At this moment, a knock came from outside the study.
The old steward brought in a file bag, bowed, and quickly exited the room.
The head of the Kujo Family placed the file bag before Satsuki.
"This is the charter they have drafted so far."
Satsuki took out the documents inside.
At the very top was written "Prospectus for the Establishment of the Old Family Asset Preservation Mutual Aid Association."
The contents of the first few pages were entirely normal, consisting of nothing more than routine security regulations.
Such as when a member family encountered short-term financial difficulties, the mutual aid association would assist in contacting banks and trust institutions.
Or when ancestral homes, mountain forests, documents, and important collections needed to be sold, other members must be notified first.
Furthermore, when cultural assets were beyond a family's ability to continue preserving, they could also be temporarily handed over to the mutual aid association for unified management.
"Are they planning to stop Saionji from acquiring Kazoku assets through internal financing?"
"You could say that, but this is only the public reason."
The head of the Kujo Family said.
"Some families truly only want to keep their ancestral homes. They worry that once they accept Saionji's help, they will gradually lose their autonomy just like Sumitomo."
"Others hope to use this alliance to re-establish the internal order of the Kazoku."
Satsuki continued turning the pages.
Starting from Article Nine, the contents had already exceeded the scope of asset preservation.
[Member families should exchange positions on issues concerning the common interests of the Kazoku.]
[Members holding seats in the House of Peers need to coordinate before political reforms, traditional systems, and major house business votes.]
The final page also had a list attached.
Nine families had explicitly expressed approval, while more than a dozen were in a state of principle approval or awaiting banquet confirmation.
"Do they want to establish a unified action group in the House of Peers?"
Satsuki put the documents back on the desk.
"Yes."
"Then who is contacting the banks on their behalf?"
"Two trust banks and three cultural foundations."
The head of the Kujo Family paused for a moment.
"Behind them is also Seiwakai."
Looking at the documents on the desk, Satsuki did not feel surprised.
Ever since Seiwakai found out it could not go head-to-head against Saionji, it started using all sorts of underhanded tricks.
"Did they step forward themselves?"
"No."
"Nominally responsible for coordination is a Current Affairs and Traditional Systems Research Association. Its chairman once served in the Secretariat of the House of Peers, and the person responsible for contacting banks has long handled funds for Seiwakai's peripheral organisations."
The head of the Kujo Family opened one of the pages and pointed to several institutions providing financing.
"However, banks are also short on cash right now, and it is impossible to unconditionally protect the assets of these families."
"Therefore, Seiwakai uses political guarantees provided to banks as a price, and assembly members who join the mutual aid association need to cooperate with Seiwakai in the House of Peers."
"Like this... They are preparing to bind everyone together with debt first."
Satsuki looked through the list once more.
"Then, when the Kaifu Cabinet pushes for political reform, they will have these people collectively oppose it."
"That is right." The head of the Kujo Family nodded. "This is precisely their plan."
"The Kaifu Cabinet is preparing to promote political fund disclosure and electoral system reform before autumn. Seiwakai needs to prove that Saionji can no longer continue to control the attitude of the House of Peers."
"As long as twenty or thirty Kazoku members simultaneously demand re-deliberation or abstain from key votes, it will be very difficult for the bill to pass as originally planned."
"Even if it is not ultimately vetoed, Seiwakai can use this to claim that the Kaifu Cabinet has lost the support of the House of Peers."
Satsuki turned to the last page.
"Is the banquet the place where they officially confirm the list?"
"Yes."
"At the banquet, they will ask each family to state whether they will join the Asset Preservation Mutual Aid Association, and they will also discuss unified action in the House of Peers."
The head of the Kujo Family looked at her.
"Moreover, they specifically requested your attendance."
Satsuki's hand flipping through the documents stopped.
She raised her eyes to look at the head of the Kujo Family, remained silent for a moment, and smiled slightly.
"I see."
"If I do not go, they can say that Saionji is no longer willing to accept the joint constraints of the Kazoku; if I go, they can force me to state my position in front of everyone."
The head of the Kujo Family nodded.
"Precisely."
Satsuki lowered her head again, her fingertips pressing against the edge of the list.
"What are they planning to make me promise?"
"They hope Saionji will promise three things."
The head of the Kujo Family stated them one by one.
"Must not use debt to obtain the decision-making power of other Kazoku families."
"Must not acquire ancestral homes, mountain forests, and important cultural assets without the consent of the joint Kazoku institution."
"Must not require members who accept Saionji's help to support Saionji's political stance in the House of Peers."
After listening, the smile on Satsuki's face grew even brighter.
"Look at what they are saying, what do they take Saionji for?"
"A force already sufficient to change the internal order of the Kazoku."
The head of the Kujo Family did not avoid it.
"They also know that a single family alone definitely cannot make Saionji back down. That is why they are preparing to use the joint position of the Kazoku and the seats of the House of Peers to pressure you."
At this moment, as if suddenly thinking of something, Satsuki kept her smile unchanged and looked at the head of the Kujo Family.
"Then, what about the Kujo Family?"
The expression of the head of the Kujo Family did not change as he also looked straight into Satsuki's eyes.
"If the Kujo Family had also joined, I would not be meeting with you alone today."
A smile also hung on his face.
"The few court noble families in Kyoto have not yet formed a unified position."
"Konoe and Takatsukasa are still watching and waiting, while Kazanin and Kuga lean toward participating. The old daimyo faction and the Meiji meritorious subject faction in Tokyo are reacting more actively."
He glanced at the list.
"However, not everyone on this list is hostile to Saionji."
"Some people are truly afraid of you, some people merely hope to increase their bargaining chips in negotiations with Saionji. There are also some families in urgent need of financing; whoever can protect their houses for them, they will temporarily listen to whoever's arrangements."
Satsuki nodded.
This was about what she had anticipated.
The so-called Kazoku alliance never had a unified purpose from the very beginning.
Seiwakai wanted votes in the House of Peers.
Several conservative family heads wanted to maintain their status within the Kazoku.
Families heavily in debt simply wanted to keep their ancestral homes.
Those still watching and waiting were prepared to wait until Saionji and the opposition decided the outcome before deciding which side to stand on.
This group of people could jointly sign a prospectus, but it would be very difficult for them to maintain the same position for long.
"How many seats can be confirmed at present?"
Satsuki asked.
"There are only a little more than ten seats that clearly agree to unified action."
Said the head of the Kujo Family.
"After the banquet, it may increase to twenty to thirty seats. Coupled with the legislators Seiwakai could originally influence, it can indeed delay deliberations in some committees."
Satsuki made a brief calculation.
Shuichi had operated in the House of Peers for many years.
Back when Saionji did not yet possess its current financial strength, he was able to maintain his own faction by relying on family relations, seniority within the house, and political connections.
After The Club was established, many lawmakers lacking political funds and financial backing gradually established a more direct relationship with Saionji.
After the Kaifu Cabinet came to power, Saionji re-integrated a batch of lawmakers who had lost the support of their original factions through public works, local company bailouts, and political funds.
Therefore, even if all the families on the list joined, it would still be difficult for Seiwakai to form an overwhelming advantage in the House of Peers.
They could delay bills, create public opinion, and force some lawmakers to wait and see.
But they were still very far from truly defeating Saionji.
"This matter is nothing to fear."
Satsuki finally said.
The head of the Kujo Family did not immediately respond.
"Father has his own supporters in the House of Peers. Seiwakai can pull away some people, but it is impossible to make everyone fall out with Saionji for the sake of the so-called common interests of the Kazoku."
"As for this mutual aid association—"
Satsuki picked up the list again.
"These people joined for different purposes and need different things. As long as they start discussing specific conditions, the alliance will naturally develop divergences."
"How do you plan to handle it?"
Asked the head of the Kujo Family.
"Do nothing for now."
Satsuki replied.
"The Kujo Family also does not need to explain to other families on behalf of Saionji."
"Before the banquet, I will not let Father contact them house by house, nor will I let the group pressure the families on the list."
The head of the Kujo Family looked at her.
"You are preparing to let them continue uniting?"
"Of course."
Satsuki's smile became even more obvious.
"Since they felt they had no chance of winning against Saionji alone and went to so much trouble to gather people together, I have no reason to stop them."
"On the day of the banquet, everyone who opposes Saionji will show up of their own accord."
"It just so happens that I can resolve everything at once."
The head of the Kujo Family already understood her decision.
"You intend to respond to them head-on at the banquet."
"Yes."
Satsuki put the documents back into the bag.
"They want to rely on the joint stance of the Kazoku and the seats of the House of Peers to force Saionji to promise no further expansion."
"Then I will let them see clearly how much use this alliance actually has in front of everyone."
She raised her eyes, her tone still calm.
"The Kazoku world is indeed afraid of me."
"Yet fear will not make them strong."
By the end, Satsuki's tone had turned cold.
"The more concentrated they are together, the easier it is for me to see clearly who the real enemies are, who are merely waiting for conditions, and who might change their stance at any time."
"Let them unite."
"I will... crush their laughable alliance head-on."
The head of the Kujo Family looked at Satsuki for a long time.
If an ordinary junior who had not yet reached adulthood told him they were going to crush the entire Kazoku alliance head-on, he would only take it as the wild talk of a brat.
But this was said by Satsuki, the person who single-handedly made Saionji the most prosperous family in all of Japan.
He fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
He did not urge Satsuki to change her decision.
The Kujo Family had already handed over the news, the list, and Seiwakai's plan to Saionji. How Satsuki prepared to respond no longer required his continued interference.
When the two left the study, it began to rain outside.
Most of the furniture had already been moved under the corridor, and several workers were racing against time to load wooden boxes onto the truck.
The old steward stood by the foyer, still holding the register in his hand. His gaze followed the old items being moved away piece by piece, yet he never spoke.
Satsuki stopped under the porch for a while.
The fate of this residence explained why the Kazoku would unite.
They possessed family names, ancestral homes, and seats in the House of Peers, but lacked the funds and industries capable of coping with an economic crisis.
The more powerful Saionji appeared, the more clearly they could see the gap between themselves and Saionji.
This gap filled them with fear.
Some chose to rely on Saionji.
Others decided to unite and restrict Saionji before they lost their choices.
Only this time, they chose the latter.
The head of the Kujo Family walked to Satsuki's side.
"The banquet is in five days."
"The official invitation will be delivered to the Saionji Main Family Residence tonight."
Satsuki looked at the wooden boxes being loaded and nodded.
"I will attend."
"Does the Kujo Family need to notify the Kyoto families in advance?"
"No need."
Satsuki turned around.
"Just let them make their choices according to their own thoughts."
"After everyone has stated their attitude, I will handle it personally."
She walked down the porch and got into the sedan parked in the courtyard.
Before the car door closed, Satsuki glanced once more at the residence that was gradually being emptied.
Five days from now, those families afraid of Saionji would sit in the same banquet hall, put their family names, in-laws, and House of Peers seats all on the table, waiting for her to back down.
Satsuki stood under the eaves, watching the rainwater slowly trickle down the stone pillars.
The spot where the nameplate had just been dismantled still left a pale trace. The surrounding stone surface had been deepened by the rainwater, and only the rectangular outline remained clear, like a surname that had already been moved away yet refused to disappear from here.
Water droplets that had accumulated for a long time at the corner of the eaves finally fell, landing right in the centre of that trace.
The pale edge blurred out a small patch accordingly.
Satsuki withdrew her gaze and turned to walk toward the sedan parked in the courtyard.
The banquet five days later would probably also begin from a certain name.