Liu Bei POV

Thereafter, I didn’t speak much with Liu Biao, nor did I wait for Liu Qi to arrive, and I left soon after under the pretext of having to prepare to leave for Jiangxia.

I don’t know how Liu Qi will take this, but I’m sure that she won’t be much happier than me on this. Or perhaps, as the eldest daughter, she will probably be much angrier about this. But I don’t have the leisure to be concerned about her as I’ve been dragged into this.

Moreover, the other side is Jiangdong, with whom I’ve just spent a long time with. When I think about how I have to meet those people on the battlefield, my heart began to ache.

“May I ask which generals have Jiangdong deployed to Jiangxia?” The moment I came out, I asked Cai Mao this. Cai Mao looked at me and stood there in a daze for a while.

“I do not know what Imperial Uncle is asking. Did my lord say something to you just now?” When she finished, her lips curled up ever so slightly. If it were someone else, they might not realise it, but I am someone who can even read Gong You’s emotions so it was clear as day to me.

From how things look, she clearly knows what’s going on, and is merely feigning ignorance. Perhaps she even knows why Liu Biao wanted to look for me, or to go even further, she might have been the one to recommend me to go to Jiangxia. It is clear, after all, that she and the twin sisters do not like my presence here.

But at this moment, as the one who is seeking refuge, I can’t be too rude. It’s not like they have to get along with me as well.

Now that Liu Biao wants me to deploy, all I can do is comply. I’ll just take it that I’m paying rent for my stay here.

But leaving aside this guessing game, I have a more pressing matter at hand.

Such as Yi De who is walking angrily ahead of me.

When I came out, she seemed to detect that something bad had happened and when I explained the situation to her, her face became scarily angry and she walked ahead wordlessly. Even until now when we’ve reached the main streets, she still hasn’t spoken to me at all.

“Yi De, please don’t be angry.” I had been saying similar words over and over. But she didn’t pay any attention to me at all. This scene looked like I was pleading for forgiveness from my girlfriend.

And just then, Yi De whose cheeks were puffed out with anger with her hands clenched, turned back and spoke to me in the tone of voice the new Yi De usually did, “How can I not be angry? Why didn’t you wait to discuss this before agreeing?”

When I heard her speak to me, I thought her anger had subsided but I soon realised that I was very wrong about this.

“You don’t understand, the atmosphere then–”

“How old are you already my lord?! How can you still be affected by the atmosphere like that?!”

I tried to explain myself but got shot down very quickly.

I should have seen this coming, but I couldn’t help but to accept it. Just Yi De alone was already this bad. I wonder what it will be when I return to the residence and face everyone else.

Gong You and the other administrative officials will definitely be very unhappy. Yun Chang will give me a lecture while Zi Long will give me a tongue las.h.i.+ng. As for the rest, they will be watching and add in here and there as well.

Wu… The more I think about it, the more I’m regretting my decision. If only I’d clenched my teeth and hung on for a while more then.

“Hai… I know, it’s my fault.” I said and bowed deeply to Yi De, “Ah, thanks for stepping up for me just now when I got insulted. I was actually feeling rather awkward about it back then.”

When I remembered that I hadn’t thanked her for what she did before, I hurriedly added on.

“Ah… Th, that huh, I was just doing what I ought to.” Yi De blushed when she heard me thank her and looked away as she held her hips with her hands, “My lord needs to stop being such a lousy good guy and just listen quietly to what people say. Really, you’ve always been so… Ah.”

“Eh?”

What did Yi De just say? Always?

“Yi De, did you remember something from before?” I went up and asked her as I grabbed her shoulders.

“Ah! My lord, don’t! P, please let go…”

Ah. I just realised that I used a little too much strength because of how emotional I was and Yi De got scared to tears from my actions. If this was before, it wouldn’t be much to Yi De. But the Yi De now is just a gentle and frail administrative official.

I got too anxious again.

“Sorry…”

“… No,” Yi De was still trembling and hugged herself, looking uneasy. From her point of view, though I’m her lord, she’s only known me for a short period of time, “I still don’t remember anything, sorry.”

“No, don’t say that.” I hurriedly replied in a loud tone. This wasn’t her fault after all.

“… Have you always been like this?” She spoke up after a period of silence. Seems like she’s interested in what she said unconsciously as well.

“Ah, yeah. I’ve been lectured a fair bit by Yun Chang and the rest because of this.”

Of course, I’ll be lectured again this time as well. I really don’t know whether I have done what I’ve done because of my own will or if I’m being led by history. But whatever the case, regretting it after the fact is pointless. I’ve also berated myself many times because of this.

“… I see.” Yi De’s anger seems to have subsided somewhat, and her expression seems more helpless than angry now, “Then everyone doesn’t actually disagree with my lord, no? In the end, they still follow you. Of course, that includes me as well.”

“I’m very grateful for this.”

— Of course, that includes me as well.

“Umm, can I ask, when you say ‘me’, does that refer to the Yi De from now or before?”

“I don’t know what the Yi De from before is like, but is there a difference?” Yi De smiled mischievously as she tilted her head.

“You’re right.” I smiled. Even if it was just an illusion, I still felt that there was the old Yi De inside her.

I nodded, and smiled, as the figures of my companions came to mind. I felt truly blessed to have been able to meet everyone.

After hearing what Yi De said, I dispelled the worry in me, and felt that as long as I explain myself nicely, everyone would accept it.

And so I thought as I followed the not-so-angry Yi De back to our residence.