Liu Qi POV
I cannot believe Liu Cong was able to step up against me so strongly like that. I really take my hat off to her. And to be able to say what she said, she must have been doing it for a while now.
If that’s the case, then maybe she could succeed… No, the time for saying such things has long since passed.
We are already grown up now. Even if I do forgive her for what happened back then, so what? Only one of us can receive the inheritance. The other will be left in the lurch.
“You’re too naive.” When I thought about this, I began to feel that I was being silly lashing out at her like that, “Times have changed. Even if you do find the same flowers as before, so what?”
“No matter the times, I’ll still be your little sister.” But even so, she remained defiant, “As long as elder sister acknowledges this, it’s enough.”
“…” I stared daggers at Liu Cong and wondered why she was so obstinate and unyielding, “Liu Cong, you–”
Elder sister~
Wu!
An auditory hallucination of Liu Cong calling out to me assaulted my mind. That voice called out from a distant and close by and seemed continuous and unceasing.
Now that I think about it, it seems like she’s always addressed me respectfully even after I started calling her by her full name directly…
“… Do as you wish.”
After thinking about things for a moment, I decided to give up and let her be. Just as when I left father’s room, I just turned around and continued walking without looking at her.
“Ah! It’s a promise then!” Of course, her voice still rang out from behind, “Elder sister need not worry about father!”
… Hmph. She sure can talk big even though she’s younger than me by 3 years.
I did not reply her as my emotions were a mess. Only after about 30-40 paces did I cowardly turn around. When I did not see any sign of Liu Cong, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Young mistress, this is–”
“I do not wish to discuss what just happened.” I raised my hand and interrupted Yi Ji as discussing this topic would only make things worse.
When Yi Ji heard my response, she understood my intent and did not say anything and only saluted. As she followed me, I could hear her muttering under her breath. When I listened closely, I found that she was talking to herself on the preparations to go to Jiangxia.
I do not remember if I have raised it with her before but I have to say that Yi Ji is a lot more important to me than I initially thought.
“By the way, sorry about what happened before. I lost my temper back there.” I apologised when I remembered how I pushed her away.
When I looked at her, I saw that she had no expression on as usual. Only after a moment did she recognise that I was speaking to her and she stopped her internal discussions.
“Since you do not wish to discuss what just happened, I too do not wish to as well.”
“… Haha, I see.” I smiled and felt relieved.
Just then a rather tasteless question came to mind. Tasteless though it may be, it was not too boring as a topic of casual conversation.
“Yi Ji.”
“Your retainer is here.”
“If I am no longer around, will you go and serve Liu Cong?”
“No,” Yi Ji replied immediately, “I was planning on seeking refuge with Imperial Uncle Liu if that should come to pass.”
Ah~ Just as expected huh? Yi Ji respects uncle just as I do. But perhaps I should have realised this during the Battle of Jiangxia.
“But it looks like that wish can no longer be fulfilled.” She added.
As she said so, her gaze shifted lower, a sign that she was sad. I never noticed this before I got close to her but now I have begun to notice Yi Ji’s subtle changes in her behaviour.
Those words of her brought my feelings towards uncle back to the surface again. To me, Liu Bei is not just my uncle.
I wonder where uncle is now.
I wonder what Xinye is like now. There has not been any news since then after all.
Ah… I wonder how his companions are after this happened. Though it’s not quite right for someone of my position to say this, I would not be surprised if they decided to lay siege on Xiangyang the next day in the name of vengeance.
Liu Qi is now headed for Jiangxia and Liu Bei to Xinye. Let’s leave these 2 stories for the time being and return to Lady Cai.
Haa, Haa, Haa.
As Lady Cai left the room, the first thing she thought about was to look for Cai Mao. She was heaving but even so, she did not dare to lighten her pace.
“Little sister! Little sister!” As Lady Cai reached Cai Mao’s mansion, she did not bother knocking nor did she get an attendant to call for Cai Mao and pushed the doors open as she called out.
“Elder sister, what are you doing this for?”
When she pushed open the doors, Lady Cai saw Cai Mao sitting in the courtyard with a bowl of wine in her hands.
“Little sister! How do you still have the leisure to drink here!” Lady Cai got even mire anxious when she saw this and exclaimed as she snatched away the bowl from Cai Mao.
“Hai..” Cai Mao calmly looked up at the anxious Lady Cai and sighed, “Elder sister, calm down.”
Ah, if I knew elder sister was coming, I would have prepared a bowl for her, Cai Mao thought.
“Don’t think that anybody can be as nonchalant as you, my little sister.”
Lady Cai’s expression was simply terrible and she was flailing about as she paced beside Cai Mao, her handkerchief flying about.
“Now that you’re going to leave Xiangyang, what am I to do as the only one left~”
“What’s there to panic about.” Cai Mao said as she tilted her head and crossed her legs, “My spies in the mansion just told me that Liu Qi is going to Jiangxia which means that Xiangyang will continue to remain in our control.”
“But it seems like Jin Sheng wanted to let Liu Qi be–”
“It’s not too big of a deal even if our lord has that intent. When the time comes, I have my way of dealing with it.” Cai Mao stood up and went to Lady Cai. As she looked at her elder sister’s face which was covered in perspiration, she patted her shoulder, “All you need to do now is to continue giving our lord the medicine you’ve always been giving him.”
When she heard this, Lady Cai blanched further and lowered her head as she balled her fists. She hesitated for a moment before she slowly said, “But I feel that Jin Sheng has already detected this…”
“So what? Our lord didn’t say anything anyway.” Cai Mao said with a cold expression devoid of all emotion, “Moreover, our physician didn’t say anything so what is there to be concerned about?”
Wu… Lady Cai frowned and seemed a little withdrawn. From her perspective, she was truly afraid when Jin Sheng looked at her before. And this was something that Cai Mao understood as well.
“What is it? Could it be that elder sister regrets it?”
“I, I just feel that Jin Sheng…”
“Even if you regret it, we can no longer turn back. You should understand this.” Cai Mao said with a slightly malicious look which frightened Lady Cai. But then Cai Mao then looked at Lady Cai with a more kind expression as she continued, “This is all for my niece and your daughter. What are you still hesitating for?”
“I understand.” Lady Cai said as she frowned and looked away irritatedly, “In the end, it’s all because you weren’t thorough enough. Liu Bei didn’t die and things have become so troublesome now.”
“… Troublesome? Why is it that I feel that things have become simpler?” Cai Mao said as she stared at Lady Cai’s back, “Really, I can’t believe elder sister is backing away at such a crucial time. You’ve always been like this since we were young. Elder sister really is a woman huh.”
“Cai Mao! Don’t forget that I’m your elder sister!” Lady Cai was angered by Cai Mao’s words and turned around and looked at the icy Cai Mao, “Don’t forget you are a woman as well.”
“How can I be counted as one? When I don’t even have any children? Keke.” Cai Mao giggled in a rare and frightening show of emotion.
“But it’s fine. If you don’t want to give him more medicine then don’t. The physician from before told me that our lord’s health will never recover fully.” Cai Mao sighed, “Elder sister, have you prepared ‘that’ yet?”
When she heard about ‘that’, Lady Cai’s expression became stern and she frowned as she held her cape tightly, “It’s ready. But do you really intend to do things that way?”
“Just in case.” Cai Mao said as she went up to her elder sister and whispered very softly into her ear–
“– I’ve taken steps to secure the support of the 4 commanderies in the south when the various Administrators came to visit.”
Eh?! Lady Cai was shocked at how Cai Mao’s actions have grown bolder and bigger of late. She also no longer consulted her before acting. This, was something very worrying.
“Does Cong’er know?”
“Of course not. When everything is settled, we can tell her then.”
“Hu… The final step huh?” Though all these moves were risky, Lady Cai felt that they were necessary trials.
Everything was for her daughter after all.
Lady Cai resolved to never question her decision again.
Liu Qi POV
I cannot believe Liu Cong was able to step up against me so strongly like that. I really take my hat off to her. And to be able to say what she said, she must have been doing it for a while now.
If that’s the case, then maybe she could succeed… No, the time for saying such things has long since passed.
We are already grown up now. Even if I do forgive her for what happened back then, so what? Only one of us can receive the inheritance. The other will be left in the lurch.
“You’re too naive.” When I thought about this, I began to feel that I was being silly lashing out at her like that, “Times have changed. Even if you do find the same flowers as before, so what?”
“No matter the times, I’ll still be your little sister.” But even so, she remained defiant, “As long as elder sister acknowledges this, it’s enough.”
“…” I stared daggers at Liu Cong and wondered why she was so obstinate and unyielding, “Liu Cong, you–”
Elder sister~
Wu!
An auditory hallucination of Liu Cong calling out to me assaulted my mind. That voice called out from a distant and close by and seemed continuous and unceasing.
Now that I think about it, it seems like she’s always addressed me respectfully even after I started calling her by her full name directly…
“… Do as you wish.”
After thinking about things for a moment, I decided to give up and let her be. Just as when I left father’s room, I just turned around and continued walking without looking at her.
“Ah! It’s a promise then!” Of course, her voice still rang out from behind, “Elder sister need not worry about father!”
… Hmph. She sure can talk big even though she’s younger than me by 3 years.
I did not reply her as my emotions were a mess. Only after about 30-40 paces did I cowardly turn around. When I did not see any sign of Liu Cong, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Young mistress, this is–”
“I do not wish to discuss what just happened.” I raised my hand and interrupted Yi Ji as discussing this topic would only make things worse.
When Yi Ji heard my response, she understood my intent and did not say anything and only saluted. As she followed me, I could hear her muttering under her breath. When I listened closely, I found that she was talking to herself on the preparations to go to Jiangxia.
I do not remember if I have raised it with her before but I have to say that Yi Ji is a lot more important to me than I initially thought.
“By the way, sorry about what happened before. I lost my temper back there.” I apologised when I remembered how I pushed her away.
When I looked at her, I saw that she had no expression on as usual. Only after a moment did she recognise that I was speaking to her and she stopped her internal discussions.
“Since you do not wish to discuss what just happened, I too do not wish to as well.”
“… Haha, I see.” I smiled and felt relieved.
Just then a rather tasteless question came to mind. Tasteless though it may be, it was not too boring as a topic of casual conversation.
“Yi Ji.”
“Your retainer is here.”
“If I am no longer around, will you go and serve Liu Cong?”
“No,” Yi Ji replied immediately, “I was planning on seeking refuge with Imperial Uncle Liu if that should come to pass.”
Ah~ Just as expected huh? Yi Ji respects uncle just as I do. But perhaps I should have realised this during the Battle of Jiangxia.
“But it looks like that wish can no longer be fulfilled.” She added.
As she said so, her gaze shifted lower, a sign that she was sad. I never noticed this before I got close to her but now I have begun to notice Yi Ji’s subtle changes in her behaviour.
Those words of her brought my feelings towards uncle back to the surface again. To me, Liu Bei is not just my uncle.
I wonder where uncle is now.
I wonder what Xinye is like now. There has not been any news since then after all.
Ah… I wonder how his companions are after this happened. Though it’s not quite right for someone of my position to say this, I would not be surprised if they decided to lay siege on Xiangyang the next day in the name of vengeance.
Liu Qi is now headed for Jiangxia and Liu Bei to Xinye. Let’s leave these 2 stories for the time being and return to Lady Cai.
Haa, Haa, Haa.
As Lady Cai left the room, the first thing she thought about was to look for Cai Mao. She was heaving but even so, she did not dare to lighten her pace.
“Little sister! Little sister!” As Lady Cai reached Cai Mao’s mansion, she did not bother knocking nor did she get an attendant to call for Cai Mao and pushed the doors open as she called out.
“Elder sister, what are you doing this for?”
When she pushed open the doors, Lady Cai saw Cai Mao sitting in the courtyard with a bowl of wine in her hands.
“Little sister! How do you still have the leisure to drink here!” Lady Cai got even mire anxious when she saw this and exclaimed as she snatched away the bowl from Cai Mao.
“Hai..” Cai Mao calmly looked up at the anxious Lady Cai and sighed, “Elder sister, calm down.”
Ah, if I knew elder sister was coming, I would have prepared a bowl for her, Cai Mao thought.
“Don’t think that anybody can be as nonchalant as you, my little sister.”
Lady Cai’s expression was simply terrible and she was flailing about as she paced beside Cai Mao, her handkerchief flying about.
“Now that you’re going to leave Xiangyang, what am I to do as the only one left~”
“What’s there to panic about.” Cai Mao said as she tilted her head and crossed her legs, “My spies in the mansion just told me that Liu Qi is going to Jiangxia which means that Xiangyang will continue to remain in our control.”
“But it seems like Jin Sheng wanted to let Liu Qi be–”
“It’s not too big of a deal even if our lord has that intent. When the time comes, I have my way of dealing with it.” Cai Mao stood up and went to Lady Cai. As she looked at her elder sister’s face which was covered in perspiration, she patted her shoulder, “All you need to do now is to continue giving our lord the medicine you’ve always been giving him.”
When she heard this, Lady Cai blanched further and lowered her head as she balled her fists. She hesitated for a moment before she slowly said, “But I feel that Jin Sheng has already detected this…”
“So what? Our lord didn’t say anything anyway.” Cai Mao said with a cold expression devoid of all emotion, “Moreover, our physician didn’t say anything so what is there to be concerned about?”
Wu… Lady Cai frowned and seemed a little withdrawn. From her perspective, she was truly afraid when Jin Sheng looked at her before. And this was something that Cai Mao understood as well.
“What is it? Could it be that elder sister regrets it?”
“I, I just feel that Jin Sheng…”
“Even if you regret it, we can no longer turn back. You should understand this.” Cai Mao said with a slightly malicious look which frightened Lady Cai. But then Cai Mao then looked at Lady Cai with a more kind expression as she continued, “This is all for my niece and your daughter. What are you still hesitating for?”
“I understand.” Lady Cai said as she frowned and looked away irritatedly, “In the end, it’s all because you weren’t thorough enough. Liu Bei didn’t die and things have become so troublesome now.”
“… Troublesome? Why is it that I feel that things have become simpler?” Cai Mao said as she stared at Lady Cai’s back, “Really, I can’t believe elder sister is backing away at such a crucial time. You’ve always been like this since we were young. Elder sister really is a woman huh.”
“Cai Mao! Don’t forget that I’m your elder sister!” Lady Cai was angered by Cai Mao’s words and turned around and looked at the icy Cai Mao, “Don’t forget you are a woman as well.”
“How can I be counted as one? When I don’t even have any children? Keke.” Cai Mao giggled in a rare and frightening show of emotion.
“But it’s fine. If you don’t want to give him more medicine then don’t. The physician from before told me that our lord’s health will never recover fully.” Cai Mao sighed, “Elder sister, have you prepared ‘that’ yet?”
When she heard about ‘that’, Lady Cai’s expression became stern and she frowned as she held her cape tightly, “It’s ready. But do you really intend to do things that way?”
“Just in case.” Cai Mao said as she went up to her elder sister and whispered very softly into her ear–
“– I’ve taken steps to secure the support of the 4 commanderies in the south when the various Administrators came to visit.”
Eh?! Lady Cai was shocked at how Cai Mao’s actions have grown bolder and bigger of late. She also no longer consulted her before acting. This, was something very worrying.
“Does Cong’er know?”
“Of course not. When everything is settled, we can tell her then.”
“Hu… The final step huh?” Though all these moves were risky, Lady Cai felt that they were necessary trials.
Everything was for her daughter after all.
Lady Cai resolved to never question her decision again.
