♥ · Yamazaki · Ayunee · · ♥

This version from "We Japanese" Combined edition.

"Which do you love better, your brother or your husband?" Prince Sahohiko asked his sister, Sahohime, in 26 B.C. She was the consort of the Emperor Suinin (the 11th) and had a baby-prince. She had little idea what her brother had in mind, and so innocently expressed her preference for her brother.

"Love is often replaced by love, sister," Prince Sahohiko went on. "You enjoy the exclusive love of the Emperor but he has many other ladies with him. You little know that some day you will entirely lose his love and affection. If therefore you will kill your husband on my behalf and help me to the Throne, you shall enjoy peace and happiness during the rest of your life."

When, soon after this, the Emperor visited the Empress at the Kume Palace, he took a nap with his head resting on her lap. This was a good chance for her, but she felt that she could not commit regicide, yet neither could she disobey her brother. A tear trembled upon her eye-lids, and dropped upon the cheek of the sleeping Emperor.

"I had a queer dream," the Emperor said, waking up. "I had a small snake of brocade-colour about my neck and I was caught in a shower coming from the direction of Mt. Saho (after which Sahohiko and Sahohime were named.) I wonder what this dream portends."

"The small snake of brocade-colour, my lord, is the cords of the dagger I have , hidden here," the Empress replied, taking out the dagger her brother had handed her. "And the shower was my own tears." Then she went on to tell the Emperor all about the dark plot hatched by her brother, asking the Emperor to forgive him.

"You are innocent, so do not worry," the kind Emperor said to the Empress, but soon after he sent a punitive force against Sadohiko, who built a fort of rice-straw, which withstood the siege of the Imperial army for over a year.

"I shall be held responsible for the death of my brother," the Empress said to herself. "If my brother is killed, how can I avoid criticism and remain as Empress?"

Taking therefore her baby-prince, Sahohime ran into the straw-fort where her brother had entrenched himself, and no words of the Emperor could bring her out of it. At last the straw-fort was set on fire. Then the Empress, carrying the young prince in her arms, came out to the gate of the fort.

"I came into the fort," she said "in the hope that I might save my brother. But all is over now. I cannot outlive him, for I hold myself responsible for his death. The prince belongs to the Emperor, to whom he must be taken." "When I am gone," the Empress added after delivering the Prince, "I should like the Emperor to marry one of the five daughters of the governor of Tamba Province, who are all reputed for fidelity and truthfulness."

The fort was burned down and Sahohime , with her brother was burned to death. That was in the year of 24 B.C.

The Emperor Suinin, respecting the wish of his faithful lamented wife, married Princess Hisasuhime, daughter of the governor of Tamba Province. She was the mother of the Emperor Keiko (the 12th).

---

Alternate versions appear Here and here.