Chapter 26 Saying Goodbye to Yae Sakura couldn’t bear the shrill cries of the maid any longer. She ran up to them and shouted at Yae, “Stop it!” “Save me, Chief Sakura, save me!” The maid knelt down before her and begged, her face full of tears and snot.   “Don’t kneel to me. Go do your work.” Sakura gave her a hinting sigh; the maid understood and retreated immediately. Before leaving, she half-bowed to her many times. Sakura turned to Yae instead. “Wow, you can change expressions so easily? I just saw you angry but now you’re smiling as bright as the sun? Yae, let me have a look at your treasure.” “There’s no need, Chief. This is not a treasure; I am afraid it would dirty your hands.” “Give it to me!” Sakura quickly s.n.a.t.c.hed the from her. Yae was so scared that she was stunned right there, not knowing if she should take back the hairpin or leave. She was like a dying tree standing there, seeing Sakura play with her baby. “This is jade, with a gold inset, and two pearls as s. Is this a gift from your lady’s wedding dowry? Since you used it to stab the girl, I don’t think you cherish it and I guess you won’t mind giving it to me.”   Yae thought that she was envious of the decoration, so she tested her, saying, “If the Chief likes it, I can give you more valuable things. Would you let the issue of me punis.h.i.+ng s.h.i.+no go?” “Okay, I can forget this issue. But you just mentioned a more precious decoration; don’t you think that I should ask the master to help me put this hairpin in my hair himself?” Sakura threatened, since she guessed that the more precious things would be given by the madam’s own family.   Yae understood her immediately. “So it was you who disturbed us? I didn’t notice. What’s your plan for my lady?” Yae, the old fox, was totally panicked. “Don’t mention your lady in front of me.” Sakura turned the sharp end of the hairpin in front of the maid’s face. “It is you who always teach the madam wrong ways. Besides, it is also you who punished the other servant in secret. Don’t think I don’t know your evil thoughts. You want to help the declining family to get more control of the country through Takeda Harun.o.bu. I know every thought that’s gone through your head since before your birth and after your death. You’d better go back to your hometown today!”   Yae packed her belongings that night, taking the two maids with her back to Kyoto. Harun.o.bu got to know this the day after, when he went to see Madam Sanjō. But he didn’t doubt the reason why Yae left suddenly.   When Sakura saw the sadness of the madam losing Yae, she felt a little guilty. In the modern age, she had never hurt anyone to protect herself. But this time, she’d frightened Yae and kicked her out. Now she was afraid that one day she would become just like them, living and plotting in a place like the ancient Chinese imperial harem or seraglio. “Why not go to the madam? You have some more time to stay at home now.” Harun.o.bu was writing Chinese characters with a pen brush. When he heard Sakura’s suggestion, he was surprised.   “You speak good words for her? You usually stood by my mother’s side. Meanwhile, I didn’t go to see you for many days and you still want to push me to her? Aren’t you envious?” “I am serious. Why are you always joking?” Sakura turned to leave him. “Are you angry?” He took her sleeve, and whispered to her, “In fact, I don’t like you pretending to be generous. I want to see you jealous.” “What . . . What are you talking about?” Sakura felt her body grow rigid. She felt his breath so close, and her heartbeat quickened. “I won’t give up on you, even if you became Chief of the Inner Compound. You took my brother’s hand to drive away the annoying maid; this made me desire you more  than before.” He circled her waist from behind, letting his chin touch the back of her head, which made her more flurried. “You know she was driven away by me? Are you watching me?” “No, I’m not. But my brother never hides anything from me. He is an honest boy. But I don’t think you will blame him because you always think that he is better than me.”   So? He was envious of n.o.bus.h.i.+ge? Sakura turned back to look at his face, trying to find some traces of it. But he returned to his desk to continue his handwriting. Was he shy? Because he wanted to hide his real feelings from her?   What an interesting pair of brothers!