Liu Bei POV
“I can rest easy now that I’ve seen you.” I said as I walked to the side and smiled while using as soothing a voice as I could muster, “The child’s entire family was killed and we miraculously saved her from the wreckage. When we found her, she was in a very weakened and malnourished state.”
When I finished, I turned to look at the uncle. He did not react much and merely listened seriously. When he saw that I had finished, he too began pacing and sighed as he did so, “Hai… My little sister and her family met a tragic end indeed. I too went to the wreckage but never met the child.”
“Yes, she was traumatised and has been hiding in a cupboard ever since.”
“I see…” The uncle nodded.
I looked at him and felt like something was off about him. He did not say anything much in response and has been fidgeting about, as though he was trying to hide something.
“Lord Shamoke!”
Just then, a energetic call came from the mansion. I turned back and saw Wen Yuan coming over with the pale and sickly looking little girl.
It’s been a few days since we saved her but Kou Feng still has not eaten much. She has bathed since then as well but her mental condition has not improved at all from the looks of things.
“Oh, Wen Yuan, over here.” I called out calmly to Wen Yuan and turned back to look at the uncle, “Is this young lady your niece?”
When he heard my question, the uncle looked over for just 2-3 seconds before shifting his gaze away as he replied somewhat reluctantly, “Y-yes.”
I felt an ominous premonition from this.
“If she is then I hope that you can take responsibility for her.” I said, feeling indignant for Kou Feng. But no matter what she was his family so he should take her in even if he feels that she’s troublesome, “Please show some compassion in these troubled times.”
I looked at him when I finished but saw that he was still frowning.
“I know.” He said, in a tone that revealed his irritation, “But, my lord, don’t expect this humble subject to afford too much for her. My clan may be considered wealthy but I have 8 children alone in my family and it really is stretching my finances. We also suffered a tremendous blow from the robbery before so I seek your understanding in that regard.”
“Hai… No matter what, please do show some compassion to the child.” I sighed and said before squatting down and smiling at Kou Feng, “Kou Feng, it’s great that you can go home with uncle soon right?”
“…” Kou Feng remained silent and lowered her head, looking up at me from time to time and then at her uncle.
“Kou Feng, this is your uncle, do you have any impression of him?” I said as I pointed to her uncle, “You’ll be living with uncle from now on.”
When I finished, Kou Feng wordlessly shook her head.
“Un? Is this man your uncle?”
Kou Feng looked at the uncle once more and nodded. Is he or is he not… It feels like it’s the former but why is she so hesitant?
“That can’t be helped,” Just then, the uncle spoke up with some helplessness in his tone, “This child hasn’t seen me too many times after all. I’ve not had many chances to interact with my sister ever since she married into the Kou family so it’s understandable that she doesn’t really recognise me.”
When he finished, he took 2 steps forward.
“But now that my little sister’s family has been killed, it will be me who will take care of you.” He said as he extended a hand to Kou Feng, “Come on now, don’t give the military lords anymore trouble.”
Kou Feng shook her head again and grabbed tightly onto my sleeve as she hugged me.
I really did not know what to do at this point and looked at Wen Yuan who stood leaning by the doorway enjoying the show and showed no intention of helping out.
“Kou Feng, go with your uncle. If your uncle doesn’t treat you well then come and talk to me.”
“Are you going or not, Kou Feng.” The uncle asked, revealing even more of his irritation.
I cannot really blame him. Kou Feng is from a separate household after all and now all of a sudden she is being foisted on him so he really is not prepared. Moreover, even when he has more or less accepted his fate albeit unwillingly, the child is unwilling to go over, further vexing him.
“Kou Feng, Kou Feng…” I said, feeling nervous as I applied more strength into my arms to try to pry her loose.
…
Wu, she’s quite strong. I did not think that Kou Feng would be so strong, to the point where I could not pull her off even after using all my strength.
And just then–
“… Daddy.”
Wu! Kou Feng actually called out to me by that form of address as she looked up, completely disarming me and leaving me at a loss as to what to do.
“Un? Daddy?” He repeated with great surprise as he pointed at me, “Is she calling you?”
“No, there’s a reason for that.” I hurriedly explained as I gestured about, “I saved her 2 days ago so she thinks of me as her family and that’s why she calls me that.”
“Daddy.” Kou Feng called out again just as I finished.
“Un…” The uncle grunted as he squinted at me and nodded. He clearly does not fully believe me yet he still nodded.
But what is with this child, why is she so unwilling to leave with her uncle? This uncle does not look like the kindly, understanding and benevolent sort of person but he is her family after all and should be able to provide for her basic needs at least.
“This child really is…” The uncle said in irritation but then all of a sudden, he seemed to come to some sort of realisation as his eyes bulged and he clapped his hands together, “Ah yes, we can do this.”
“Un? Do you have any solution to this?”
“The solution is right here.” He said as he raised his hand and pointed at Kou Feng and I in turn, “This child can just stay with the general right here.”
“Eh?” I really did not expect this answer and hurriedly waved my hands, “No no no no no, that cannot come to pass.”
“… Daddy.”
“Look how close the child is with you.”
“Kou Feng, stop calling me that.” I said, feeling very nervous to the point where beads of sweat were forming on my back. All of a sudden, the adoption of Kou Feng has now fallen to me.
“Isn’t it a good thing though?” The uncle continued with a wide and cheerful smile, “You’re rather young and from the looks of it, unmarried as well right?”
“Ah… I am indeed unmarried.”
But how did you tell?
“It all works out then~” He said as he clapped his hands together again, “You never know when you’ll die in these troubled times after all and since you’re unmarried, you don’t have anyone to take care of your corpse.”
Wu, this fellow’s mouth is really vile.
“So?”
“So you should adopt her as your daughter. When the time comes, your lineage will be secured.”
…
Securing my lineage huh? To think a man left behind family in an ancient era more than a thousand years before his birth. How ludicrous.
“General, it’s not that I’m not willing to take this child in but it’s that she isn’t willing to come with me.” The uncle continued with his wide, cheerful smile that so disgusted me that I turned to Kou Feng.
“Kou Feng, are you really unwilling to live with your uncle?”
“… *Nod* *Nod*” She then hugged me even tighter with her small arms.
Un… Looks like there’s no need for me to ask a second time.
“Hai…” I gave a long sigh and blinked twice at Wen Yuan, who finally relented and came walking over to me.
“What does Lord Shamoke think? Do you want to keep this child?”
“I…”
To be honest, it’s not that much of a bother to me as it’s just an extra mouth to feed after all. Unlike before when I was wandering about with no fixed base, things were much better in various aspects. Perhaps the only thing I am against is being called “daddy”.
Ah, I can finally understand how Yun Chang when she is being called mother by Guan Ping.
“Un…” I thought for a long while and stared at Kou Feng, feeling that I absolutely had to ask her one last time, “Kou Feng, are you sure you don’t want to live with your uncle?”
“Un un un.” This time, she even vocalised her answer.
“Umm… Uncle, are you willing to let go?”
“Un un un,” He gave the same response as Kou Feng and added, “I would be even more at ease if I could leave her with the lord general.”
That sounds very nice but I doubt he can even remember my name. It’s not to the point where he hates ger but Kou Feng is undoubtedly a hot potato for him. Even if he did bring her back, he might not treat her very well and I am undoubtedly worried about this.
Liu Bei POV
“I can rest easy now that I’ve seen you.” I said as I walked to the side and smiled while using as soothing a voice as I could muster, “The child’s entire family was killed and we miraculously saved her from the wreckage. When we found her, she was in a very weakened and malnourished state.”
When I finished, I turned to look at the uncle. He did not react much and merely listened seriously. When he saw that I had finished, he too began pacing and sighed as he did so, “Hai… My little sister and her family met a tragic end indeed. I too went to the wreckage but never met the child.”
“Yes, she was traumatised and has been hiding in a cupboard ever since.”
“I see…” The uncle nodded.
I looked at him and felt like something was off about him. He did not say anything much in response and has been fidgeting about, as though he was trying to hide something.
“Lord Shamoke!”
Just then, a energetic call came from the mansion. I turned back and saw Wen Yuan coming over with the pale and sickly looking little girl.
It’s been a few days since we saved her but Kou Feng still has not eaten much. She has bathed since then as well but her mental condition has not improved at all from the looks of things.
“Oh, Wen Yuan, over here.” I called out calmly to Wen Yuan and turned back to look at the uncle, “Is this young lady your niece?”
When he heard my question, the uncle looked over for just 2-3 seconds before shifting his gaze away as he replied somewhat reluctantly, “Y-yes.”
I felt an ominous premonition from this.
“If she is then I hope that you can take responsibility for her.” I said, feeling indignant for Kou Feng. But no matter what she was his family so he should take her in even if he feels that she’s troublesome, “Please show some compassion in these troubled times.”
I looked at him when I finished but saw that he was still frowning.
“I know.” He said, in a tone that revealed his irritation, “But, my lord, don’t expect this humble subject to afford too much for her. My clan may be considered wealthy but I have 8 children alone in my family and it really is stretching my finances. We also suffered a tremendous blow from the robbery before so I seek your understanding in that regard.”
“Hai… No matter what, please do show some compassion to the child.” I sighed and said before squatting down and smiling at Kou Feng, “Kou Feng, it’s great that you can go home with uncle soon right?”
“…” Kou Feng remained silent and lowered her head, looking up at me from time to time and then at her uncle.
“Kou Feng, this is your uncle, do you have any impression of him?” I said as I pointed to her uncle, “You’ll be living with uncle from now on.”
When I finished, Kou Feng wordlessly shook her head.
“Un? Is this man your uncle?”
Kou Feng looked at the uncle once more and nodded. Is he or is he not… It feels like it’s the former but why is she so hesitant?
“That can’t be helped,” Just then, the uncle spoke up with some helplessness in his tone, “This child hasn’t seen me too many times after all. I’ve not had many chances to interact with my sister ever since she married into the Kou family so it’s understandable that she doesn’t really recognise me.”
When he finished, he took 2 steps forward.
“But now that my little sister’s family has been killed, it will be me who will take care of you.” He said as he extended a hand to Kou Feng, “Come on now, don’t give the military lords anymore trouble.”
Kou Feng shook her head again and grabbed tightly onto my sleeve as she hugged me.
I really did not know what to do at this point and looked at Wen Yuan who stood leaning by the doorway enjoying the show and showed no intention of helping out.
“Kou Feng, go with your uncle. If your uncle doesn’t treat you well then come and talk to me.”
“Are you going or not, Kou Feng.” The uncle asked, revealing even more of his irritation.
I cannot really blame him. Kou Feng is from a separate household after all and now all of a sudden she is being foisted on him so he really is not prepared. Moreover, even when he has more or less accepted his fate albeit unwillingly, the child is unwilling to go over, further vexing him.
“Kou Feng, Kou Feng…” I said, feeling nervous as I applied more strength into my arms to try to pry her loose.
…
Wu, she’s quite strong. I did not think that Kou Feng would be so strong, to the point where I could not pull her off even after using all my strength.
And just then–
“… Daddy.”
Wu! Kou Feng actually called out to me by that form of address as she looked up, completely disarming me and leaving me at a loss as to what to do.
“Un? Daddy?” He repeated with great surprise as he pointed at me, “Is she calling you?”
“No, there’s a reason for that.” I hurriedly explained as I gestured about, “I saved her 2 days ago so she thinks of me as her family and that’s why she calls me that.”
“Daddy.” Kou Feng called out again just as I finished.
“Un…” The uncle grunted as he squinted at me and nodded. He clearly does not fully believe me yet he still nodded.
But what is with this child, why is she so unwilling to leave with her uncle? This uncle does not look like the kindly, understanding and benevolent sort of person but he is her family after all and should be able to provide for her basic needs at least.
“This child really is…” The uncle said in irritation but then all of a sudden, he seemed to come to some sort of realisation as his eyes bulged and he clapped his hands together, “Ah yes, we can do this.”
“Un? Do you have any solution to this?”
“The solution is right here.” He said as he raised his hand and pointed at Kou Feng and I in turn, “This child can just stay with the general right here.”
“Eh?” I really did not expect this answer and hurriedly waved my hands, “No no no no no, that cannot come to pass.”
“… Daddy.”
“Look how close the child is with you.”
“Kou Feng, stop calling me that.” I said, feeling very nervous to the point where beads of sweat were forming on my back. All of a sudden, the adoption of Kou Feng has now fallen to me.
“Isn’t it a good thing though?” The uncle continued with a wide and cheerful smile, “You’re rather young and from the looks of it, unmarried as well right?”
“Ah… I am indeed unmarried.”
But how did you tell?
“It all works out then~” He said as he clapped his hands together again, “You never know when you’ll die in these troubled times after all and since you’re unmarried, you don’t have anyone to take care of your corpse.”
Wu, this fellow’s mouth is really vile.
“So?”
“So you should adopt her as your daughter. When the time comes, your lineage will be secured.”
…
Securing my lineage huh? To think a man left behind family in an ancient era more than a thousand years before his birth. How ludicrous.
“General, it’s not that I’m not willing to take this child in but it’s that she isn’t willing to come with me.” The uncle continued with his wide, cheerful smile that so disgusted me that I turned to Kou Feng.
“Kou Feng, are you really unwilling to live with your uncle?”
“… *Nod* *Nod*” She then hugged me even tighter with her small arms.
Un… Looks like there’s no need for me to ask a second time.
“Hai…” I gave a long sigh and blinked twice at Wen Yuan, who finally relented and came walking over to me.
“What does Lord Shamoke think? Do you want to keep this child?”
“I…”
To be honest, it’s not that much of a bother to me as it’s just an extra mouth to feed after all. Unlike before when I was wandering about with no fixed base, things were much better in various aspects. Perhaps the only thing I am against is being called “daddy”.
Ah, I can finally understand how Yun Chang when she is being called mother by Guan Ping.
“Un…” I thought for a long while and stared at Kou Feng, feeling that I absolutely had to ask her one last time, “Kou Feng, are you sure you don’t want to live with your uncle?”
“Un un un.” This time, she even vocalised her answer.
“Umm… Uncle, are you willing to let go?”
“Un un un,” He gave the same response as Kou Feng and added, “I would be even more at ease if I could leave her with the lord general.”
That sounds very nice but I doubt he can even remember my name. It’s not to the point where he hates ger but Kou Feng is undoubtedly a hot potato for him. Even if he did bring her back, he might not treat her very well and I am undoubtedly worried about this.
