Liu Bei POV

Liu Biao quietly sat there, and I didn’t know how to break through this awkward silence and merely raised my cup once more and took a sip.

“Good tea.” Though it was indeed good tea, my acting was poor and my expression was not too natural. After I finished taking a sip, I put down my tea cup and the awkward silence continued.

Honestly, I have a lot to speak about with Liu Biao but I was thoroughly messed up by Liu Biao’s continuous wave of surprises.

I fidgeted a little and felt the feather fan I brought along with me. I hadn’t spoken to Liu Biao about Zhuge Liang even though this was the first thing I ought to have raised.

Now that I’m in Jing state, should I be meeting Zhuge Liang soon? Why am I still here even though everything will be clear once I meet Zhuge Liang?

But come to think of it, what did the historical Liu Bei do in Jing state? All I know is that he met Zhuge Liang here, will that be alright…

“Let’s get back to the topic from before.”

“Ah!”

Just then, Liu Biao tidied his clothing as he got into a cross-legged position and spoke up. This sudden speech gave me a fright.

“May I ask where are you referring when you say before?”

“The one in the carriage.” Liu Biao bent forward with an interested expression, “How is the Som of Heaven? Is he doing well? How is his appet.i.te?”

Liu Biao seemed to be very agitated when it came to the Son of Heaven.

“He’s doing well, probably.”

I didn’t go into specifics, and I made my ambiguity plain on purpose. This was because of the image of that brat which was so firmly etched into my mind that I have never been able to think of that kid as the Son of Heaven.

“It’s good that he’s doing well. Being safe is a blessing.” Even though my words were rather patronising, Liu Biao still continued the conversation, and even bowed respectfully to the north as he did so.

Is this how devoted royals are? But I don’t recall seeing this sort of devotion in that State Uncle Dong Cheng even though he’s also royalty.

“But your younger brother still has the same question from before. Since elder brother cares so much for the Son of Heaven, why won’t elder brother take the opportunity of the coming harvest season in the south which is coming soon to make a trip to Xu chang and pay a visit to the Son of Heaven?”

Liu Biao slowly raised his head after he finished kowtowing.

“No, I’m the Governor of Jing state. As the Governor of a state, unless the Son of Heaven summons me, I will not take a single step outside of Jing state.” Liu Biao said resolutely.

“… I see.”

Even though I seemed nonchalant in my reply, I was very surprised to hear what he said. In these troubled times, practically every state Governor were acting as warlords. There were even generals that weren’t state Governors that were going around taking cities. Yet Liu Biao is just sitting here and waiting. No, I can’t say this, it will be too rude.

“Blood brother must be thinking that I’m just spouting nonsense and giving excuses for my cowardice right?”

“Eh? No no no! How could I be?!”

How many times was this already? I clearly didn’t say anything, nor have I fully described it yet. How is he knowing what I’m thinking even before I have?

“It’s fine. I can understand why blood brother thinks of it that way.” He tidied his clothing once more as he faced me, “My subordinates have kept telling me to mobilise my troops over and over; whether it was to take control of the Son of Heaven or at Guandu. Indeed, I have had many opportunities but I never acted on any of them. And the reason is none other than the fact that I am royalty.”

“Just because you are royalty?”

“Is that not enough?” He returned the question back, and closely followed up, “As royalty, the duties given by the Son of Heaven are of utmost importance. The Son of Heaven made me the Governor of this state, and intends for me to govern this place well. Apart from that, there is nothing else of which I should be concerned about.”

He was very serious when he said all this, and it seems that the concept of being royalty is deeply rooted in him. From how he spoke, I believe that he has never doubted that what he did was wrong. Though he hasn’t actually done anything wrong.

“It may not be very appropriate of me to say this, but the Son of Heaven has few allies now so shouldn’t you be taking more cities and increasing your territory? And defeat the enemies of the Son of Heaven?”

I know that asking these questions will only bring me trouble. This isn’t the first time I’m doing such things. But after hearing what Liu Biao said, I felt compelled to ask him these questions.

“I shouldn’t,” I didn’t expect that he would reply immediately with no hesitation whatsoever, “Because the Son of Heaven has not ordered me to do so. If the Son of Heaven did give the order, then I would do so even if it will cost me my life.”

Liu Biao even lowered his head respectfully when he finished.

But this really hit me hard. ‘Liu Bei’ is someone with the objective of restoring the Han after all, but since the Son of Heaven has not actually mentioned of a need for such a thing, then won’t I just be doing unnecessary things?

Never mind, forget it. Restoring the Han is just an excuse. For me, anyway.

“Ha– Un…” Just then, Liu Biao yawned and looked exhausted.

“Did you not rest well?” I asked.

Liu Biao nodded, “I woke up a little too early this morning as I went to pay my respects to our ancestors in the altar hall before I received blood brother.”

I see. Then in that case…

I thought of something and got up, “Elder brother, can you bring me to the altar hall? I wish to pay my respects too.”

No matter what, I’m Liu Bei now so the Liu clan ancestors are my ancestors.

“Oh?” When he heard my words, he seemed rather surprised, “You’re the first royal to come here with the initiative to propose to pay respects on his own accord.”

I smiled bitterly, and didn’t reply. I’m royalty now so I’ll have to learn some customs from this fanatic.