Liu Bei POV

After Liu Qi said all that, she didn’t have much else. Seems like all she had to say was all that. Naturally, it’s a little difficult to continue the conversation about such a topic was raised.

Next up should be my reply. As I looked at Liu Qi, I came to a decision.

“To be honest, if I were to think of the big picture, I shouldn’t be getting involved.”

As someone from the future, naming the eldest as the heir doesn’t seem like something necessary to me.

“Uncle doesn’t have a choice. You’re already involved.” Seems like she knew I would try and weasel my way out like this and has already thought of how to counter that, “I’m very sure that uncle will be a mutual target for murder in this expedition.”

“Why does Cai Mao want to kill me? Why does she hate me that much?”

Even though I’d guessed as much, I have absolutely no idea what I’ve done to incur her wrath. Did history forcefully make Cai Mao despise me? That’s a cheap move if so.

“Who knows? n.o.body knows what Cai Mao thinks.”

Even after knowing her for so long? But I can understand why.

“Now that you mentioned it, that so-called military exercise…”

“Un,” Liu Qi nodded, “It’s probably a ruse to lock down your troops.”

“Could they have the intention of wiping out my people?” When this came to mind, cold sweat poured down my back.

“Probably not. If they do that then how will the world look at Jing state? How will they look at the royal family?”

Oh, that does make sense. She wouldn’t be able to explain to Liu Biao too.

“Kuh… This expedition is a big problem, be it for me or for uncle.” Just then, Liu Qi frowned and her face tightened, “So I beseech uncle to help me, which will benefit you as well. Please.”

“Ah! Please get up, please get up. No need to go so far.”

Liu Qi made to kneel down on the street, and I hurriedly went up and stopped her when I saw this.

Hai… I’ve been forcefully roped in once more. I’m used to it already though.

“Alright, I got it.” I said as I patted her shoulders, hoping that it would make her feel better, “But you shouldn’t rely on me all that much. The generals I’m bringing along this time aren’t unG.o.dly strong after all.”

“I understand. Thanks, uncle!” She bowed once more as she said so.

“If you want to thank me, do it after we get back safely.”

Seeing how she thanked me so fast, it’s clear that she doesn’t know which generals I’m bringing along. I better be more prudent during this expedition.

“Un, if we can return safely, I’m willing to offer myself to uncle.”

“Eh?”

Did she just say something really incredible? But she said it so resolutely and seriously that I feel like I heard it wrongly.

Right, I probably misheard her.

“It’s not getting any earlier. I will be heading back to make my preparations.”

“Ah, un, go ahead. I have to make my own preparations as well.”

Though I said that, Gan Qing has probably prepared all my things already. It feels like she’s like my housewife sometimes.

“Yi Ji, send uncle back for me.” Liu Qi said as she waved, at which Yi Ji came over with elegant steps befitting a Court official. Liu Qi bowed once more before leaving with broad strides.

“What about young mistress?” Yi Ji asked when she came up to me, but Liu Qi just waved.

“No need to worry, Wen Ping will come get me.”

“No matter how I think about it, I still think you are really weird.”

“Eh?”

Yi Ji’s sudden words made me feel puzzled. I didn’t know what to feel about her judgement of me either, as ‘weird’ was neither good nor bad by itself.

I have to see how she explains it.

“What do you mean?”

“No, it just slipped out of my mouth. I hope Imperial Uncle doesn’t take it to heart.” She said as she covered her mouth with her sleeve and bowed respectfully.

That isn’t an answer… Speaking of which, I still feel her stare on me. This feeling hasn’t stopped at all since we met.

“Will you be going as well? To Jiangxia.”

“Un, I am. I’m on first young mistress’s side after all.”

Everyone’s in factions already huh.

“But why did you choose to serve Liu Qi? Is Liu Cong a fatuous ruler?”

It may not be right to say this about Liu Cong before knowing her but it might be appropriate to word it that way to someone who is already Liu Qi’s retainer.

“No, I just find Liu Qi a little more interesting.”

Eh?

“Interesting… Huh?”

I never knew that a retainer would choose to serve a lord because the lord is interesting…

“Of course, I think that Imperial Uncle is even more interesting.” She continued.

Me?

“I’m very interesting?”

“Of course you are.” She said, and a smile appeared on her face but she quickly covered it, “This might be rude, but based on my a.n.a.lysis, Imperial Uncle isn’t the sort of person who can survive in these troubled times. To go even further, I would even say that based on my a.n.a.lysis, Imperial Uncle should have died long ago. But yet, someone who is unfit to survive in these troubled times can live on and go from strength to strength, and even has 10,000 troops and talented generals under his command. Isn’t that something very interesting?”

“Un… Perhaps.”

I can’t really say anything to this, since I can’t really say something like ‘this is history’s choice’ which might get me branded as a lunatic, and could only nod.

Ke. She laughed. I only heard her, and didn’t see her expression but I could feel her high spirits.

“Based on my a.n.a.lysis, something big will happen in the battle at Jiangxia.”