The Imperial Family

Indeed, the tradition of sacrificing to that malevolent snake god did not originate from the Minamoto clan out of thin air. It was inherited from our source—the Imperial Family. Since the very beginning, when the Minamoto first branched off from the Imperial line, we have been tasked with the duty of sacrificing to that evil god. Every set period of time, we sacrifice eight young maidens possessing spiritual talent. Back when the Imperial Family still held absolute power, they used hints and secret orders to coerce all the nobles in Heian-kyo to cooperate with our sacrificial work and provide qualified maidens.

However, in recent decades, with the rapid rise of the nobility and the decline of the Imperial Family, more and more nobles became unwilling to comply with the unwritten rules set in the shadows by the court. Consequently, our sacrificial rites became increasingly difficult to perform due to a lack of offerings. Out of desperation, we began searching for sacrificial maidens among the common folk, while also resorting to darker, more coercive methods. Heh, as you know, this eventually culminated in the Ubume Incident thirteen years ago, which in turn triggered the Yokai Calamity.

After the Yokai Calamity, due to the interference of you and Owl, we were no longer able to seek sacrifices for the malevolent god. The power of the sacrificial faction within the clan weakened rapidly. I took the opportunity to seize the position of clan head and expelled the members of that faction, leading to a split in the family. Now, the Minamoto clan under my rule has severed all ties with the malevolent snake god.

Therefore, my understanding of that evil god is not much deeper than yours. If you wish to continue investigating the malevolent snake god, Lord Asakura, I am not the one you should seek. In this Heian-kyo, those who know more about this matter... aside from my kinsmen within the Forbidden Grounds, are only the Imperial Family within the palace...

Heian-kyo, the Greater Imperial Palace, within the Emperor's Palace.

In the Seiryoden, a hall that originally served as a place for court officials to organize morning assemblies or various gatherings, the vast space now felt exceptionally empty, as there were no activities or assemblies scheduled. Amidst this lonely, desolate hall, Miketsu sat in a white kariginu, reflecting on the words of the Minamoto clan head while quietly waiting for someone.

After hearing Minamoto no Yorimitsu's explanation, Miketsu did not linger at the Minamoto residence. Taking her leave, she performed a simple divination to verify the truth of his words. Once confirmed, she went to the Fujiwara residence to find Mokou. Her goal was to have Mokou use the Fujiwara clan's influence to arrange a private meeting for her, a meeting that was facilitated quite quickly.

In the Seiryoden, after waiting for a short while, the person Miketsu was expecting finally arrived. From one side of the palace, a young man slowly entered, supported by court ladies on either side.

He was a thin, pale, and slightly sickly young man. He wore plain robes and a crown, his face haggard, with a distinct streak of crimson in his black hair. Supported by the court ladies, the man slowly walked to the primary seat of the Seiryoden and sat down. Facing this man, Miketsu bowed slightly.

"Your Majesty..."

"Cough, cough... You may rise, Lord Asakura..."

Indeed, this sickly young man was the current Emperor, Emperor Suzaku. Miketsu had utilized her connections with the Fujiwara clan to meet him. To understand the affairs of the Imperial Family, Miketsu chose to go directly to the Emperor himself.

In current Japan, imperial power had already decayed. The rising nobility were gradually seizing more and more authority, with the Fujiwara clan standing at the pinnacle. Having held the position of Kanpaku for generations, they used political marriages and various other means to gradually erode the imperial power, exerting unlimited influence over the Emperor and monopolizing court affairs. The Emperor had long since been firmly controlled by the Fujiwara clan.

The current Emperor Suzaku had ascended the throne at the age of eight. Frail and plagued by illness, he had essentially been a puppet of the Fujiwara clan from the very beginning. It was precisely because of this that he could not refuse any arrangements made by the Fujiwara.

While spreading faith and constructing a new order for the human and demon realms in Kinki, Miketsu would occasionally utilize the administrative capacity of the human court. At such times, she usually relied on Mokou to influence the Fujiwara clan, and through them, influence the court's affairs to achieve her goals. This was not the first time she had performed such a maneuver.

"Heh... It is a rare sight indeed to see Lord Asakura sitting here in the Seiryoden. Tell me, what is it you require?" Emperor Suzaku teased lightly before speaking slowly. He did not put on airs with Miketsu, for he knew that she was not only a powerful Great Onmyoji but also had extremely close ties with the Fujiwara clan.

"It is nothing much. I simply wished to ask Your Majesty a few questions regarding the Imperial Family."

"Questions regarding the Imperial Family... What are they?" Hearing Miketsu's words, Emperor Suzaku's expression turned slightly puzzled.

"Regarding the malevolent snake god that appeared at the end of the Yokai Calamity thirteen years ago, does Your Majesty have any knowledge of it?" Without much ceremony, Miketsu questioned Emperor Suzaku directly. His expression froze instantly, and he spoke with a hint of panic.

"No, I... I have no knowledge of it..."

"No knowledge? Your Majesty, I have just come from the residence of the Minamoto clan head and have already heard rumors of the Imperial Family's involvement. Please do not hide anything... Rest assured, I have no intention of acting against the Imperial Family. What I see and hear today will certainly not be spread abroad..." Seeing Emperor Suzaku's flustered state, Miketsu spoke with a soothing tone. Upon hearing mention of the Minamoto clan head, Emperor Suzaku's face changed. After a two-second silence, he sighed and spoke with a sense of helplessness.

"Sigh... Since things have come to this, there is no longer any need to hide it. I can tell you the relevant matters, Lord Asakura. I only hope you can keep your word and not spread this further..."

"You may speak freely, Your Majesty," Miketsu stated plainly. Emperor Suzaku paused for a moment before continuing.

"Since you have already seen Minamoto no Yorimitsu, you likely know about the matter of the sacrifices to the malevolent snake god. Yes, the task of sacrificing to the malevolent snake god was indeed given to the Minamoto by the Imperial Family. No, to be precise, the Imperial Family branched off the Minamoto clan specifically to escape the burden of sacrificing to that god. The Minamoto were born for the sole purpose of performing those sacrifices..."

"The Minamoto were created specifically to sacrifice to an evil god? So the claim that a portion of the Imperial Family was demoted to subject status because the treasury could not support them was merely a guise?"

"Correct... It was indeed a guise from the beginning. The emergence of the Minamoto was purely to take over this hot potato from the Imperial Family." Emperor Suzaku nodded slightly, confirming the truth.

"Then why did the Imperial Family get involved with that snake god in the first place?" Miketsu followed up. Regardless of the circumstances, the Imperial Family should never have been entangled with a malevolent ancient god like Yamata no Orochi, who demanded human sacrifices.

"This matter... traces back hundreds of years to the time of Heijo-kyo, Lord Asakura. As an Onmyoji, you should know of the great event that occurred in the court during the Heijo-kyo era..."

"Are you referring to the Great Vengeful Spirit, the Rebellion of Prince Sawara?"