Liu Bei POV
Could it be that Zhuge Liang is not too different from what Cui Zhou Ping is like? All I know is her name. I do not know her background nor why Zhuge Liang is supposed to be this capable, just like how I do not know why Feng Xian is as formidable as she is.
“By the way, how is Kong Ming like?” I asked when I thought of it.
“Very cute.”
That was fast! This was the first time she responded almost immediately to a question of mine. And compared to before, she seemed rather gloomy and downcast but the moment the topic came to Zhuge Liang, she immediately perked up.
“By cute, you mean…”
“I can’t really describe it in words. Imperial Uncle will understand when he meets her. Un~~~” Cui Zhou Ping said as she went into a trance, as though she were picturing what Zhuge Liang was like in her head.
Even though she seemed to be a reliable older sister, she was really just an ordinary girl now. Looks like she really likes Zhuge Liang too. Naturally, this was not something I was asking but it’s not like I could ask her directly about Zhuge Liang’s capabilities.
“As for her skill with administration,” She said and smiled as she looked at me, “It’s difficult for me to say as Kong Ming has never taken up an official position before.”
“Un… I see.”
That does fit in with what I know of Zhuge Liang.
“But she’s young after all and has a lot of potential.” Cui Zhou Ping said as she lightly hit my shoulder, “Whether or not she will be able to achieve success in her first position will depend on how capable Imperial Uncle is.”
When she finished, she kept her gourd and made to leave once more without waiting for a reply.
“Ah, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. Kong Ming isn’t around today anyway so I’ll be heading back now.” She said as she turned and nodded at us, “Don’t worry, I’ll let Kong Ming know about your intentions when I meet her.”
“We will be very grateful if you should do so.” I said and saluted her, as did Yi De and Yun Chang.
Cui Zhou Ping merely smiled and left without saying anything else.
*Xu*~~~~
Soon a whistling sound came from up ahead.
“Oh~ Whistling huh?”
“Eh? Does Yun Chang and Yi De know about whistling as well?”
“I do but I’m not good at it.” Yun Chang said as she smiled stiffly.
“*Pu* *Pu* *Pu*… I am the same as well.” Yi De said as she gave up after a few tries.
I cannot really describe it but it’s different from the sound made by Sima Hui. Perhaps one can only learn how to whistle properly after becoming a hermit, I thought as I looked at Cui Zhou Ping’s back and saluted her once more.
“But this trip was a complete waste of time huh?” I said and sighed as I sat back down, “We didn’t get to see Zhuge Liang at all.”
“It’s fine as long as we come again. Didn’t Cui Zhou Ping say so as well?” Yun Chang replied nonchalantly as she began to clean up the pots and pans, Does big brother want anymore?”
“No, I’ve had enough.” I said as I looked at her, “Is Yun Chang perhaps feeling happy?”
“Happy huh…” She said as the corners of her mouth curled upwards and got up and looked out, “Perhaps. I can’t remember when was the last time I ever went out on a trip like this with big brother.”
“I see.”
I replied rather nonchalantly but I was honestly affected by the deep emotions behind the simple words she just said. Indeed, the 3 of us have not done something together like this for a while now.
Ever since the reunion at Gucheng, our journey to Jiangdong and then to Jing state, and finally our harrowing reunion at Xinye, it’s been a total rush and before we knew it, spring was back soon.
Being able to embark on this trip with my 2 little sisters has indeed helped to heal my psyche and allowed Yun Chang to spend more time with Yi De. If I think about it this way, then this trip has not been a complete waste of time at all.
“Alright, time for us to go.” Yun Chang said as she finished packing while I was preoccupied with my thoughts and got ready to leave, “Big brother should eat more quickly. We still have a long way to get back home.”
“I know.”
The really irksome thing about this trip is the arduous journey. Riding for such a long time on such unforgiving terrain is really draining.
But it’s not like there is any other choice and so I decided to face reality and quickly stuffed the remaining porridge I had in my bowl before I got up.
“Let’s go.” I said as I went over to my horse. I untied the reins halfway only to remember that I had not kept my bowl and there were still some rice fragments around but just as I was about to retie the reins to the tree, another hand grabbed my bowl.
“Xuan De, pass me the bowl. I’ll go and rinse it.”
“Oh, ah, thanks, Yi De.”
This trip has been really hard on her. She did not know anything at all but never uttered a single complaint. She even stood up for me just now too. When I looked at her back, I could not sense any sign of the old Yi De but she was still very important to me nonetheless.
“Here, Yun Chang.”
“Oh.” Yun Chang said as she received the bowl from Yi De and kept it, “Let’s go then.”
*Xu*~~~~~~
Eh? Is someone still whistling?
*Xu*~~~~~~
After a long whistle, another one came again.
“Was that from Cui Zhou Ping?”
“No, it shouldn’t be.” Yun Chang said as she shook her head at Yi De.
*Xu*~~~~~~~
A third one came. This does indeed does not seem like it came from Cui Zhou Ping. It’s noticeably nicer.
“This one is much longer and has a better rhythm. The sound is also very steady. If you close your eyes and listen, you can feel the crispness, the intellect and sharpness in the sound.” Yun Chang said as she closed her eyes and concentrated on listening.
I cannot quite claim to understand it as much as Yun Chang did but I did greatly enjoy the sound. It was truly unforgettable, even when compared to Sima Hui and Cui Zhou Ping.
“Looks like there really are some formidable individuals in this mountain huh?” Yi De mused, “Or perhaps, it’s because they’re hermits and live a leisurely life that they can perfect their whistling.”
That does make sense.
“Well, anyone can whistle and it’s not like hermits are necessarily special individuals. In the end, one needs to have a big heart to be able to whistle like that too.” Yun Chang replied and lightly swung her reins, “Let’s go. Us uncouth ruffians should return to the world where we belong to.”
“Hahaha, Yun Chang is right.” I said as I laughed. There’s no way I can be like Cui Zhou Ping after all.
“Big brother, when will we come again?” Yun Chang asked.
“Very soon. When Zhuge Liang returns, we will come again.”
“I see.” Yun Chang nodded, “If possible, I hope that you can bring me along the next time as well.”
“And me as well.” Yi De plucked up the courage and added in.
I smiled, “Of course.”
I have to bring you both in any case, though it’s impossible for you both to understand why. As we made our way down the mountains, the whistling continued every now and then and eventually, the sound disappeared as we made our way back.
I wonder, when will we come back again?
Liu Bei POV
Could it be that Zhuge Liang is not too different from what Cui Zhou Ping is like? All I know is her name. I do not know her background nor why Zhuge Liang is supposed to be this capable, just like how I do not know why Feng Xian is as formidable as she is.
“By the way, how is Kong Ming like?” I asked when I thought of it.
“Very cute.”
That was fast! This was the first time she responded almost immediately to a question of mine. And compared to before, she seemed rather gloomy and downcast but the moment the topic came to Zhuge Liang, she immediately perked up.
“By cute, you mean…”
“I can’t really describe it in words. Imperial Uncle will understand when he meets her. Un~~~” Cui Zhou Ping said as she went into a trance, as though she were picturing what Zhuge Liang was like in her head.
Even though she seemed to be a reliable older sister, she was really just an ordinary girl now. Looks like she really likes Zhuge Liang too. Naturally, this was not something I was asking but it’s not like I could ask her directly about Zhuge Liang’s capabilities.
“As for her skill with administration,” She said and smiled as she looked at me, “It’s difficult for me to say as Kong Ming has never taken up an official position before.”
“Un… I see.”
That does fit in with what I know of Zhuge Liang.
“But she’s young after all and has a lot of potential.” Cui Zhou Ping said as she lightly hit my shoulder, “Whether or not she will be able to achieve success in her first position will depend on how capable Imperial Uncle is.”
When she finished, she kept her gourd and made to leave once more without waiting for a reply.
“Ah, are you leaving now?”
“Yes. Kong Ming isn’t around today anyway so I’ll be heading back now.” She said as she turned and nodded at us, “Don’t worry, I’ll let Kong Ming know about your intentions when I meet her.”
“We will be very grateful if you should do so.” I said and saluted her, as did Yi De and Yun Chang.
Cui Zhou Ping merely smiled and left without saying anything else.
*Xu*~~~~
Soon a whistling sound came from up ahead.
“Oh~ Whistling huh?”
“Eh? Does Yun Chang and Yi De know about whistling as well?”
“I do but I’m not good at it.” Yun Chang said as she smiled stiffly.
“*Pu* *Pu* *Pu*… I am the same as well.” Yi De said as she gave up after a few tries.
I cannot really describe it but it’s different from the sound made by Sima Hui. Perhaps one can only learn how to whistle properly after becoming a hermit, I thought as I looked at Cui Zhou Ping’s back and saluted her once more.
“But this trip was a complete waste of time huh?” I said and sighed as I sat back down, “We didn’t get to see Zhuge Liang at all.”
“It’s fine as long as we come again. Didn’t Cui Zhou Ping say so as well?” Yun Chang replied nonchalantly as she began to clean up the pots and pans, Does big brother want anymore?”
“No, I’ve had enough.” I said as I looked at her, “Is Yun Chang perhaps feeling happy?”
“Happy huh…” She said as the corners of her mouth curled upwards and got up and looked out, “Perhaps. I can’t remember when was the last time I ever went out on a trip like this with big brother.”
“I see.”
I replied rather nonchalantly but I was honestly affected by the deep emotions behind the simple words she just said. Indeed, the 3 of us have not done something together like this for a while now.
Ever since the reunion at Gucheng, our journey to Jiangdong and then to Jing state, and finally our harrowing reunion at Xinye, it’s been a total rush and before we knew it, spring was back soon.
Being able to embark on this trip with my 2 little sisters has indeed helped to heal my psyche and allowed Yun Chang to spend more time with Yi De. If I think about it this way, then this trip has not been a complete waste of time at all.
“Alright, time for us to go.” Yun Chang said as she finished packing while I was preoccupied with my thoughts and got ready to leave, “Big brother should eat more quickly. We still have a long way to get back home.”
“I know.”
The really irksome thing about this trip is the arduous journey. Riding for such a long time on such unforgiving terrain is really draining.
But it’s not like there is any other choice and so I decided to face reality and quickly stuffed the remaining porridge I had in my bowl before I got up.
“Let’s go.” I said as I went over to my horse. I untied the reins halfway only to remember that I had not kept my bowl and there were still some rice fragments around but just as I was about to retie the reins to the tree, another hand grabbed my bowl.
“Xuan De, pass me the bowl. I’ll go and rinse it.”
“Oh, ah, thanks, Yi De.”
This trip has been really hard on her. She did not know anything at all but never uttered a single complaint. She even stood up for me just now too. When I looked at her back, I could not sense any sign of the old Yi De but she was still very important to me nonetheless.
“Here, Yun Chang.”
“Oh.” Yun Chang said as she received the bowl from Yi De and kept it, “Let’s go then.”
*Xu*~~~~~~
Eh? Is someone still whistling?
*Xu*~~~~~~
After a long whistle, another one came again.
“Was that from Cui Zhou Ping?”
“No, it shouldn’t be.” Yun Chang said as she shook her head at Yi De.
*Xu*~~~~~~~
A third one came. This does indeed does not seem like it came from Cui Zhou Ping. It’s noticeably nicer.
“This one is much longer and has a better rhythm. The sound is also very steady. If you close your eyes and listen, you can feel the crispness, the intellect and sharpness in the sound.” Yun Chang said as she closed her eyes and concentrated on listening.
I cannot quite claim to understand it as much as Yun Chang did but I did greatly enjoy the sound. It was truly unforgettable, even when compared to Sima Hui and Cui Zhou Ping.
“Looks like there really are some formidable individuals in this mountain huh?” Yi De mused, “Or perhaps, it’s because they’re hermits and live a leisurely life that they can perfect their whistling.”
That does make sense.
“Well, anyone can whistle and it’s not like hermits are necessarily special individuals. In the end, one needs to have a big heart to be able to whistle like that too.” Yun Chang replied and lightly swung her reins, “Let’s go. Us uncouth ruffians should return to the world where we belong to.”
“Hahaha, Yun Chang is right.” I said as I laughed. There’s no way I can be like Cui Zhou Ping after all.
“Big brother, when will we come again?” Yun Chang asked.
“Very soon. When Zhuge Liang returns, we will come again.”
“I see.” Yun Chang nodded, “If possible, I hope that you can bring me along the next time as well.”
“And me as well.” Yi De plucked up the courage and added in.
I smiled, “Of course.”
I have to bring you both in any case, though it’s impossible for you both to understand why. As we made our way down the mountains, the whistling continued every now and then and eventually, the sound disappeared as we made our way back.
I wonder, when will we come back again?
