Liu Bei POV

“Ah… I really don’t understand, why are they going so far?”

“Uncle, are you an only child in your family?”

“Eh? Ah, more or less.” Her sudden question put me at a loss and I needed a moment to recover before I answered. And after hearing my answer, Liu Qi nodded.

“Then that makes sense. Uncle, do you know what a household with 2 or even more children will be like?” Liu Qi said, her eyes misting over, as though she were picturing some scenes before her, “At the end of the day, it’s not something that isn’t hard to understand. Governors.h.i.+p is like a pear – It isn’t something that can be divided neatly and evenly for 2 people.”

“Eh? Have you heard about Lord Kong Rong’s story as well?”

“I have indeed, but that’s not the point.” She delivered such a serious tsukkomi that I actually felt bad about it. I wonder what she will feel if she knows the truth about his story of giving pears.

“Alright, I can understand most of it. What do we do later then?”

“… That is…” Liu Qi sank into silence for a moment and seemed to resolve herself for something as she continued, “Though I feel bad about doing this, but we can only be honest about it. Lord Huang Zu did not deploy the right people to the right mission, rode out of the city willfully to meet challenges, did not treat her subordinates well, and directly caused our defeat in the final naval battle–”

“Wait wait wait wait…” I hurriedly stopped her as I couldn’t listen on any longer.

“Is there any problem?”

“Based on what Liu Qi just said, doesn’t it seem like it was all Lord Huang Zu’s fault? It sounds as though our total and utter defeat were because of her leaders.h.i.+p.”

“That’s right? Is there anything wrong with that?” Liu Qi tilted her head as she replied with a question, as though she did not detect or know about my fury.

I wanted to respond immediately with a retort but just as I opened my mouth,I realised that what Liu Qi said was right. Attributing this defeat entirely to Huang Zu is not a stretch by any means at all. Whether it was the very first skirmish, the siege battle or the final naval battle, it all seemed to be Huang Zu’s fault.

“But, if it weren’t for–” I tried to open my mouth and say something but stopped short once more. There are some things where even if you say them, n.o.body will believe them. Even if she does believe me, at the end of the day, it’s only my conjecture.

I know that Huang Zu was not counting on any reinforcements sent her way when she plunged into the first skirmish outside the city. As for the siege battle, she only left the city because she wanted to defend the pride of her lord, Liu Biao. Huang Zu was also suspicious of Gan Ning and had predicted she would switch sides which was why she did not let her take a cardinal role during the naval battle.

But all these were things that only I knew. From anyone else’s viewpoint, especially with regards to the final outcome, n.o.body would come to the same conclusion as I did. There would be no bravery, no intellect, nor even loyalty; just the image of a fatuous leader.

Returning back to the issue at hand, should we really lay all the blame on Huang Zu for this loss? Will what Liu Qi said be the lid for Huang Zu’s coffin?

That’s too much. It would be unjust for her.

“Uncle? What exactly are you trying to say?”

“… Un,” I sank into silence once more but immediately decided that it should done the way I felt it should be, and said, “Liu Qi, we shouldn’t talk about Huang Zu. If we must, then we should say that she bravely sacrificed herself.”

“Uncle, but if we do that, how do we find an excuse–”

“If we don’t have an excuse, then we don’t have one.”

I don’t know if I got possessed by Huang Zu, but I too picked up her bad habit, and interrupted Liu Qi. She was surprised, and I too realised that being forceful like that did not suit me in the least and continued, “… If we have to blame someone, leave it to me, I will blame elder brother. He only gave us 5,000 men after all. If we are to blame someone, Huang Zu isn’t the one. I feel that she has given everything she has to give.”

Liu Qi looked at me with puzzlement in her eyes as she said, “It’s not like we can’t do it that way… But why are you adamant on defending Huang Zu’s honour?”

“Because she died. For Jiangxia.”

It’s almost as if the 2 words written on her plate skirt appeared in my eyes as I gave my reply. And for some reason, perhaps because of my words, Liu Qi was currently staring at me with bulging eyes.

“Wh, what is it?”

“No, I was just thinking that uncle can actually say such words with resolve.”

Wu… My ears started to heat up when I heard these words.

“I was just saying the truth…”

“Hoho.” Liu Qi narrowed her eyes at me, and sank into thought as she closed her eyes before saluting as she said, “But what you said does indeed make sense. I apologise for being rude to Lord Huang Zu. When we return to Xiangyang, I will not make any mention of Huang Zu’s faults– Will this do?”

“You don’t need to be so formal about it. An ‘alright’ would have been enough.”

“Alright.” Liu Qi said exactly what I told her to.

When I look at her like this, I felt even more embarra.s.sed at what I said before.

“In any case, when it’s time to deliver a report, just leave it to me. You may be the commanding officer, but if its elder brother, he will give some face to me.”

“Un, I’ll leave it to you then– Ah.” Just then, Liu Qi seemed to spot something and rode up a little before jumping off her horse and picking something up.

“Liu Qi, what are you doing?” I asked after we slowly caught up.

“Un?” She raised her head, revealing the thing in her hands, something that was very mundane indeed.

“Is this… Foxtail?”

“Yes, uncle knows what this is?”

It really is foxtail huh.

“Wen Ping,” While I was still surprised, she called out to someone I didn’t expect.

Wen Ping?

“My lord…” She uttered as she slowly dismounted and walked over to Liu Qi with light footsteps.

Liu Qi expressionlessly handed over the foxtail to Wen Ping, “Here, this is what you were talking about before right?”

“Yes. Thank you, my lord.” Wen Ping calmly thanked Liu Qi and bit on the foxtail after receiving it.

Eh? What is going on? I don’t understand it at all.

“Alright! Apologies for the trouble, everyone! Let’s continue on our way!” Liu Qi yelled as she mounted her white horse and continued on as though nothing happened.

“Ah~ She looks so cool having that in her mouth.”

“Really? I think it’s filthy.”

“Don’t make comments about people like that.”

The 3 people behind me began arguing on e more but I wasn’t too interested in that. What drew my interest was Liu Qi.

“Liu Qi, did you know that Wen Ping likes to nibble on foxtail?,

“… Un, after we talked for a bit yesterday night.”

“Heh~” I uttered in amazement. Looks like she really is putting in effort to establish good relations with her subordinates.

“Wh, what is it?”

“No, nothing. It’s good.” I said as I looked at the emotionally clumsy Liu Qi and couldn’t help but smile. Of course, I quickly erased it from my face.

But I really didn’t think that it would happen. Nor can I imagine what a scene of them chatting would look like. Their conversations would probably be short and filled with silence.

Ah, that probably is what transpired. But…

I stole a glance at Liu Qi and felt the change in her. It feels like she’s more livelier than before. Or perhaps less restrained would be a better phrase.

“… Why is uncle staring at me again?”

“Un? Nothing, I just feel that you look good in your twin tails and was wondering how you would look like with your hair down.”

“Didn’t you see it before? Back in my main tent.”

Ah, now that she said it, that does seem to be the case.

“Un? Imperial Uncle, what were you doing in Lord Liu Qi’s tent?” Chen Gong immediately asked when she heard our conversation.

“It was that time, way back in our first skirmish with the robbers. You had said the troops were difficult to command and Yi Ji brought me over shortly after.”

“What did you both discuss?” Zhou Cang asked with interest.

Why does it feel like I’m a husband who is being questioned by his wife after he just came home? And we’re not even home yet.

“We spoke about how the troops were Cai Mao’s.”

“Yes, I also fell asleep for a bit then.” Liu Qi added.

Eh?! Must you put it that way!?

“Fell asleep for a bit?” Yi Ji’s eyes bulged by almost a factor when she heard this.

“Did Lord Liu Bei do anything to you then?” Wen Ping already has her sword out while the 3 behind me are watching me with suspicion in their eyes.

Wu… It’s this kind of scene again.

“Liu Qi! You can’t say anything that didn’t happen! You must explain everything!” I said as I shot a glance to Liu Qi, hoping that she could read the atmosphere and responsibly say appropriate things.

“I understand. Uncle didn’t do anything back then.”

“That’s right!” I exclaimed as I clapped.

“He just carried me to the bed.”

“What!!”

A clear sound rang out as the sword was drawn out of it’s sheathe and placed on my neck. “What designs does Imperial Uncle have on my lord?” Wen Ping said in a thin but pressurising voice from up close.

“I didn’t do anything! I was afraid she would catch a cold so I carried her to the bed! That’s all!”

“Oh? I’m very curious about how you carried her.”

Can you control your curiosity for once, Yi Ji…

“Un un un, so Imperial Uncle is the kind of man who will even put his hands on his own niece…” Zhou Cang said from a distance. Not only did she change how she addressed me, she was even looking at me with eyes as though I were trash.

“I’m being falsely accused here!”

“My lord, I will follow you no matter what kind of person you are!”

“Chen Dao! Don’t say as though I’m beyond cure!”

Ahem. Just then, Chen Gong, who was to the left of Chen Dao, cleared her throat and got our attentions.

“Everyone please calm down. How could Imperial Uncle be that sort of man? It must be a misunderstanding.” Chen Gong softly said.

Oh? Chen Gong is actually speaking up for me?!

“That’s right, that’s right. A misunderstanding, it’s just a misunderstanding!” I hurriedly replied.

“Alright, since it’s just a misunderstanding, then Imperial Uncle should stand upright with no fear. When we return, I will tell everyone in Xiangyang about this misunderstanding.”

“Eh!?”

“Ah, don’t worry Imperial Uncle. It’s just a misunderstanding. I’ll explain it very clearly to them.”

“No! Don’t!”