Chapter 845: Kaguya's Five Impossible Requests

Since someone had passed through the Bamboo Forest and arrived before the Bamboo House, Lingyun naturally had to receive them.

Of course, these five people were not ordinary figures; one could even say they were among the most powerful individuals in Heian-kyo. They were Prince Ishizukuri, the Right Minister Abe no Miushi, the Dainagon Otomo no Miyuki, the Chunagon Isonokami no Maro, and Prince Kuramochi. As for this Prince Kuramochi, he was none other than Fujiwara no Mokou's father, Fujiwara no Fuhito.

Outside the Bamboo House, the five stood in a row, their auras faintly clashing with one another. In their minds, Kaguya's future husband would certainly be one of them; in other words, the other four were their enemies.

With a "creak," the door of the Bamboo House slowly opened, and Lingyun stepped out from within.

Upon seeing Lingyun, all five were taken aback, for Lingyun looked far too young. Had they not heard rumors beforehand, they would never have taken this youth seriously. Now that they had received a warning from Kamo no Tadayuki, they naturally would not take it lightly; after all, having come this far, it would be a massive loss if they were driven away for offending Lingyun.

"Since the five of you have passed through the Bamboo Forest and arrived before the Bamboo House, you have a connection with Kaguya. The trial set by me, Kaguya's master, has been passed; please, come inside!" Lingyun said.

Hearing Lingyun's words, a trace of pleasant surprise appeared on the faces of those present, and they immediately stepped into the Bamboo House.

Inside the Bamboo House, Kaguya was dressed in fine robes, sitting upright and looking just like a young lady of a noble family. However, as a Princess of the Moon Capital, Kaguya truly was a noble lady; it was just that after being taken in as a student by Lingyun and spending more time together, her innate laziness had gradually begun to surface. Yet, once Kaguya became serious, it was more than enough to bluff these men who had come to propose.

Beside Kaguya were Mokou, also dressed in fine robes, and Inaba Tewi, who had a trace of curiosity in her eyes.

"I am overwhelmed by the favor shown to me by you distinguished gentlemen."

After the five were seated, Kaguya performed a graceful bow to them, every movement displaying the demeanor of a noble lady.

Upon seeing Kaguya for the first time, even though the five were well-traveled and knowledgeable, they could not help but be drowned in Kaguya's beauty, and for a moment, they failed to make any response.

Seeing the state of the five, a trace of disgust flashed very obscurely in Kaguya's eyes. If not for the sake of settling this once and for all and blocking the desire of future suitors, she would have had no interest in coming out to receive these people. The moment she saw these five, she felt their deep, base desires toward her; this feeling made her nauseous.

"You are too modest, Miss. It is our honor to be able to see you!" Fujiwara no Fuhito was the first among them to regain his senses, and he hurriedly bowed to Kaguya.

"Indeed, indeed, it is our honor to be able to see Miss Kaguya." After Fujiwara no Fuhito spoke, the others also regained their senses and hurriedly chimed in.

Just at this moment, Prince Ishizukuri cast his gaze toward Fujiwara no Mokou and the other.

"Might I ask who these two are?"

"These two? One is my junior sister, Mokou. The other is a Youkai we took in within the Bamboo Forest, Inaba Tewi," Kaguya said.

"Is that so?"

The five present had naturally heard of Inaba Tewi; after all, it was because of Inaba Tewi that they were able to learn that there was such a peerless beauty as Kaguya in this world. As for Fujiwara no Mokou, the fact that she could be Kaguya's junior sister also made them pay a little more attention.

Upon hearing the name Mokou, a trace of doubt flashed through Fujiwara no Fuhito's heart. He seemed to have heard this name somewhere before, but this matter was quickly cast to the back of his mind; after all, in his eyes now, nothing was more important than marrying Kaguya.

After introducing those beside her, Kaguya turned the topic back to the marriage proposal: "I am grateful for the favor of you gentlemen, but I am only one person and can only choose one to marry. I hope you gentlemen will not take offense. It is difficult for me to distinguish who is superior and who is inferior among the five of you. Therefore, I have a trial here; whoever among you can accomplish it, Kaguya shall marry."

"We came here naturally well-prepared. Whatever trial Miss Kaguya has, please feel free to speak."

"Pardon my rudeness." Kaguya bowed to the five once more, and then began to propose her trials.

"Prince Ishizukuri, there is a stone bowl of the Buddha in the Kingdom of India; you need only retrieve it for me."

"Right Minister, I have heard that there is a Fire-Rat Fur Robe in the Great Datang Empire that does not fear intense fire; you need only retrieve it for me."

"Dainagon, I have heard that there is a jewel on the head of a dragon that emits five-colored light; you need only retrieve it for me."

"Chunagon, I have heard of a divine object called the Swallow's Child-Peace Shell; you need only retrieve it for me."

"Prince Kuramochi, there is a Penglai Mountain in the East Sea. On the mountain, there is a tree with silver roots, a golden trunk, and white jade fruits; you need only break off a branch for me."

Hearing Kaguya's conditions, the faces of those present turned very ugly; after all, these conditions were as difficult as ascending to heaven for them.

"Is it not too harsh for Miss Kaguya to propose such conditions?" the Dainagon said with some resentment.

"To marry my student, such conditions are not considered excessive," Lingyun suddenly spoke up from the side.

The five, including Fujiwara no Fuhito, simultaneously felt a heavy pressure descend upon them. It was only at this moment that they remembered Kamo no Tadayuki had once mentioned to them that this teacher of Miss Kaguya before them was an existence capable of rivaling the gods. Under his tutelage, even if Miss Kaguya could not ascend to the position of a god in the future, it likely would not be by much; she was a genuine goddess. For a goddess, perhaps this was not a difficult matter, but for them, it was as difficult as ascending to heaven. This was perhaps the difference between mortals and gods.

"Might I ask how much time we have?" Fujiwara no Fuhito stood up and asked.

"Three years," Kaguya said after a moment of silence.

"Three years? Very well, in three years, I shall certainly present the Mount Penglai Jade Branch!" Fujiwara no Fuhito turned and walked out of the Bamboo House.

Seeing Fujiwara no Fuhito leave, the others also bid farewell to Kaguya one after another and left the Bamboo House.

After everyone had left, Kaguya's noble lady facade instantly collapsed, and she slumped limply onto the table.

"Mokou, that Fujiwara no Fuhito just now, he is your father, right?" Kaguya turned her head and asked Fujiwara no Mokou.

Fujiwara no Mokou nodded somewhat listlessly, with undisguisable disappointment in her eyes. To her, Fujiwara no Fuhito was her father. To Fujiwara no Fuhito, she was merely the accidental product of a drunken night with a servant; it was normal that he did not remember. However, when this situation truly appeared before her, she still felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"Mokou, even if your father does not remember you, you are my sister," Kaguya reached out and stroked Fujiwara no Mokou's head. "Don't worry, I will never abandon you!"

"Big Sister Kaguya—" Fujiwara no Mokou threw herself directly into Kaguya's embrace.

Watching the two girls hugging each other, Lingyun smiled slightly, then turned and left the Bamboo House.