Liu Bei POV

It was now late in the night, and way past dinner time.

At this point, I had no intention of returning home and was nodding away as I sat cross-legged in a room beside Bo Fu’s personal room. At times, I would pick up some food with my chopsticks.

Sitting with me was Chen Wu. When she learnt that I had no intention of leaving, she prepared some wine and snacks for me.

As for Feng Xian, I let her go back first as I wanted her to rest and also to give a report to Yun Chang and the rest to prevent any misunderstandings from occurring.

Feng Xian wasn’t willing at first but she’s a warrior to the core so she’s not too eloquent and was unable to convince me otherwise so she adhered to my orders and said she would return very quickly before she left.

There really isn’t a need to accompany me. She should just rest. Same goes for Chen Wu.

“Lord Chen Wu, you don’t need to accompany me.” I said to Chen Wu. Her eyes were half-closed and her hands hung freely by her sides so I couldn’t tell if she was awake or asleep.

After a long while, she finally replied, “No, I’m afraid you will kill my lord.”

… For the sake of my innocence, I better let her accompany me.

Hai… I sighed as I tried to invigorate myself by pinching my thighs.

“Why does Imperial Uncle have to wait here? When my lord awakens tomorrow, I will let you know.” This time, Chen Wu was the one questioning me.

Indeed, what she said does make sense. Now that Bo Fu is drunk, it’s unlikely she will awaken soon. In fact, she might not even be awake even if I come later in the morning. Even if something does happen to Bo Fu, the Jiangdong people are all here to protect here and I’ll probably just be a burden.

“No, let me accompany Bo Fu.” I answered.

Bo Fu’s drunkenness was caused by me after all. No matter how I try to rationalise it, I still feel guilty about it. Even if it’s for my own self-satisfaction, I insist on staying with Bo Fu.

And I do indeed have important topics to discuss with Bo Fu, such as how she really feels about things,

“Chen Wu, you can go and rest now.” Just then, a sharp voice came from outside the room. The voice was easily recognisable as it sounded exactly like a kid’s but didn’t feel like one at all. Additionally, when she heard this voice, Chen Wu’s eyes suddenly opened wide and she swiftly stood up. From this, it was easy to guess who it was.

I looked over, and saw that it was as I guessed and hurriedly bowed, “Lord Zhang Zhao, why are you here so late in the night?”

“Lord Zhang Zhao…”

I initiated the conversation with her while Chen Wu beside me seemed withdrawn and only called out without speaking any further.

She was such an odd person but even she fears that ‘old man’ huh? Looks like Zhang Zhao holds a very special position amongst the Jiangdong retainers.

“Imperial Uncle, I could say the same to you, why haven’t you returned at this time?”

*Ta*… *Ta*… Zhang Zhao’s steps rang out as she said so.

“I ran into Bo Fu who was black-out drunk on the way back and brought her here.”

“Oh? If that’s the case, then I really have to thank you.” Zhang Zhao bowed very respectfully as she said so.

“No no no, this is what I ought to do.” I hurriedly we t forward to stop her as this wasn’t a big deal no matter how you cut it.

But from Zhang Zhao’s tone, I could tell that she was not surprised at hearing that Bo Fu was drinking, but I don’t know if it’s because she predicted this or if this is normal for Bo Fu.

As Zhang Zhao got up, her gaze s.h.i.+fted to Chen Wu who trembled as she got up and bowed to me before leaving in a hurry.

*Ta*… *Ta*… Zhang Zhao slowly walked over to me and stopped at a seat to my right before very politely and courteously kneeling down.

“Why does Lord Zhang Zhao have to sit beside me?”

“You are a lord while I am a retainer so we are not of the same level. Naturally, I should sit in a position that is equal to yours.” Zhang Zhao said before she turned and looked at Bo Fu in the adjoining room as she spoke to me, “Did my lord Sun Ce say anything on the way back while she was drunk?”

Wu… I was caught off-guard at Zhang Zhao’s sudden question, and didn’t have any diplomatic or courteous excuse prepares. After thinking for a long while, I decided that it would be for the best if I told the truth.

I looked at Zhang Zhao and nodded, “Bo Fu did indeed say some things, such as–”

“It’s fine even if you don’t say it. I can predict what she said more or less.”

Zhang Zhao interrupted me just as I was about to list some examples. I looked at Zhang Zhao and saw that her expression seemed to have a tinge of sadness. This could be a misconception of mine however, or not.

“And so, were you planning to speak to Bo Fu about this?”

Zhang Zhao guessed what I was thinking about yet again.

“Un, I feel that I should say something to Bo Fu.”

“Yes, and what were you going to say?”

“I was going to say…”

My words got stuck.

“You were going to say that you wish my lord would not tire herself out and if there is anything troubling her, she can speak to Imperial Uncle right?”

“… Something like that, yes.”

I maintained my pa.s.siveness when answering Zhang Zhao, at which she sighed, “You’re too naive… Of course, my lord is too naive as well.”

I can understand the front half but I don’t understand why she said the latter half.

“What does Lord Zhang Zhao mean?”

“Ever since my lord took over from Wen Tai (Sun Jian), her performance has been outstanding and I was very satisfied. Now she has suffered a grievous wound from someone who bore a deep grudge against her which has devastated her. This can’t be helped but it is especially at times like these that I can’t let her run away.”

“Why?”

“As a retainer, I have a duty to help my lord finish her undertakings. Losing in battle and getting hated is something unavoidable. Only through overcoming such things can a ruler attain greater heights! My lord Sun Ce must conquer this, not run away!”

The more Zhang Zhao went on, the more agitated she got. If you think about what she says, it does make sense. But based on my world view, it isn’t very convincing.

“But Bo Fu is just a girl who isn’t even 20 yet…”

“The men and women of Jiangdong are treated as adults upon their reaching 16 years of age. Gender equality has been in place since the Shang dynasty and is a given, what excuse can there be?”

“But…”

I wanted to say more for Bo Fu, just like what I did for Sun Quan. But this didn’t go well with Zhang Zhao who closed her eyes and placed her palms on the ground as she slowly said, “Imperial Uncle is benevolent and kind, and what you say is not illogical and unreasonable. But these are troubled times and the naive will only meet with death!”

Naive… Zhang Zhao used this adjective again. By her logic, allowing oneself to be weak is naivety, as is compromise. Only by soldiering on unrelentingly can one survive in this era.

That is indeed correct.

But I still won’t agree to it.

“There’s nothing wrong with being naive. Only when one is naive does one seem more human. From my point of view, the naive ones are the ones who can lead better.” I calmly replied what I truly felt, “I am indeed a naive person but I believe that only naive people will enjoy the reverence of others. Doesn’t Bo Fu enjoy the reverence of her people and retainers? Do people look down on her just because she has retired?”

Bo Fu is an amazing person.

In her most sorrowful moments, she shouldered great responsibilities and fought tirelessly and unrelentingly until now. She unified Jiangdong but had to suffer a great deal of hatred and ultimately nearly died for it.

Is this not enough? I thought and breathed out as I decided to say 1 last sentence before I leave as I felt that I couldn’t out-talk Zhang Zhao and I was also afraid that I couldn’t even convince myself.

And so, I said what I wanted to say the most, “Bo Fu has done enough for Jiangdong! She has the right to choose the life she wants to live.”