Liu Bei POV
“But she should have said something at least…” Huang Zu said as she frowned slightly and held her forehead.
It must not feel real to her. She had only just sent us off a few days ago and now they will never meet again. It’s really difficult to accept.
“In any case, let’s go.” I said as I patted her back and went ahead, turning around to check on her from time to time. Only after a long while did she follow behind despondently.
It should be fine after a few days, I thought. But even I could not accept this sort of escapism.
To be honest, I have to speak with Huang Zu about herself soon when I get the chance. We have now seized Fan city and there will be some time before Meng De re-commences her southern campaign so it’s time for Huang Zu to go and see Liu Biao. I should have brought it up when I saw her but I do not think she can have a rational discussion in her current state.
“Eh? What?!”
Un? All of a sudden, a small cry came from the front while I was looking at Huang Zu and when I turned back, I saw Chen Gong and the rest had come to a stop and were looking at me.
“What’s wrong, everyone?” I asked as I proceeded ahead slowly. Amongst everyone, Chen Gong’s expression was the strangest. She was currently inspecting me with 1 eye squinted and eventually rested her eyes on Liu Feng who was riding in front of me.
“Umm…” Chen Gong asked with that expression, “Who is that little lass on your horse, my lord?”
“Eh? You wouldn’t have only just noticed that there was someone else on my horse now, would you?”
You stood there and spoke to me for so long too. Are you saying you did not look at me at all?
“I told you, she’s his foster daughter.” Zi Long reminded with a laugh.
“But… Why…” She mumbled as she looked at me and Liu Feng in turn.
“Wu…” Liu Feng winced under Chen Gong’s stare and hugged me.
“Ah, be good, Liu Feng~” I said as I hugged her and patted her shoulders. Ah… This should be what a father should do.
“Ugh…” Chen Gong gave a disgusted look when she saw what I did.
“What is it… That expression of yours…”
“…No, it’s nothing. If my lord didn’t think anything of it, then it’s fine.” She said as she looked at the both of us in turn once more before continuing to the city.
Ah, I feel really uncomfortable though I must say Chen Gong always makes me feel that way, it’s even worse now.
“Don’t be sad, Xuan De. She’s just worried about your ability to look after Liu Feng like the rest of us.”
“Un, I know.”
It is because I know that I feel uncomfortable. Alright, I will admit that their concerns are not unfounded.
“Ah yes, I just recalled something important.” Chen Gong turned back and said after riding for some time.
“Lord Zhao Yun, the person you wanted us to look for has been found.” Chen Gong continued, her gaze fluttering over to me from time to time, “I told him that you would be here this afternoon and made him wait in our mansion.”
“Oh~~ So he’s already here huh?” Zi Long said expectantly.
“Eh? Who?” I asked, feeling befuddled. Zi Long got Chen Gong to look for someone?
“Aiya, how could you have forgotten? Now that you have a child, your memory has become like that of an old man.” Zi Long said as she smiled stiffly.
“Un… What does someone Zi Long was looking for have to do with me?”
“You were the one who made me look for him,” Zi Long said as she tilted her head, “The one you talked about before.”
Ah, now I remember.
“Is that person here now?” I asked in disbelief with my eyes wide open as I thought he would be difficult to track down.
“Un, he is.” Chen Gong replied, “And is waiting in the mansion now.”
Ah~ I can reunite with him again huh? I thought as I looked ahead at Xinye city. My saviour, Sima Hui is here.
“Woah~” I gave a surprised cry as we made it out of the forest and entered the city. It’s not that I am shocked or anything and am merely expressing my awe at the scene before me.
The walls were much taller than before. The highest level was still fitted with the wooden board so construction was still incomplete but 5-8 layers of bricks have already been added in just a few days. This pace is immensely quick, or at least that is what I think.
“Oh~ It’s already so tall huh?” Zi Long said as she smiled, a change in expression from her cautious demeanor before when we were in the forest. Even though she said that we need not be concerned about bandits, she was still cautious.
But if even Zi Long said that it was quick, then it most definitely is.
“Construction work has progressed at a good clip as usable rocks are plentiful by the south side of the city.” Huang Zu explained with a smile as she looked at Xinye city.
Looks like she’s rather pleased with what she’s done with Xinye city as she has been rather gloomy the entire time and only smiled just now.
“Ah… Of course, the commoners helped greatly as well.” She quickly added when she saw me looking at her and misunderstood my intent. When she finished, she took her gourd hanging by her waist and began drinking from it.
Ah, her gourd.
“Umm, Huang Zu,” I called out to her and waited for everyone to go on ahead for a bit before taking something out from the bag behind me and handing it to her, “Yuan Zhi told me to return this to you before she left.”
Huang Zu was stunned for a moment when she heard this but received it anyway as she looked at the gourd I handed to her.
“Yuan Zhi told me to thank you and that your gourd greatly helped her.”
Yes, this gourd is Huang Zu’s. Back then, Yuan Zhi relied on the liquor in this gourd to boost her guts as we charged out of the 8 Doors Golden Lock formation.
“Ah…” Huang Zu uttered as she stared at the gourd and shook it, “Ah~ Benefactor finished all of it huh?”
“Yes, she finished it all just before a critical moment in the battle.”
“Did it work?”
“Un, it did.”
Huang Zu closed her eyes and smiled, “I see. I just casually offered this recommendation back then but I didn’t think that benefactor would take me up on it.”
“Your habit of drinking before and after the battle?”
Huang Zu nodded wordlessly with her eyes closed. I looked at her and felt that I should say something, “Ah, Lord Huang Zu… About Yuan Zhi, you–”
“Un, I understand.” Huang Zu interrupted me again and shook her head before looking up at Xinye city, “There are more important things at hand after all.”
Huang Zu is really strong. She regained her composure a lot quicker than I thought. But since we managed to cross this bridge, I might as well discuss her returning to Xiangyang.
“Ah umm, Huang Zu, do you plan–”
“My lord? Why are you all the way back there?”
Just as I was about to broach the topic of seeing Liu Biao with Huang Zu, Chen Gong called out to me. I shook my head and looked over at her and saw her looking over with great interest as Zi Long smiled beside her.
“What is it?” I asked, knowing full well what it was but still had to ask anyway.
“My lord, I just heard about everything from Lord Zhao Yun. I never thought that my lord had such a good heart.” Chen Gong said with a smile. As expected, Zi Long told her everything.
“Ah, it’s okay.”
What I really wanted to say is that I was forced to do what I had to by the circumstances but Liu Feng was now in front of me and saying that would be too hurtful.
“Un~” Chen Gong grunted as she looked at me and then at Liu Feng, “Though I still doubt my lord’s abilities, your heart is still as good as ever and so I would like to apologise for what I was thinking before.”
“Ah, there’s no need to apologise…” I smiled stiffly as I waved my hands but then felt like something was not right and asked, “Wait, what do you mean by that? What did you think about me before?”
All of a sudden, I realised that she seemed to be thinking rather rudely of me.
“No, I hope my lord doesn’t mind it.”
Ah, she turned away.
“Chen Gong, I think you owe me an explanation.”
“No, there’s nothing to say.” She said as she continued looking ahead and ignored me.
I could guess more or less what she was thinking about. Just her expression was enough. But if I were to continue questioning her, the one who will lose in the end is me.
“Ah, I just remembered something.” I said as I looked at Chen Gong who had a wry smile on, “Chen Gong, Fan city has a message for you.”
“Un? For me?” Chen Gong said with surprise but her look of surprise soon became one of irritation.
Liu Bei POV
“But she should have said something at least…” Huang Zu said as she frowned slightly and held her forehead.
It must not feel real to her. She had only just sent us off a few days ago and now they will never meet again. It’s really difficult to accept.
“In any case, let’s go.” I said as I patted her back and went ahead, turning around to check on her from time to time. Only after a long while did she follow behind despondently.
It should be fine after a few days, I thought. But even I could not accept this sort of escapism.
To be honest, I have to speak with Huang Zu about herself soon when I get the chance. We have now seized Fan city and there will be some time before Meng De re-commences her southern campaign so it’s time for Huang Zu to go and see Liu Biao. I should have brought it up when I saw her but I do not think she can have a rational discussion in her current state.
“Eh? What?!”
Un? All of a sudden, a small cry came from the front while I was looking at Huang Zu and when I turned back, I saw Chen Gong and the rest had come to a stop and were looking at me.
“What’s wrong, everyone?” I asked as I proceeded ahead slowly. Amongst everyone, Chen Gong’s expression was the strangest. She was currently inspecting me with 1 eye squinted and eventually rested her eyes on Liu Feng who was riding in front of me.
“Umm…” Chen Gong asked with that expression, “Who is that little lass on your horse, my lord?”
“Eh? You wouldn’t have only just noticed that there was someone else on my horse now, would you?”
You stood there and spoke to me for so long too. Are you saying you did not look at me at all?
“I told you, she’s his foster daughter.” Zi Long reminded with a laugh.
“But… Why…” She mumbled as she looked at me and Liu Feng in turn.
“Wu…” Liu Feng winced under Chen Gong’s stare and hugged me.
“Ah, be good, Liu Feng~” I said as I hugged her and patted her shoulders. Ah… This should be what a father should do.
“Ugh…” Chen Gong gave a disgusted look when she saw what I did.
“What is it… That expression of yours…”
“…No, it’s nothing. If my lord didn’t think anything of it, then it’s fine.” She said as she looked at the both of us in turn once more before continuing to the city.
Ah, I feel really uncomfortable though I must say Chen Gong always makes me feel that way, it’s even worse now.
“Don’t be sad, Xuan De. She’s just worried about your ability to look after Liu Feng like the rest of us.”
“Un, I know.”
It is because I know that I feel uncomfortable. Alright, I will admit that their concerns are not unfounded.
“Ah yes, I just recalled something important.” Chen Gong turned back and said after riding for some time.
“Lord Zhao Yun, the person you wanted us to look for has been found.” Chen Gong continued, her gaze fluttering over to me from time to time, “I told him that you would be here this afternoon and made him wait in our mansion.”
“Oh~~ So he’s already here huh?” Zi Long said expectantly.
“Eh? Who?” I asked, feeling befuddled. Zi Long got Chen Gong to look for someone?
“Aiya, how could you have forgotten? Now that you have a child, your memory has become like that of an old man.” Zi Long said as she smiled stiffly.
“Un… What does someone Zi Long was looking for have to do with me?”
“You were the one who made me look for him,” Zi Long said as she tilted her head, “The one you talked about before.”
Ah, now I remember.
“Is that person here now?” I asked in disbelief with my eyes wide open as I thought he would be difficult to track down.
“Un, he is.” Chen Gong replied, “And is waiting in the mansion now.”
Ah~ I can reunite with him again huh? I thought as I looked ahead at Xinye city. My saviour, Sima Hui is here.
“Woah~” I gave a surprised cry as we made it out of the forest and entered the city. It’s not that I am shocked or anything and am merely expressing my awe at the scene before me.
The walls were much taller than before. The highest level was still fitted with the wooden board so construction was still incomplete but 5-8 layers of bricks have already been added in just a few days. This pace is immensely quick, or at least that is what I think.
“Oh~ It’s already so tall huh?” Zi Long said as she smiled, a change in expression from her cautious demeanor before when we were in the forest. Even though she said that we need not be concerned about bandits, she was still cautious.
But if even Zi Long said that it was quick, then it most definitely is.
“Construction work has progressed at a good clip as usable rocks are plentiful by the south side of the city.” Huang Zu explained with a smile as she looked at Xinye city.
Looks like she’s rather pleased with what she’s done with Xinye city as she has been rather gloomy the entire time and only smiled just now.
“Ah… Of course, the commoners helped greatly as well.” She quickly added when she saw me looking at her and misunderstood my intent. When she finished, she took her gourd hanging by her waist and began drinking from it.
Ah, her gourd.
“Umm, Huang Zu,” I called out to her and waited for everyone to go on ahead for a bit before taking something out from the bag behind me and handing it to her, “Yuan Zhi told me to return this to you before she left.”
Huang Zu was stunned for a moment when she heard this but received it anyway as she looked at the gourd I handed to her.
“Yuan Zhi told me to thank you and that your gourd greatly helped her.”
Yes, this gourd is Huang Zu’s. Back then, Yuan Zhi relied on the liquor in this gourd to boost her guts as we charged out of the 8 Doors Golden Lock formation.
“Ah…” Huang Zu uttered as she stared at the gourd and shook it, “Ah~ Benefactor finished all of it huh?”
“Yes, she finished it all just before a critical moment in the battle.”
“Did it work?”
“Un, it did.”
Huang Zu closed her eyes and smiled, “I see. I just casually offered this recommendation back then but I didn’t think that benefactor would take me up on it.”
“Your habit of drinking before and after the battle?”
Huang Zu nodded wordlessly with her eyes closed. I looked at her and felt that I should say something, “Ah, Lord Huang Zu… About Yuan Zhi, you–”
“Un, I understand.” Huang Zu interrupted me again and shook her head before looking up at Xinye city, “There are more important things at hand after all.”
Huang Zu is really strong. She regained her composure a lot quicker than I thought. But since we managed to cross this bridge, I might as well discuss her returning to Xiangyang.
“Ah umm, Huang Zu, do you plan–”
“My lord? Why are you all the way back there?”
Just as I was about to broach the topic of seeing Liu Biao with Huang Zu, Chen Gong called out to me. I shook my head and looked over at her and saw her looking over with great interest as Zi Long smiled beside her.
“What is it?” I asked, knowing full well what it was but still had to ask anyway.
“My lord, I just heard about everything from Lord Zhao Yun. I never thought that my lord had such a good heart.” Chen Gong said with a smile. As expected, Zi Long told her everything.
“Ah, it’s okay.”
What I really wanted to say is that I was forced to do what I had to by the circumstances but Liu Feng was now in front of me and saying that would be too hurtful.
“Un~” Chen Gong grunted as she looked at me and then at Liu Feng, “Though I still doubt my lord’s abilities, your heart is still as good as ever and so I would like to apologise for what I was thinking before.”
“Ah, there’s no need to apologise…” I smiled stiffly as I waved my hands but then felt like something was not right and asked, “Wait, what do you mean by that? What did you think about me before?”
All of a sudden, I realised that she seemed to be thinking rather rudely of me.
“No, I hope my lord doesn’t mind it.”
Ah, she turned away.
“Chen Gong, I think you owe me an explanation.”
“No, there’s nothing to say.” She said as she continued looking ahead and ignored me.
I could guess more or less what she was thinking about. Just her expression was enough. But if I were to continue questioning her, the one who will lose in the end is me.
“Ah, I just remembered something.” I said as I looked at Chen Gong who had a wry smile on, “Chen Gong, Fan city has a message for you.”
“Un? For me?” Chen Gong said with surprise but her look of surprise soon became one of irritation.
