*Tatatata*… Outside the guest hall, a girl wearing a set of floral patterned robes was tapping at an abacus in her hands with smooth and experienced moves. Her expression was calm, and also sharp. Her elegant eyes made one feel that she was very astute but she wasn’t someone anyone could order about. And at this time, she was fervently fighting for her lord.

“Hai… Money…” She was currently worried about her expenses. It’s been over a month since she’d come here and the funds she had with her were almost depleted, yet she had yet to speak with the Governor of Jing state, Liu Biao. Progress was very slow, and if Liu Bei were to advance south to Jing state under the prevailing circ.u.mstances, there was no guarantee that he would be welcome to stay.

There were many good friends of hers in Jing state from when she was still a merchant but she couldn’t find it in her to borrow money from them.

It’s been a month, and she doesn’t know how her lord is doing. She’s worried about the safety of her lord, but more so about his wallet and whether he has been spending prudently.

“Lord Mi Zhu, our lord invites you in.”

Just then, a girl who wore a gown with a short skirt and long sleeves, and had her hair tied up in a ponytail, came walking in with steady footsteps and reported to Mi Zhu. The woman had an aura about her that made one think she was an upright person and had resolute eyes below her bangs. Below those eyes, her lips were shut tight after she spoke and her hands were rigidly fixed to her waist.

When Mi Zhu heard this, she hurriedly shook her sleeves, tidied her clothing and cleared her throat.

“Un, thanks Lord Yi Ji.” She said as she smiled and nodded.

“I’m curious as to how you wish to convince my lord.” As she finished, the girl named Yi Ji swung her ponytail back and felt her neck before she strode forward.

I must make this quick, Mi Zhu thought as she kept the small abacus in her pocket.

After they entered the guest hall, Yi Ji left.

And right before Mi Zhu was a tall, handsome man who was looking at her with his hands behind his back. His eyebrows were sharp and he had a beard at his chin. He wasn’t even 30 but he seemed much older than that.

At his sides were 2 girls. The one on the left had a much larger left sleeve while the one on the right had a much larger right sleeve. One had a kind expression while the other had a stern one on. Both looked at Mi Zhu with disdain.

“Lord Liu Biao.” Mi Zhu was unperturbed by this and stopped at a suitable distance before Liu Biao before she saluted and bowed deeply, “I am here to represent my lord in an audience with Lord Liu Biao.”

“Please don’t say that, you have been here for more than a month now. I haven’t been able to see you as I have been far too busy with work.” Liu Biao lightly bowed as he said so.

Busy with work? You probably know what I’m here for.

Mi Zhu knew, of course, that this was just diplomatic language and since has actually said it to her like that, that means that Liu Biao has no intention of letting her lord come to Jing state.

Or perhaps…

As Mi Zhu looked about, the gaze of the 2 people became sharper still.

Or perhaps these 2 have been influencing Liu Biao’s decisions?

“Lord Liu Biao. I’ve come before you today for my lord…”

“Your lord’s matters have no relation with us right?” The one with the stern expression interrupted Mi Zhu before she could finish.

“But–”

“Lord Mi Zhu, you need not say any further. We all know why you’re here.” The one with the kind face said as she explained with a smile, “It may be difficult to hear this but our situation isn’t the most optimistic either. If we should incur the wrath of Cao Cao by sheltering Liu Bei, then the ones who will suffer are the Jing state citizens.”

Are they so adamant? If so, then things might be difficult for Mi Zhu, though she should have foreseen something like this coming.

A precarious situation, a very precarious situation.

To Mi Zhu, she has only 1 card that can turn her situation around.

And so, Mi Zhu pushed her hair back and boldly took a step forward, before she raised her voice and said–

“Lord Liu Biao, do you intend to do nothing and just watch as someone who shares the same bloodline of Liu Sheng, Prince of Zhongshan?!”

“…” Liu Biao’s expression wavered slightly.

“My lord.”

“My lord, don’t forget the big picture.”

The 2 people at his side hurriedly reminded their lord not to be rash.

“I know.” Liu Biao closed his eyes and nodded slightly at his 2 strategists. But after a moment of silence, he still said the words which Mi Zhu was waiting for, “… Lord Liu Bei… Is he alright now?”

Good, Mi Zhu cheered inside her mind and prepared for the follow through.

“My lord is currently being suppressed by Cao Cao, and has no choice but to head south. However, my lord isn’t well-acquainted with most feudal lords and I’m afraid we will be unable to get a.s.sistance. The only one we can depend on is Lord Lou Biao who shares the same ancestry as my lord.”

“…”

“My lord! What will Jing state do if Cao Cao comes south to invade Jing state?” The stern girl on the right exclaimed when she saw that her lord was moved.

It seems like they had arranged it before to have Liu Biao speak as little as possible and not to promise anything but n.o.bles like him want to do something the more you try to restrict them.

And it is this sort of thinking that Mi Zhu badly needed.

If she had listened to the girl with the kind face and not continued, she would have utterly failed in this endeavor.

It’s always good to hang on for a while more, Mi Zhu thought as she began to relax from relief.

Mi Zhu then saluted and calmly continued,”At present, there are many n.o.bles around the Son of Heaven who seek to control him, and Cao Cao is not a loyal retainer of the Han whom you can trust. If so, why not form a faction with my lord?”

She paused and raised her head slightly to look at Liu Biao’s reaction, and only continued when she saw that he was now frowning, “Lastly, permit me to ask this: Is the world now that of the Liu clan, or that of the Cao clan? Lord Liu Biao, wouldn’t you want to restore the Han with my lord?!”

Liu Biao has been convinced, he is completely convinced.

I’ve won, Mi Zhu thought.

— I hope that Lord Liu Biao carefully considers what I have said.

After leaving this line, Mi Zhu exited the guest hall in greater spirits than before.

Now what she had to do was to tackle the financial issues in her side.

After Mi Zhu left, the 2 girls by his side rushed to Liu Biao.

“My lord, didn’t I tell you not to speak too much? What Mi Zhu said was just to bait you. Don’t listen to her, my lord.”

“Now that the Battle of Guandu has concluded and the Yuan-Cao alliance have occupied the north, what we should do now is to avoid incurring the wrath of Cao Cao and take Jiangdong or Yi state as soon as possible so that we can stand against the north on equal terms. Only then can my lord accomplish his ambition of the restoration of the Han.”

“…” Liu Biao didn’t reply, nor did he look at their anxious faces, and only sank into thought.

After a long while, he finally spoke up, “The world now is a world belonging to the Liu clan. Based on seniority, Liu Bei can be considered my younger cousin…”

“My lord, could it be that you…”

“My lord must not advance down that path, please do reconsider…”

The 2 girls had more to say, but Liu Biao stopped them as he extended his palm.

“Kuai Liang, Kuai Yue, what you both have said makes sense but please forgive me for being unable to comply with them.” Liu Biao said as he looked ahead with a fire in his eyes, “I am resolute on my decision on this.”

“My lord…” The stern girl wanted to say more but the other girl grabbed her shoulder and stopped her.

“Yue, that’s enough already.” The other girl smiled as she nodded, “Since our lord has said as much, we just need to listen.”

“… Yes.”

They weren’t satisfied with this outcome, but saying more wouldn’t help so Kuai Liang and Kuai Yue both decided not to say any further. He was their lord after all. No matter how much they wanted something, they couldn’t go against their lord’s wishes.

“Un, thank you both.” Liu Biao gave them a heartfelt thanks as he lightly hugged the 2 people who understood him.

Inside, he felt guilty but to him, matters of the family take precedence above everything else.