This is Tachibana no Toyohi no Mikoto, the Crown Prince's father and the previous Emperor.

She and this minister, Soga no Umako, are carrying on the emperor's dying wish to pursue Buddhism...

...Are you following me?

Y-Yes. I am quite fine.

Listen closely. Even though your position isn't one where you'd appear in public, you still need to pound the most important names into your head.

The person this Soga clan is currently feuding with is the Shinto faction's Mononobe no Moriya...

Your older brother.

Brother...

S-Say, Tojiko?

Hmh?

Why was I working for the Crown Prince?

I'm a Mononobe as well, right?

Aren't we enemies of the Soga, and thus also the Crown Prince?