Stories of the Japanese 01368 [Muromachi/Yoshinori Period] The Passing of Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu

On October 20, Eikyo 5 (1433), gardeners acting under Yoshinori's orders arrived at the Fushimi Palace. They had come to collect trees that Yoshinori desired. Presumably, a request had been made in advance for the trees to be provided. Prince Sadafusa willingly allowed the gardeners onto his property.
There, Prince Sadafusa heard a horrifying story from the gardeners. It was said that during the construction of the Muromachi-dono (the Shogun's palace), two gardeners were forced to commit seppuku because a single branch of a plum tree they had presented had broken. Terrified by this, Prince Sadafusa had 50 laborers accompany the five pine trees he was presenting to serve as guards.
Despite being so terrifying, Yoshinori never wavered from his policy of prioritizing Prince Sadafusa over Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu. To Prince Sadafusa, he was a terrifying yet reliable ally.
On the evening of this same day, October 20, Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu passed away. The issue that arose here was whether or not Emperor Go-Hanazono should observe a period of mourning (ryoan).
Ryoan refers to a period when the Emperor suspends government duties to mourn the loss of his parents. Since Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu was the Emperor's adoptive father and not his biological father, Yoshinori and Prince Sadafusa, who valued the Suko line, wanted to avoid the mourning period, while those who valued the Go-Kogon line wanted it to be observed.
Thus, both Yoshinori and Prince Sadafusa were reluctant to observe the mourning period, but Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu had left a final imperial decree upon his death stating:
1. I wish for the mourning period to be observed.
2. Giving the title of Retired Emperor to Sadafusa would mean the extinction of the Go-Kogon line. This must never be done.
3. The Fushimi-no-miya must not be made the Sento Palace (in other words, Sadafusa must not be regarded as a Retired Emperor).
4. I wish for my posthumous title to be 'Go-Komatsu'.
Although Yoshinori disliked Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu, he had no choice but to comply with the final decree, and in the end, the mourning period was observed. Incidentally, the reason the posthumous title was chosen as an addition to 'Komatsu,' an alternative name for Emperor Koko, was likely to invoke the legacy of Emperor Koko, who inherited the throne from his brother's Montoku line and became the ancestor of all subsequent emperors.
In the 'Kanmon Nikki' entry for November 23, it is written:
'Although the Shogun was opposed to the mourning period, it was decided that it would be held due to Mansai's conspiracy. It seems that when Retired Emperor Suko was released from the Southern Court, he was made to swear that he would not allow his descendants to ascend the throne, but it is strange for Mansai to use that as a shield.'
In other words, the supporters of the Go-Kogon line were making arguments using the conditions set when Retired Emperor Suko was released as a shield, and it is claimed that Mansai was at the center of this.
Yoshinori seemed to hold a deep grudge over being forced to reluctantly accept the mourning period, and he did not even attend the funeral procession for Retired Emperor Go-Komatsu on October 27, citing a 'slight cold' as his reason.