Chương 69: The Adamant Lady of the House

Yuzuki stared at her husband, her whimpering frantic and worshipful.

"It's him! The God-Emperor of the Western Region!"

"Control yourself," Zensuke sent back sternly.

"You will awaken the children."

"Y-yes. Forgive me." Zensuke turned his attention back to Galan.

"My apologies. My wife rarely loses her composure."

"Don't worry about it," Galan smirked.

"Compared to me having financial strategy meetings with Roman nobles in my favorite bathrobe, her reaction is honestly quite tame." Zensuke looked as though he had bitten into a lemon. Yuzuki giggled. He is just like in the stories. I cannot believe such an odd god could actually exists. Just then, three maids arrived, their arms full of scrolls, which they placed in a semi-circle around Zensuke.

"Wait," Yuzuki said. She gestured to the empty art alcove.

"For one such as him... no ordinary piece will suffice. Hang the 'Wind and Moon Under One Sky' scroll, and prepare a single white chrysanthemum for the flower arrangement."

"Is that necessary?" Zensuke asked.

"Yes!" Yuzuki's mind-voice was fierce.

"The sanctity of the ceremony will be upheld. Especially for a god who has traveled half the world to visit us." Galan just gave her a thumbs-up. She let out a muffled squeal. The maid hung the scroll, containing a series of large, ancient Chinese characters saying: "Though mountains and rivers differ in our lands, we still share the same wind and moons under one sky." If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

After realizing that it wasn't Japanese, Galan's mind shifted gear.

"Shanchuan'yiyu, féngyuetongtien," Galan said in perfect Chinese. The room went silent. The maids froze. Even Zensuke's ears twitched in shock.

"If I may ask," Zensuke said, his composure returning,"where did you learn Chinese, Lord Oda?"

"In China. I was studying the 'Universal Balance' with my late master when I was really young."

"And what did you learn?" Galan smirked.

"I learned that I completely maxed it out. Pretty cool, huh?" That would explain his chaotic behavior, Yuzuki thought. Then I suppose the training failed, Zensuke countered.

"Please focus on preparing the matcha you promised to make," he continued.

"Husband, no! Let me do it!" Yuzuki protested.

"I am letting him brew it to prove his claims of understanding our culture," Zensuke stated flatly.

"I care not for his status, only that he keeps his word. He must prove he is worthy of reverence." Yuzuki's ears drooped.

"Hey, Honey Yuzuki, don't worry," Galan said cheerfully.

"I want to make the matcha. I'll make the best one you'll ever taste!" Yuzuki gasped. The air in the room chilled by several degrees. Zensuke's gaze turned glacial.

"What did you just call my wife?" Galan chuckled awkwardly. She's older than me, so...

"Senior Yuzuki?" Zensuke closed his eyes, taking a deep, calming breath. He is merely a stupid foreigner, Zensuke. His disrespect is born of ignorance, not malice. He took another breath. Besides, if what he said is true, then we will have a bigger problem than the ghosts if I just set him loose. He opened his eyes, the fury replaced by stern resolve.

"Just start the ceremony. I will teach you Japanese etiquette after you finish." Yuzuki and the maids breathed a sigh of relief.

"I thought you were going to throw him out," she sent.

"If he were any other person, I would have," Zensuke replied.

"But I am willing to give this foreign god a chance. For as much headache as he caused, his heart is in the right place. And I will see to it that he fixes his behavior before he causes chaos in our land." Kinda too late for that, but okay, Galan thought with a smile.

"Now begin," Zensuke commanded.

"Yes, Teacher Zensuke!" Galan said with a confident nod.