Liu Bei POV

“Ah– I’m done for–” I moaned as I ignored all proper manners and just sat down on the sill when I reached the entrance of our residence.

It’s so heavy. What the heck is all this stuff?

I hurriedly put down all the stuff I was holding, and took a look at the contents in the myriad bags of various sizes. Most of it seemed to be accessories with some being clothing.

“Big brother is so useless. Are you even a man?”

Yun Chang and Guan Ping slowly caught up from behind and delivered a fatal blow without showing mercy at all.

(TL: Guys, this is the future. Even after 1,000 years of gender equality, our male descendents will still have to abide by a lot of the old ways of ‘chivalry’.)

“Even if I am a man, you can’t leave it all to me, no?” I complained as I looked at their empty hands. When I looked over, Yun Chang put her hands behind her back.

“You should endure it as a man. Where do you find a man who complains so much?”

“If you’re too naggy, women won’t like you~ Uncle~”

Wu… These girls usually espouse gender equality but know how to say such things at these times… That’s way too cunning.

But why is Guan Ping calling me uncle? I really wish that she can call me big brother from the bottom of my heart but if she did so, that would mess up seniority so I have no choice.

“But you both really bought a lot of things huh, I wonder if it’s all useful.” I said as I continued searching the bags.

“They’re all of use,” Yun Chang said firmly, “Oi, don’t search through my things, big brother. You can’t just go through a girl’s stuff alright?”

“Okay, okay, okay, I got it.” I hurriedly put up my hands as I said so.

Well I finally understand that shopping is the greatest delight for women no matter the era. To think that I never understood this in the 21st century and only came to this realisation a few thousand years earlier. What a tragedy.

“Never mind, never mind. I’ll help big brother.” Yun Chang seemed to feel embarra.s.sed or bad about it, and came over to help me.

“Thanks a lot.”

We’re already at our doorstep so what help is this… But I really don’t have the strength to carry all this inside.

“That Liu Qi is a girl of few words huh. Not only did she not say much, she didn’t buy anything either.”

“Well of course. This is her own backyard after all so she’s probably shopped a lot here. Cousin is also a big shot so she probably has her pick of really good stuff.” Guan Ping said relaxedly as she came over to help me as well.

What Guan Ping said makes sense but I don’t think that’s it.

“Probably. I believe Liu Biao treats his children well.” I decided to just give a normal reply for now. I shouldn’t be explaining too much. On various levels.

“Oh? My lord is back? Have you been fooling around the whole day as usual?”

“My lord definitely has his reasons for doing what he does, though they may not be proper reasons.”

Just as I pushed open the doors, Zi Long and Liao Hua spoke up to me. As usual, the content of what they said isn’t very pleasant.

“… My lord is a little lazy of late.” “He’s always been lazy but he hasn’t even been studying lately.” “He’s practically like how I usually am.”

So xiao Yong knows too huh… But wait, wouldn’t it be really bad if I’m like how xiao Yong is?

But looks like everyone’s back huh.

“How is the situation with our 2 divisions?”

“My lord, they’re all settled in, and we’ve come up with a command roster.” Wen Yuan waved at me and pointed at a pillar behind which had a piece of silk stuck to it that was covered in words, “It’s Chen Gong and Zhou Cang’s turns today. Everyone came back to rest since we’ve been at it for a week now.”

“Oh~ I see. Eh? Where’s Feng Xian?” I asked as I looked about.

“My lord (Lu Bu) has gone out to buy wine. She said that she wanted something a little fiery now that she’s finally gotten a day of rest.”

Un, that’s fine.

Feng Xian POV

I couldn’t hold back the impulse to get some wine.

Ah… My body aches all over. I’m so tired too.

I never thought that being the commander of an entire army would be so tiring. I have to manage discipline and morale, do accounts, and that Chen Gong fellow keeps nagging all day and night.

I usually leave Wen Yuan to do all this for me, and she even told me it wasn’t tiring or difficult and was even a good experience. Now I see that it’s all a lie. I’d rather not have the position and get to slack off. I can handle fights and wars but command is another things altogether.

Ha~ Un~

So tired.

But I want to have a really good drink for once even if I’m really tired since it’s been a long time since I caught a break.

My capacity for liquor is poor but my love for it is no less than anyone.

As I thought so, I brought the small bottle of wine up to my eyes. As I looked at it, and caught a whiff of the wine, I could tell that this was definitely a homebrew. It was cheap and sweet which was why I bought it.

I wonder if Red Hare is interested at all in wine… I’ll dip some chopsticks into the wine and let it try some. It’s not good to just give it carrots all the time after all–

*Sou*!

A slas.h.i.+ng sound came out all of a sudden.

Un?!

I instinctively dodged and saw a dagger fly past my abdomen.

“Who is it? Who dares cause a ruckus in the middle of the night?!” I looked about and saw that there was just the city walls and empty buildings and roared out, hoping to stun my a.s.sailant.

“… Tell Liu Bei, to be careful with what he says, don’t–”

Over there!

Before that person could finish, I detected where he was and threw the small bottle of wine out where that person was.

A small cras.h.i.+ng sound rang out. I probably got a direct hit.

Good.

I thought inside as I ran toward that direction. There was a short thatched house there.

Hei! I applied strength into my legs and flew up. I grabbed the corner of the roof and hauled myself up.

But when I got there, there was nothing except a broken bottle of wine.

Hai, what a waste of wine.