VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 81: DONT TELL ME THIS IS A CONVERSATION WITH LIU CONG(2)

Liu Bei POV

Thats fine. If youre not comfortable sharing it, then you dont need to. I was just asking on a whim. I said as I nodded to avoid things getting even more awkward.

No, its not like its something unspeakable. Liu Cong said as she raised her head and revealed a stiff smile. She shifted her gaze to me and stared at me for a long while before asking, But before I share this, can I first ask uncle a question?

Un? What is it?

Thats really surprising. Does Liu Cong have a strange curiosity towards me like Yi Ji does?

Umm, Liu Cong seemed to have some difficulty expressing herself and sank into thought for a moment before slowly saying, Does uncle have any intention of forcefully taking over our familys Jing state?

Pu! I nearly choked when I heard her words.

*Ke* *Ke* Liu Cong, who told you That I want to take over Jing state? I asked as beads of perspiration began to form on my forehead at this utterly unanticipated question.

My mother told me that. She said as she took 2 steps back and seemed a little apprehensive at my shocked look.

Ah, you dont need to be too worried. I have no such intentions at all. I hurriedly replied and waved my hands as I did so.

Even though Ive explained myself umpteen times over, Lady Cai still adamantly insists that I could do something. And it seems like that influence has spread to Liu Cong. No wonder she recognised me so quickly before. Shes probably been warned about me from Lady Cai much like I have been about her from Liu Qi.

Is that so? She was still doubtful about me and her eyes had begun to get a little watery.

It is so. Your mothers suspicions have no grounding whatsoever. I said as I raised both hands and rested the blade against my chest, hoping to appear as honest as possible, Besides, Im about to move out to Xinye soon so I cant possibly intervene in the struggle between Liu Qi and you.

Of course, interventions are very possible. As I told Yi Ji earlier, though we may be in Xinye, should Liu Qi require my assistance, I will be here to help.

But for the sake of placating Liu Cong, it would be wise to leave out these sentiments.

Un For some reason, Liu Cong bit her lips and lowered her head, appearing very deflated when she heard what I said. She held up the box in her hands and looked at the seeds inside once more, but the elation from before was gone.

Un? What happened? Its almost as if mentioning Liu Qi triggered this reaction. Could it be

Liu Cong, if my guess is wrong, I apologise in advance, I took a deep breath and did a quick final run through of my thoughts before continuing, These flower seeds have something to do with Liu Qi right?

Eh? Liu Cong gave a soft cry and her eyes bulged, as though she couldnt believe that what Id just said had come out of my mouth.

That, umm How did uncle know?! She cried out in surprise.

I see, so my guess was right.

Nothing much really. The atmosphere had gotten heavy so I tried to lighten things up by smiling but it only came out awkwardly, Liu Qi has spoken to me about you before.

I paused and breathed out slowly before continuing, Ah, you know, that secret garden you sisters had when you were kids.

Flower seeds, Liu Qi, secret garden, they should all be linked.

Ah, so elder sister has told you huh When she heard what I said, Liu Cong looked deflated once more as she nodded. With every nod, her head seemed to droop even lower. Looks like this is a sad incident for her.

Un

Umm, so what are these flower seeds for? I asked as I pointed at the wooden box in her hands as I still couldnt understand what the purpose of the seeds were.

This huh She raised the wooden box and stared at it before lightly sighing, Im still very guilty about what happened back then.

Her expression seemed even heavier. Probably because that incident was playing out in her mind once more.

Speaking of that, it seems like you told on her secret back then?

Un I dont actually know what exactly happened but was it really Liu Cong who told on Liu Qi? Though weve only exchanged a few words, I dont feel like Liu Cong is the sort of devious, despicable person.

Or perhaps Im wrong in my judgement.

Looking at the result, thats what happened more or less. Liu Qi bit her lips as she said so. She was probably trying to smile but it looks like a total failure from my point of view.

But why did you do that? Was it for the inheritance

I dont even care about inheriting Jing state!

This is probably the 3rd time today that Im treading on Liu Congs heartstrings. This time, her voice was even louder and she even interrupted me.

Back then, I got along very well with elder sister. Shed told me about her secret garden and brought me there as well. She slowly squatted down, her eyes revealing a very profound sadness as she did so, I too cant come into contact with flowers so I was truly happy when I found that I could get so close to flowers there.

Eh? Youre allergic to pollen as well?

Pollen What?

Right, they dont know what that is.

Ah So you will get triggered when you get close to flowers too?

Liu Qi even told you about such a weird reaction?

Well, she didnt exactly tell me but I could tell what it was.

More or less. I gave an ambiguous reply, What happened next?

Un We went there multiple times and I once brought mother along as well.

Eh? You brought your mother? I asked, to which Liu Cong nodded.

Ah, she brought Lady Cai huh? I dont know why but I can more or less guess what happened afterwards

Back when mother saw the secret garden, she too was amazed. Liu Cong continued, Thereafter, I told father about this as well

Eh? I sank into silence for a moment before continuing, So you told elder brother about it?

Un. Liu Cong lightly nodded.

And Liu Qi was berated afterwards?

Un. Another light nod from Liu Cong.

This, this is too

I was at a loss as to what to say and was very suspicious as I asked Liu Cong, But did you ever think that if you told your father about this, Liu Qi would be seen as someone who only engages in frivolous play?

I never thought about it, because Liu Cong seemed a little displeased at what I said and continued in a defensive tone, Because father too is hated by flowers! I was hoping to make father happy!

Eh? What did she just say?

Liu Elder brother too?

Hes allergic to pollen as well?

Un. Liu Cong nodded once more.

No wonder. So this allergy is something thats passed down the family huh?

(TL: Pollen allergy is inheritable.)

Umm, so let me see if I got this right. You told your father that Liu Qi has a garden somewhere and before you could say anything else, elder brother sent men over to deal with it?

Thats what happened, Liu Cong couldnt resist anymore and placed the wooden box on her knees as she covered her face with both hands, Its all my fault! If only Id said everything clearly then!

B, but, doesnt your father know that Liu Qi has an allergy a weird reaction to flowers? If you mentioned that Liu Qi has a garden, wouldnt that have aroused some suspicions?

Back then, I didnt say that Liu Qi had a garden. I said

Father, father! Liu Qi has a very secret wonderland, father will definitely like it!

Eh? B, but

Then why didnt you explain yourself further?

Father didnt have any scary expression back then, Liu Cong continued in a tearful voice, I just left the house back then happily and only when I came home *Shiku* Did I find out that father had sent men to destroy the garden.

Ah So thats what happened.

Now everything makes sense. Liu Biao didnt fly into a rage back then because he was concerned about proprieties and face and didnt want to show his anger in front of Liu Cong.

But there are still things that arent clear.

B, but

But then why didnt you tell your father the truth afterwards? Or so I wanted to ask, but decided against it when I saw how tearful Liu Cong was.

Back then, Liu Cong was just a few years old. No kid would have had the courage to speak out after what had transpired.

Much less the second daughter of a feudal lord.

Everything. Everything happened because of coincidences and accidents of various sorts.

If Liu Cong hadnt said anything or had been clearer, or if Liu Biao was willing to listen further, then none of all this would have happened. Or perhaps, it might have happened later instead.

Hai I sighed, as I thought about how fate had toyed with their fates.

And thereafter, elder sister no longer spoke to me. No matter how much I tried to explain myself to her, she wouldnt forgive me. Liu Cong continued in her crestfallen state with her tearful voice, Elder sister then joined the army and suffered much there. I, on the other hand, engaged in studies in Court. Though it was difficult, it was much easier than what elder sister had to go through. Thereafter, we spoke even less.

Un So you both havent spoken to each other for almost 10 years now?

Liu Cong nodded and held down her skirt with one hand as she slowly got up. She then dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief which she used to blow her nose afterwards before sighing.

But I cant blame elder sister for what she did as everything was indeed a result of my actions. Liu Cong said as she patted the soil off her clothing and smoothened the creases, Though mother has told me not to interact with elder sister as we are approaching the turning point in the inheritance struggle, I still wish to do something for elder sister.