Chapter 793

Uesugi Muneyuki parked the car at the entrance of a narrow alley in Bunkyo Ward when the sky had already completely darkened.

The urbanization wave of Tokyo had submerged most of the old nobility's residences, but this building of the Uesugi family had been preserved, although the Uesugi family had distributed almost all of the domain treasury wealth during the abolition of the han system, yet thanks to generations of professors of higher learning from scholarly families, they could barely maintain it. Uesugi Muneyuki had known since childhood that the so-called "peerage" facade was nothing but several generations gritting their teeth and holding on.

He parked the car, picked up the slender paulownia wood box and the copied imperial appointment document from the front passenger seat, leaving the original in the Imperial Household Agency archives, bringing back only a copy, but the gilded characters and the vermilion imperial seal were just as solemn.

He took a deep breath and pushed open the door.

The voice of his mother Tomoko came from the genkan.

"Yukimatsumaru is back!"

Uesugi Tomoko came running from the end of the hallway, dressed in luxurious Western-style clothing, her eyes lighting up when she saw the paulownia wood box in her son's hand, but she asked nothing, merely stepping aside to let him in.

"Everyone knows about it, Yukimatsumaru. Grandfather is waiting for you in the living room. Your father is also there."

In the living room, Uesugi Kuninori sat in a rocking chair, a blanket draped over his knees. Seventy-five years old, his hair was completely white, but his eyes were still bright, that sharpness unique to a professor of science at the University of Tokyo, as if he were always looking at formulas no matter what he saw.

Father Uesugi Hironori sat beside him, mother Tomoko stood at the door, sister-in-law Chika sat quietly in the corner brewing tea.

Elder brother Uesugi Sadanori did not appear, but he should be at home.

"Where is it?" Uesugi Kuninori got straight to the point.

Uesugi Muneyuki knelt on the tatami mat, placing the paulownia wood box and the copy of the appointment document before him.

He first bowed to his grandfather and father, then opened the box, took out the scroll, and unfolded it: "This is it, grandfather, father."

"Junior Assistant of the Board of Censors."

The living room fell silent for a few seconds.

Uesugi Kuninori lowered his head, leaned in to look at the scroll, his grandfather's face shifting from pale to flushed, he clutched his chest, white smoke rising from his head. Warning, warning, warning!

Indeed it is Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade, indeed it is Junior Assistant of the Board of Censors!

The official position of Kenshin Kō! It is the post once held by the Dragon of Echigo!

He could see at a glance the force in each stroke and line.

Grandfather's body trembled slightly, he swayed, frightening Uesugi Hironori and Uesugi Tomoko into immediately reaching out to support him.

"Get out, I'm not done yet!" Uesugi Kuninori shouted angrily, then looked again: "This is written by the Retired Emperor, right?" Uesugi Muneyuki nodded: "Yes."

Uesugi Kuninori looked at it for a while, then leaned back into his wheelchair, letting out a long breath: "It really is the Retired Emperor, it really is the Retired Emperor."

Uesugi Hironori picked up the copy of the appointment document and examined it carefully: "Junior Fifth Rank……Junior Assistant……"

His father murmured, his voice unable to contain his excitement: "Yukimatsumaru, this is Junior Fifth Rank."

He turned his head to look at his father: "Dad, look."

Uesugi Kuninori ignored him, gazing at his grandson, his eyes holding something complex.

"Yukimatsumaru." Grandfather spoke, his voice not loud but each word clear: "Do you know what Junior Fifth Rank means?"

Uesugi Muneyuki thought for a moment: "It is a rank. In ancient times, it was the rank of high-ranking warriors and court nobles."

Uesugi Kuninori nodded, then shook his head: "You are right, but not entirely."

He paused: "Before the Meiji Restoration, Junior Fifth Rank was the lowest threshold to ascend the hall and face the emperor. That is, only those with this title had the right to stand before the emperor. Those without it had no place to stand. Of course, it is different now, the rank system has long been nominal, the Imperial Household Agency issuing this is more symbolic."

He stopped for a moment: the corners of his mouth slightly turned up, "But this symbolic meaning is not small. Generally speaking, this rank is now given only to the dead. Given to the living, very few. Given to living people under thirty"

He glanced at Uesugi Muneyuki: "You are the first after the war."

The atmosphere in the living room changed.

Uesugi Hironori's eyes lit up, Uesugi Tomoko covered her mouth, sister-in-law also stopped brewing tea.

Uesugi Kuninori continued speaking, his voice still as flat as when explaining a physics problem in class: "Of course, the Imperial Household Agency grants this because we are the peerage. The Uesugi clan of Yonezawa, although not a top-tier house like the Five Regent Houses, but at least a noble family. With this connection, they have reason to make an exception. Change it to a commoner-born person, no matter how great the merit, it is impossible to attain Junior Fifth Rank before thirty. This is not a matter of fairness or unfairness, but of rules."

He paused: "So you shouldn't take it too seriously."

Uesugi Hironori's smile froze: "Dad, what are you saying at this time?"

"I haven't finished yet." Uesugi Kuninori looked at his son, then turned to Uesugi Muneyuki, a hint of cunning suddenly appearing in his eyes: "As for this 'Junior Assistant of the Board of Censors,' it is merely a bestowed name, not an actual office. The Board of Censors was abolished eight hundred years ago; the Retired Emperor wrote this to give you face, not power. Holding this scroll, you cannot impeach ministers, cannot inspect officials, only hang it on the wall to look at yourself." Uesugi Muneyuki nodded, he smiled and said: "I understand."

Uesugi Kuninori looked at him, silent for a few seconds. Then the corners of his mouth turned up, that angle Uesugi Muneyuki knew well—it was his grandfather's expression when preparing to speak ironically.

"However." Uesugi Kuninori said slowly: "The title 'Junior Assistant of the Board of Censors' in ancient times carried such weight that even the Grand Minister of State had to give it three parts of respect. Although this office no longer exists, the Retired Emperor's own writing hanging in the house, when visitors see it, they will subconsciously weigh it. This is more useful than one million yen."

"This is the essence of cloistered rule. At that time, under regent politics, the Fujiwara clan held power in court and through institutions ensured the imperial family had no real authority. To circumvent this, many emperors voluntarily abdicated to become retired emperors, then took monastic vows to become cloistered emperors and established cloistered rule to oppose the Fujiwara clan."

"Now it is the same. After the Five-Star MacArthur Emperor's reorganization and constitutional amendment, the emperor has been stripped of all actual power and is no longer a 'natural person' able to exercise any 'citizen rights,' but the retired emperor still comes forward, personally wrote this, and bestowed this title upon you—what does this indicate?"

"This indicates that the imperial family is expressing affirmation and support for your contribution in a roundabout way." Uesugi Kuninori said satisfiedly: "At the same time, it indicates that your energy and network are enough to make people wary, that you can utilize the U. S. four-star general Yukimatsumaru, which is quite impressive!" "It is said that during the Kāng Xī reign of my Great Qing, there was a minor official in the Ministry of Personnel named Ren Bo'an, who specialized in collecting the faults and handles of high officials, compiled a hundred officials' conduct, used to admonish officials, and to contend for the position of Prince Prefecture Qin Yin Qi, the eighth son of the Kāng Xī Emperor. This old brother Ren, I fear, was perhaps the earliest professional spy in officialdom." Uesugi Muneyuki laughed: "And this, too, is likewise united front value."

"But I am merely a forensic pathologist; this kind of thing should originally have been done by my father, he is the one responsible for networking and being the donor, how did this end up on my head?"

"You little brat, are you saying I can't do it?" Uesugi Hironori couldn't help but laugh, Uesugi Tomoko also laughed, laughing until tears almost came out, sister-in-law lowered her head, shoulders trembling slightly.

Uesugi Muneyuki looked at his grandfather, suddenly saying: "Grandfather, you look very satisfied."

Uesugi Kuninori glared at him: "When did I say I was satisfied?"

"You said it. You said 'don't take it too seriously,' then you said 'this is more useful than one million yen.'" Uesugi Muneyuki paused: "This is hinting to father, your son is indeed more impressive than my son."

The living room fell silent for a second.

Uesugi Kuninori laughed, that smile starting at the corners of his mouth, slowly spreading across his entire face, finally his eyes narrowing into a slit. He laughed heartily, like a child, without any professor's reserve, without any head of the house's dignity.

Uesugi Hironori watched this scene from the side, his expression complex—there was relief, there was pride, and also a hint of something indescribable. His son, the second son of the Uesugi family, had received Junior Fifth Rank, had received the Retired Emperor's handwriting, had made world news.

And he, as a father, his greatest achievement in this life was probably just having raised a good son.

After the laughter subsided, Uesugi Kuninori leaned back into his wheelchair, looking at Uesugi Muneyuki.

"Yukimatsumaru." His voice suddenly turned serious: "There is something I need to tell you."

Uesugi Muneyuki straightened his body.

"I know you are busy. But you must also keep the Uesugi family's affairs in mind."

The atmosphere in the living room subtly shifted.

"Yes." Uesugi Muneyuki lowered his body.

It seems grandfather is truly very anxious after all.

Also, after retiring, there's nothing to do anyway.

Have children! Have children! Have children!!!

"I understand."

That night, Uesugi Muneyuki did not return to Hankyō Bridge; he came to the annex of Uesugi Hall.

After receiving Uesugi Kuninori's request, Ishihara Mikoto resigned from the women's apartment of the Metropolitan Police Department's Akahaka branch and moved into the annex of Uesugi Hall to live, and the two often dated there.

Uesugi Muneyuki sat on the carpet of the suite, looking at his new name.

"Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade Uesugi Snow Pine, Junior Assistant of the Board of Censors Fujiwara Muneyuki, Court Minister."

"Not bad." Uesugi Muneyuki smiled, his whole body radiating youthful and abundant vitality, like a cheetah ready to pounce, full of masculine hormonal aura.

He had just seen Uesugi Sadanori returning home from work in the main hall; his brother said nothing, merely patted his shoulder, and told him there would be a large-scale ancient tomb excavation project in Kyoto next year.

It is a site from the mid-Heian period; he asked if he was interested.

"Yes!"*4

Everyone was interested, so Uesugi Muneyuki and Uesugi Sadanori settled the matter and went to see it.

At that moment, someone interrupted his thoughts.

"Um…… younger brother, sister…… all right."

The Forensic Beauty stood at the door, one hand lightly resting on the doorframe, the other hand on her waist, the corner of her mouth bearing a seductive smile. In backlight, her silhouette was as beautiful as an oil painting.

She wore a carefully selected office OL uniform, perfectly embodying what is called "pure desire ceiling".

A pair of black half-frame glasses sat on her delicate, straight nose; the peach blossom eyes behind the lenses sparkled. Her naturally slightly upturned eye corners, combined with light crimson eye makeup, gave her both the intellectual coolness of a workplace elite and the charming allure of a young woman.

The black small suit was tailored to perfection, perfectly outlining her shoulder and waist lines.

The suit was open, revealing a white fitted shirt underneath, the fabric light and thin, tightly hugging her alluring figure.

The shirt's buttons were intentionally undone two, revealing a patch of snow-white skin like congealed fat; the edge of the purple lace bra peeked faintly, the delicate lace pattern tracing an ambiguous outline on her white skin, enticing the soul.

Below, she wore a black ultra-short bodycon skirt, the fabric with a slight sheen, tightly clinging to her slender waist and round, perky peach hips. The skirt was excessively short, barely covering the lower edge of the buttocks, fully outlining her perfect hip shape.

As long as she slightly bent over or lifted her leg, the spring view beneath the skirt would be revealed.

A pair of long, jade-like legs were wrapped in glossy flesh-toned stockings.

Sexy yet not losing dignity, the stockings had a fine, smooth texture with just the right sheen, glowing with tempting oil under the light. That thin layer of nylon made her leg skin appear even whiter and finer, the muscle lines faintly visible beneath the stockings, so sexy it made mouths dry and tongues parched.

On her feet were a pair of black thin high-heeled shoes, pointed toe, slender heel, the heel itself ten centimeters long, stretching her leg lines even longer and more charming. The arch of the foot rose, the ankle slender, each step exuding the charm of a mature woman.

"Mikoto-nee~" Uesugi Muneyuki immediately stood up, swept his Mikoto-nee into a waist embrace, spun her once in the air, then both fell onto the sofa, the man tightly gripping the Forensic Beauty's waist, breathing in the fragrance from her neck.

However, Ishihara Mikoto did not immediately respond; she gently pushed him, gesturing to let her speak first: "Younger brother, Muneyuki, I have a…… little trouble 'What little trouble? Need Mikoto-nee to speak up?'" Uesugi Muneyuki held the Forensic Beauty in his embrace, seated on his lap, his fingers lightly stroking downward along her waist.

"My family…… is coming to Tokyo." Ishihara Mikoto said with some difficulty.

Originally, Mikoto's aunt and cousin had come from Osaka.

It had been agreed they would just come to Tokyo for errands and meet up, find a regular ryotei to have a meal, that's all—she had never really wanted her family to know about her complicated relationship with Uesugi Muneyuki.

Although she was already a divorced woman, and Uesugi Muneyuki was already married, whether in the Metropolitan Police Department or the peerage circles, who didn't know what kind of situation surrounded the "Case Solving God" at Sakuradamon?

Although her aunt lived in Osaka, nowadays the internet is well-developed, Uesugi Muneyuki's face appears on TV every few days; even if Kansai people dislike Kanto matters, they cannot possibly not know Uesugi Muneyuki, and thus her title "Forensic Assistant Mikoto" was also exposed completely.

Want to hide? Can't hide it.

Satomi Mikoto? Ishihara Mikoto? No, it's Uesugi Mikoto!

"They said they want to meet you." Mikoto-nee lowered her head helplessly.

She had thought Uesugi Muneyuki would frown and say something like "handle it discreetly".

But after hearing him, he merely smiled and said: "Imperial Hotel, I'll have someone reserve a table."

"But, Mikoto-nee, how do you plan to thank me?" Uesugi Muneyuki asked with a wicked smile.

"Well, well, just let you like me as you wish……" Ishihara Mikoto felt a sweet warmth in her heart, shyly lowering her head, her inner joy beyond compare, yet also a little afraid.

Now, it's really going to become Three Surnames Star Anger.