Tonight is not only a "sleepless night" for townsmen, the Magistrate's Office, and the officials of the Town Fire Extinguisher.
The supreme one residing in Edo Castle is also yet to sleep...
...
Edo, Edo Castle, Fuji Viewing Tower—
"Lord Shogun, the fire situation in Edo City has been mostly extinguished." One of Tokugawa Iemochi's pageboys kneeled on one knee behind him, respectfully reporting to Tokugawa Iemochi, who was standing by the window.
At this moment, Tokugawa Iemochi, standing by the window, was leaning on the windowsill with both hands, lips tightly pressed together, gazing solemnly at the world outside.
Beside him stood the "Empress Dowager": Tenshōin—she stood shoulder to shoulder with Tokugawa Iemochi, gazing at the view outside the window together.
Outside the window, in Edo's Castle Town, the thick smoke that was so strong just a moment ago had mostly dissipated.
The flames that had illuminated half the sky had almost vanished.
