Lady Amane looked at her husband with a burning gaze, appearing as if she were truly considering Kagaya's best interests with all her heart.
"Oh my, no, no, that won't do. Before, when Husband's health didn't permit it, that was one thing. But now that Husband has recovered his health, we cannot remain indifferent.
I feel the household simply must have a few more concubines to better serve Husband.
Otherwise, if word gets out, people will think I am a jealous woman."
Kagaya, of course, offered another round of soothing words:
"H-How could that be?! Who in the Demon Slayer Corps doesn't know that Lady Amane is the best mistress of the house? How could anyone associate you with being a jealous woman?"
"Is that true?"
"It's true!"
"However, the Ubuyashiki family has always had a single line of descent. Now that Husband's health is finally good, surely you must take up the hope of revitalizing the clan. Taking a few more concubines to spread the branches and scatter leaves for the family—wouldn't that be good?"
When had Kagaya ever encountered such an aggressive Amane? Kagaya knew his wife too well; he had to placate her completely, or else he would face dire consequences later.
He hurriedly said:
"What spreading branches and scattering leaves? It hasn't come to that!
Amane, having you is enough for me.
Besides, you've given me so many children—five whole children. Is that not enough to spread the branches?"
"But among the five children, four are girls. Only Kiriya is a boy..."
Speaking of this, Lady Amane's mood actually took a downturn.
Kagaya clearly sensed that while Amane had indeed been speaking ironically before, as she spoke, her own defenses actually crumbled!
Actually, thinking about it, it made sense.
Living in this era, for a major clan, the most important thing was to expand the lineage and have many children.
Lady Amane had indeed borne many children for Kagaya, but unfortunately, there was only one son. To put it bluntly, it was still a single line of descent!
This train of thought led to Lady Amane becoming depressed as she spoke, feeling that she wasn't doing a very good job as the mistress of the house. Perhaps she really should let her husband take two more wives?
Lady Amane had talked herself into a breakdown, her mood shifting from feigned low spirits to genuine self-doubt.
How much did Kagaya dote on his wife? Seeing the situation go south, he scrambled to comfort her:
"So what if there is only one son? Amane, you gave me Kiriya, this one son, and that is already enough! I couldn't be more satisfied with him!
Even if I married other women, the children born certainly wouldn't compare to ours. In that case, I'd rather not marry, rather not have them!"
Lady Amane hesitated. "But the family needs to prosper; the Ubuyashiki clan needs to spread its branches..."
Kagaya said without thinking:
"That doesn't matter! I've long thought about this! If worst comes to worst, we can have more later!
When my health is fully restored, we can just have a few more!
Of course, actually, to my mind, if we don't have to, let's not. You've already borne five children for me; your body has endured enough. Besides, five children are plenty.
So what if four of them are daughters?!
I have already decided! The Ubuyashiki family is a great clan; I will not marry our daughters off! I plan to recruit sons-in-law to marry into our family in the future!
That way, the children born will still carry the surname Ubuyashiki. Wouldn't that spread the branches? Wouldn't that strengthen the family?
And there is still Kiriya.
When that child grows up, let him marry a few more, let him have a few more kids! The task of strengthening the Ubuyashiki family falls on our son!
Look, how does that sound?"
You have to admit, Kagaya really had a knack for coaxing his wife.
As he coaxed, Lady Amane's breakdown ceased. As he coaxed further, Lady Amane turned her tears into smiles, her worry turning to joy. She even snuggled against Kagaya, and the husband and wife embraced right there.
The Ubuyashiki couple hugged like no one else was present. The atmosphere between them was incredibly cloying, with hearts and flowers practically blooming from their bodies.
Horitake's expression at this moment was indescribable.
Someone was actually showing off their love in front of him?!
He was being force-fed "dog food," and with such gusto too?!
Also, what exactly just happened? What kind of plot-twisting drama did I just witness?
Lady Amane was originally speaking ironically to mock and test her husband's loyalty to their marriage, to see if he had any thoughts of marrying some other vixen.
Just moments ago, Lady Amane's imposing manner had the vibe of a grand tribunal.
Kagaya performed flawlessly. Even if he did harbor other thoughts deep down, he prioritized his wife's feelings above all else.
To Horitake, this couple was initially staging a delightful family comedy. It was rare to see the Master henpecked, thoroughly handled by Lady Amane!
That said, men like Kagaya were rare.
Living in this era, and as the head of a major clan, to be willing to respect his wife and marry only her—such men were few and far between.
Horitake felt ashamed of his own inferiority in that regard.
Horitake had been watching this family comedy happily.
But who knew Lady Amane would talk herself into a breakdown while speaking ironically, beginning to doubt herself?
And Kagaya, that guy, really knew how to coax. He soothed his wife from her breakdown until she was happily smiling, and the two of them just proceeded to shove their public display of affection in everyone's faces!
This left Horitake in a mood that words simply could not describe.
Not just Horitake; Shinobu, Tamayo, and Yushiro beside him were also speechless.
The Ubuyashiki couple continued to whisper sweet nothings as if no one else existed. It turned out they were discussing their son Kiriya's future marriage.
"Husband, since the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Ubuyashiki family falls on Kiriya, we must take the issue of Kiriya's future wife very seriously!"
"Yes, yes. It is best to leave this important matter to you, Amane."
"Yes, I must find a satisfactory daughter-in-law for our son!
This daughter-in-law must not only be beautiful and elegant but also sensible and understanding of the big picture.
And I think, in the beginning, Kiriya should only marry one wife.
Once their eldest son—our eldest grandson—is born, I will look for other concubines for Kiriya. Then I will let him marry a few more to spread the branches and revitalize the family."
"Amane, you think of everything. The position of the daughter-in-law as the mistress, and the status of our eldest grandson, cannot be shaken.
After those are secured, letting Kiriya marry a few more... Very good, it should be just like that."
Listening from the side, Horitake's head was full of black lines.
He couldn't help but complain internally:
Lady Amane, you are being a bit double-standard.
You don't want your husband to marry more, but you hope your son marries several.
Truly, in front of one's own son, a husband is nothing!
Thinking about it this way, I feel so envious of Kiriya!
I spent so much effort pursuing these three. To others, I look like a winner in life.
But look at Kiriya. He hasn't even grown up yet, and it's already decided that he will marry many beautiful girls in the future!
People really cannot be compared!
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