogance, looking down on all the heroes in the world.

The young people standing here today are nothing more than his shadows from back then.

I understand... I'm not angry... I won't stoop to the level of a junior...

These thoughts swept through him like snowflakes, but his face remained unchanged, except that his nasolabial folds seemed to have deepened.

Colonel Yamaya quickly stepped forward to guide them: "Your Highness, this way please."

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko nodded slightly and continued forward.

Jing Ren's leather shoes clattered as he stepped onto the five stone steps in front of the door. When he reached the last step and was only three steps away from Zhou Zhengqing, Jing Ren finally moved.

"Uncle Jiuyan, you've come from afar, you must be tired."

Jingren took a leisurely half-step forward and nodded slightly.

His movements were unhurried, neither impolite nor hasty.

His address was carefully chosen, using "Uncle Wang" instead of the more formal "Your Highness," intended to shorten the distance and ease any potential awkwardness. His voice was gentle and clear, standing out particularly well in the quiet snowy night.

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko stopped and his gaze lingered on Kagehito's face for a moment.

The prince was more robust than he remembered, his face had lost the last trace of boyishness, and his jawline had become more defined, but the gentle smile in his eyes remained unchanged.

But upon closer inspection, the smile didn't actually reach his eyes.

"Hmm, it's been a few months. Jingren, you've gotten quite a bit stronger. That's good." King Jiuyan's voice was a little hoarse, dry from a long journey.

He exhaled white breath as he spoke, which lingered briefly between the two of them before quickly dissipating: "How does winter in Tianjin compare to that in Kyoto?"

"It's a bit dry and cold, but it's quite pleasant once you get used to it," Jingren replied with a smile.

Prince Asaka nodded, then turned his gaze to Zhou Zhengqing standing to the side.

That gaze seemed tangible.

Zhou Zhengqing met his gaze without flinching or backing down, stepped forward, and bowed in greeting as well. His movements were more concise and smaller than Jing Ren's, yet they were meticulously in accordance with etiquette.

"Your Highness Asaka, you must be tired from your journey. Welcome to Tianjin."

The voice was steady and clear, each word distinct in the cold wind.

He used "Your Excellency" instead of "Uncle" or "Your Highness".

This title, like a fine needle, precisely pierced the intimate atmosphere created by Prince Kagehito, highlighting the fact that Prince Asaka Yasuhiko had been removed from the imperial family. He was still a lieutenant general in the army, but no longer "Your Highness".

King Kyohiko's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

The muscles on the left cheek twitched slightly, and the nasolabial fold deepened as if etched by a knife.

A barely audible snort escaped from his nose, and white breath billowed out from his nostrils, lingering briefly between the two.

The silence lasted for two seconds. During those three seconds, the only sounds were the howling of the cold wind through the porch, the occasional car horn from the distant street, and the crunching of the guards' boots on the snow as they changed shifts.

"The Takasaki family brat." He finally spoke, his voice even hoarser than before, like sandpaper rubbing against rough wood, each word heavily enunciated as if squeezed out from between his teeth.

"I have long admired your name." King Jiuyan paused, his gaze sweeping across Zhou Zhengqing's face like a searchlight, from his eyebrows and eyes to the bridge of his nose, from his tightly pursed lips to his calm and unwavering gaze: "Today I finally get to meet you, and indeed... you are young and promising."

The last four words were spoken slowly, one word at a time, making it impossible to tell whether it was praise, sarcasm, or both.

After saying that, he suddenly smiled, a very faint smile, with the corners of his mouth twitching upwards.

"You flatter me." Zhou Zhengqing's expression remained unchanged, as if he had not understood the deeper meaning in those words. He turned to the side and gestured for him to enter: "It's cold outside. Would you like to come inside and talk? We have prepared some wine to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey."

Zhou Zhengqing's movements were fluid and natural, and the cuffs of his haori swayed slightly with each hand movement, revealing a corner of his dark green kimono underneath.

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko gave him a deep look before finally stepping forward.

The three entered the gate one after the other, with Masaki Taniguchi following closely behind. He paused briefly at the threshold, made a gesture to the guards, and the gate slowly closed, shutting out the cold wind and the night.

He then led King Kyohiko's entourage and subordinates to a side hall on the other side of the villa.

Inside the door lies a completely different world.

A warm atmosphere wafts over, mingled with a faint sandalwood scent.

The foyer has a ceiling height of nearly six meters, with a crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, where hundreds of crystals refract a soft light.

The floor was covered with a deep red Persian carpet, its intricate floral patterns extending underfoot and absorbing every footstep.

To the left is a wide staircase leading to the second floor, and to the right is an arched doorway leading to the main reception room.

The fireplace roared at the far end of the living room, the pine wood crackling in the fire.

A bearskin rug was laid out in front of the stove, with a pair of high-backed armchairs on each side, and a mahogany tea table in the middle, on which tea sets were already laid out.

Several oil paintings, all depicting Western landscapes, hung on the wall, but in the most prominent position was a portrait of the Emperor.

Reiko quietly stepped forward from the shadow of the pillars.

Today she was wearing a light purple kimono with small patterns, over which she wore a pale yellow hakama, and a silver-gray sash around her waist.

Her black hair was styled into a traditional bun called "Bunkin Takashimada Bun," adorned with a pearl hairpin with an exquisite wisteria flower design at the tip.

She had a beautiful face, fair skin, and a classical gentleness in her eyes and brows. She was composed and showed no fear even when facing someone like Prince Asaka Yasuhiko.

Reiko walked silently to Prince Asaka Yasuhiko, bowed, and moved with gentle, elegant movements, her kimono hem barely moving.

Then extend your hands and wait for the other person to take off their coat.

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko was slightly taken aback.

He had already raised his hand to unbutton his shirt, but upon seeing this, he paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on Lingzi's face.

Lingzi waited quietly, her eyelids lowered, her gaze fixed on the second button on his chest. She neither looked at him nor looked away, her breathing was steady, her fingers were steady, and not even her eyelashes trembled.

After a long while, Asaka Miyako slowly took off his coat.

When the heavy woolen coat fell into Reiko's hands, her arm slumped slightly, but she quickly held it steady, turned around and handed the coat to another maid behind her, then turned back and took the military cap with both hands.

The entire process was quiet and smooth, like flowing clouds and running water.

Prince Asaka Yasuhiko watched as Reiko took a step back, preparing to turn and leave, when he suddenly spoke:

"You are the daughter of the Fujita family?"