Under Minare's network of information and gossip, the news that the Land of Snow had an heir on the way spread like wildfire among its subjects, who were overjoyed for their monarch and ruler.
Although many of the country's changes had been carried out by Koyuki and the ministers who assisted her in managing state affairs, she did not hide the fact that her husband had proposed many of the ideas.
Therefore, the people of the Land of Snow also appreciated the Daimyo's consort—perhaps to a slightly lesser degree since he was not as well known or publicly seen—but their feelings were sincere.
Some villages even improvised small festivals!
"It's a lie, it has to be a lie!"
However, there were some who were not so pleased or refused to believe the truth of the information, such as the envoy of the Fire Daimyo and his bodyguards.
"It must be a ploy. I saw her with my own eyes and she wasn't remotely pregnant" the envoy insisted. One could recognize such things "Besides, her so-called "consort" has been absent for quite some time. How could this have happened?" he denied.
Could it be…?
Was she so determined to reject the Fire Daimyo's offer that she resorted to some random confidant?
"About that, sir..." one of the servants accompanying the envoy's group stepped forward "I heard that the Snow Daimyo's consort returned yesterday."
The envoy was stunned.
Didn't that mean the Daimyo had ignored his dinner invitation to discuss the proposal again because she had been "working hard" to create an heir the night before?
…
The woman had determination—he would give her that!
He saw what she was doing with this move and could only curse the wind. It seemed the trap to seize trade benefits and redirect them to the Land of Fire would no longer work.
The Fire Daimyo would not be pleased.
"No, it's fine. Even if the marriage offer is no longer something I can use, I still have the matter of resuming trade" the envoy reassured himself, convincing himself that at the very least he would accomplish one objective before returning.
He quickly adjusted his mindset and pointed at the servant who had spoken.
"You! Go and obtain an appropriate gift to send to the palace to congratulate the Snow Daimyo on her pregnancy" he ordered "No, better make it ten gifts!"
The envoy has activated the trap card: you don't strike a smiling face!
Given the situation, the best course was to downplay the discarded matter and send "good intentions," so that later they could not use events as a pretext to refuse trade again.
At minimum, the envoy needed Koyuki to give him a proposal!
Any proposal! That way he would have broken the deadlock and return as a hero.
Then he would only need to deliver it to the Daimyo and it would no longer be his problem—it would become a dispute between rulers.
Three hours later.
The envoy stood stunned, holding an ornate box containing an evidently expensive scroll with the Snow Daimyo's proposal for the Fire Daimyo as he left the palace.
"It seems the pregnancy is real" the envoy thought, staring at the box, still surprised by Koyuki's new attitude "Only a pregnant woman would change her mind so drastically from one moment to the next."
It didn't matter. The crucial part was that he had obtained what he wanted and could leave this place that did nothing but freeze his backside. He was already looking forward to returning to his mansion in the Fire capital to celebrate—conveniently with the money and merits he would receive from the Daimyo for his successful mission.
As the envoy ordered his entourage to prepare for departure, Chad watched from one of the windows as they left, with Koyuki holding his arm. The servants around them could not contain their smiles.
An heir!
They truly had an heir on the way!
"Did he really just take the proposal like that?" Chad could hardly believe how careless the envoy was. He had basically undermined any counterattack from his own Daimyo.
By the time the proposal reached the Fire capital, the Fire Daimyo's response would be almost irrelevant.
Refuse and be unable to act. Accept and lose a great deal of money.
There was no middle ground for negotiation—the proposal was a veiled way of saying: Shut up or suffer losses!
No matter the angle, it was only bad news and worse news.
"I don't think we'll see that envoy again" Koyuki said with relief as she watched him finally leave for good.
The Fire Daimyo would need a scapegoat for his anger. He certainly wouldn't admit that he was the one who hadn't thought things through.
"It's irrelevant" Chad felt no sympathy for the man. He had a job and failed to accomplish it, even returning with what might be the worst possible outcome "The Fire Daimyo wanted to bite into this country's flesh, so let him feel what it's like to bite into an iron plate" he commented, turning his head to look at her "How are you feeling?"
"The seal is quite practical" Koyuki admitted.
Not only was it preventing pregnancy nausea, she also didn't feel sudden cravings or mood swings. Of course, it had only been a few hours since the pregnancy was confirmed, but essentially, if her husband's seal worked as he said, aside from being careful with her movements in the final months and minding a few minor matters, she would hardly be negatively affected.
"Do you think we could popularize this seal?" Koyuki asked Chad "It could help increase the population."
The Land of Snow had been improving its technology, resources, and economy since she became Daimyo, but they still faced a shortage of population and labor.
Currently, only a third of the country's surface area (the southernmost region, to be exact) was being properly utilized. Koyuki needed to significantly increase the number of subjects if she wanted to develop the country to its full potential, and relying on immigration was unrealistic—people who weren't born or accustomed to cold climates would not come here when they could remain in the Elemental Nations.
"I'm afraid that's not possible" Chad shook his head, though not out of selfishness "Aside from the fact that whoever applies the seal must have a high foundation in medical ninjutsu, they also need solid fundamentals in fuinjutsu. Both disciplines take considerable time to master to the necessary level."
"I thought so" Koyuki nodded. She had expected that answer, but still had to try "The birth rate remains low in the Land of Snow. At this pace, no matter how much time passes, we'll never use more than half the country's resources and territory."
"Is it that bad?" Chad frowned. He only had a general understanding of the Land of Snow's condition; the more precise details were always handled by Koyuki.
Aside from politics, medicine, or Yukigakure, Chad maintained a supportive stance toward her.
"It used to be worse. Those beginner mother advice pamphlets you compiled were very helpful, but the improvement has been lukewarm at best" Koyuki explained "Perhaps births haven't increased much, but far fewer babies are dying, and that is very important."
Chad fell silent.
The Land of Snow's climate was not kind to the elderly or the young.
"In any case, we've dealt with the Fire Daimyo. Do you want to teach the Lightning Daimyo a lesson as well?"
"I hope it's not using the latest gossip you told me" Koyuki said seriously "While that would publicly humiliate him, he could suppress the matter with authority, and at the end of the day, the one who would truly be hurt would be the concubine and the baby she's carrying."
Now that she was pregnant, she was especially sensitive at the mention of a mother.
And saying the concubine would be "hurt" would be an understatement…
"Of course not" Chad rolled his eyes "Who do you take me for? You can advance the plan to open trade routes with the Earth Daimyo. Increase tariffs on Lightning Country products. Have Fubuki spread rumors through the ports for a reason, and if the Lightning Daimyo tries to act tough or cause trouble…"
Koyuki's eyes lit up, understanding the objective.
Although the Land of Snow benefited the most from its trade with the Land of Lightning, the latter also gained considerable wealth from doing business with them—no less than 5% of its total annual revenue.
That amount should not be underestimated. It was many times more than what Kumo achieved in a year of work and funding.
But by opening trade with the Land of Earth and allowing the exchange of goods between them, they could reduce their dependence and manipulate the market in their favor due to geographical position.
There was almost no trade between the Land of Earth and the Land of Lightning, since they would need to pass through the waters north of the Land of Fire, which involved numerous complications. As for caravans, the overland journey was too long, too uncertain in terms of accidents and bandit attacks, not to mention the border tolls that would turn any attempt into pure losses.
However, if they used the Land of Snow as an intermediary point and its port as a trade hub, the specialties from both ends of the continent would have constant demand, and the profits… would make the three involved Daimyos very happy.
Meanwhile, the Fire Daimyo would go mad with envy!
And they wouldn't even have to worry about "pirates" sent by the Daimyo after achieving the trade alliance, because neither Koyuki nor the other two Daimyos would sit idly by while someone tried to undermine their sources of wealth.
Perhaps the Land of Fire did not take the Land of Snow seriously, but when neighbors on both sides looked at you with hostility and you had to stay on guard against retaliation from both flanks—each with a Great Ninja Village within their lands—one gained a new perspective.
As for the Wind Daimyo and the Water Daimyo, they could only sigh in silence; there was no need to explain the reasons—they were quite obvious.