Chapter 917: The Taira Clan
Lin Yuanmiao began to examine the corpse.
When assisting Zhang Yuelu in sorting through the case files, he had skimmed through them as well. His claim of a photographic memory was no exaggeration. In terms of knowledge of Fenglin, even Qi Xuansu might not be able to match him.
Soon, Lin Yuanmiao spotted a crest on the partially decayed clothing. This was a family emblem, or a kamon.
In fact, outside the Central Plains, many noble houses favored the use of heraldic crests. Western nobility often chose animals as their symbols. Famed examples of this were the double-headed eagle and the lionheart. However, in Fenglin, crests more often took the form of plants, such as the Toyotomi clan’s hollyhock crest or the royal family’s chrysanthemum crest. When animals appeared, they were rarely tigers, lions, or eagles, but instead butterflies or birds, often in relation to flora.
From this, a discipline known as “heraldry” arose, devoted to the study of crests and emblems.
The Daoist Order had ruled Fenglin for nearly a century, and they had conducted extensive research on this matter. Thus, Lin Yuanmiao had also studied it while reading the case files.
The decapitated figure bore the crest of the swallowtail butterfly.
It was an extremely common crest. Most clans connected with Ise Province used it. By a rough estimate, this meant no fewer than ten families.
Lin Yuanmiao mused, “This corpse’s death likely dates back 200 years, when the Taiko died and the second-generation Toyotomi government was formally established. Before that, Ise Province’s 13 districts were divided. The Kitada clan ruled the five southern districts of Watarai, Taki, Iino, Itaka, and Ichishi, collectively called South Ise. Their seat was at Yamada Castle in Watarai District. By coincidence, the Daoist Order has already captured South Ise, with only North Ise yet to be taken. We are in Iino District now.”
Little Yin blinked, not knowing how to respond, radiating the air of someone woefully unlearned.
Lin Yuanmiao continued, “Back then, the Demon King of the Sixth Heaven gained North Ise by persuasion and betrayal, then waged war against the Kitada clan of South Ise. In the end, the Kitada clan accepted his harsh terms, adopting his second son as heir and marrying their daughter to him. After inheriting the Kitada family’s headship, that man killed his father-in-law and the entire Kitada clan, even ordering his wife, Lady Chiyo, to commit suicide. This was how he seized all of the Kitada clan’s power.”
Little Yin finally caught on. “So you think this corpse is Lady Chiyo?”