Liu Bei POV

The backdoor was surprisingly difficult to find, owing to the sheer size of the residence, which had 5 courtyards. The location of the backdoor happened to be at the back of a storeroom between the 4th and 5th courtyard. It was really difficult to locate even with this knowledge. I didn’t know about it myself, and it was thanks to Guan Ping who happened to chance upon it before that we were able to find it.

If it weren’t for this request to meet there, I would probably have never been to the backdoor of this residence for my entire stay in Jing state.

“My lord, let me ask you one last time, do you really intend on–”

“Liao Hua, you’ve asked me ‘one last time’ 13 times over already. My will is set. This is something I must proceed ahead with.”

To be honest, I wasn’t that ironclad on my decision, nor did I have a feeling that something would happen if I did go. But this matter is full of peculiarities and I don’t think I’ll get any further clarity until I actually go myself. Besides, I have these 2 coming along with me anyway.

“… My lord seems very relaxed.”

“Yes, I am indeed very relaxed. Having you both come along is very rea.s.suring after all.” I didn’t try to obfuscate my mood at all, as she’s seen through me entirely now.

“Ah~ I can finally do something meaningful. All this while, I’ve only been doing boring stuff like cleaning the house and delivering messages.”

Doesn’t sound like Guan Ping has been having a good time at all recently.

“But weren’t you girls at the military exercise recently? How was it? Guan Ping, you should have been part of it as well right?”

“Yes, but my role was to act as Hua Tuo’s a.s.sistant. Her eyesight isn’t very good so she might take the wrong things.” Guan Ping chuckled as she said so.

She might think that it wasn’t very important but it was something her mother and everyone else couldn’t have done. And from my point of view, helping Hua Tuo isn’t a joke as it’s Hua Tuo after all.

“But Lord Liao Hua and mother are really fantastic. I saw them lead the charge and smashed through the surround of a much larger enemy force from a hill at the back, and subsequently sealing off the enemy’s retreat.” Guan Ping said proudly. Looks like she’s still happy even though she didn’t get to go onto the battlefield.

“Did you hear that, Liao Hua? Guan Ping was singing praises of you.”

“Yes, she’s been like this all the time ever since the exercise ended.”

Ah… Liao Hua, acting like this makes it awkward for Guan Ping, you know. I looked at Guan Ping but her spirits didn’t seem dampened in the least. Looks like it’s me who’s thinking too much.

“Ah, right. How confident are you in your martial arts?”

“Me?” Guan Ping asked as she pointed at herself. I nodded in reply.

“Mother says I have some talent. And I have managed to learn how to use the glaive after practising for a bit.”

Ah, so Yun Chang has been teaching her huh? To be honest, I don’t know what school all of their martial arts styles fall under even if it’s Yun Chang’s. All I know is that they are really good. I guess that’s their talent.

“My lord, please cut the small talk. We have arrived at our destination.” Liao Hua quickly walked ahead in front of me as she said so and leaned against the backdoor as she peered through the crack.

Ah, that’s being a little too cautious, no? But since she’s already done so, I can’t really say such things.

“Is there anyone outside?”

“… No one, nor is there the carriage mentioned before.” Liao Hua said and softly called out to Guan Ping, “Lord Guan Ping, please direct your attention to our lord’s back and the roof above him. If you find any suspicious presence, please take them out immediately.”

“Alright.” Guan Ping acknowledged the order and stuck close to me as she looked about, her twintails swinging left and right as she did so, hitting my ears. It didn’t hurt but it was rather ticklish.

“It’s here, a small carriage.” Just then, Liao Hua delivered her new observation calmly. I could also hear the sounds of horse hooves treading on the soil.

Gradually, the sounds of the carriage grew louder before it eventually came to a stop before the house.

“Looks like this is the one.” Liao Hua said as she softly pushed the backdoor open just by a sliver, letting in the silvery moonlight.

Thereafter, the sound of someone jumping off the carriage and running over could be heard.

“Who’s there?”

“… Just the driver.” Liao Hua said softly as she cleared her throat and spoke to the person outside with a rather sonorous voice, “Who goes there? What business do you have with my lord?”

“Are you Liu Bei, Imperial Uncle Liu?”

“… Yes.”

Un?

(Liao Hua, what is this…)

(Don’t speak my lord, I fear mischief may be at play here.)

Shortly after, the man outside pa.s.sed a letter through the crack.

“This is a letter from Lord Liu Biao, he has asked me to bring you to him for he has matters to discuss with you.”

As the letter pa.s.sed through the door, Liao Hua s.h.i.+fted her body and gestured to me to take it. I nodded and reached out to grab it. When I received it, I found that the letter used silk much like that in the Imperial Palace.

“Alright, let me take a look first.” Liao Hua continued to reply as though she was me just as I took the letter.

When I opened the letter after I received it, I found that there were but few words written on it– [There are matters which I was unable to broach earlier in the day, should you find yourself free and available, please come to see me at once.]

Un, this handwriting is definitely Liu Biao’s– Did you think I was going to say such soap opera-ish lines?

No way, I can barely even read these words, much less recognise his handwriting. Moreover, I have never even seen his handwriting before. Even if i have, I’m not sure I can remember what it looks like.

I raised my arm and pa.s.sed the letter to Liao Hua, who took a quick look at it before looking back towards the backdoor.

“Dare I ask why invite me in this manner? Wouldn’t it be fine to invite me through the front door? Why go to all this trouble?”

“Ah, this…” At this, the carriage driver outside seems to have been shaken, and stood there silently for a moment before he continued, “Lord Liu Biao knows that there are people after your life so for your safety, he has decided that subterfuge would be the best course of action.”

“… Oh? Is that so?” Liao Hua responded doubtfully as she looked towards me. I nodded, as Cai Mao and her faction have indeed taken action against us.

Of course, I haven’t told the rest about how 4,500 of the 5,000 Jing state troops were actually Cai Mao’s loyalists who were out to get us. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell them. I just couldn’t find the right time, nor was I able to think about how to tell them.

… Un?

Apart from Liu Qi and her generals, Chen Gong and the other 2, how did Liu Biao come to know that someone is after my life?

… Something feels off.

(Liao Hua, come over here for a bit.)

I called out to Liao Hua softly and made her bend down as I whispered to her my thoughts. Liao Hua’s eyebrows tightened as she heard what I said, and she nodded before returning to the door.

“Imperial Uncle?” The man outside the door called out when he saw no reply and Liao Hua quickly replied.

“Oh? Elder brother knows that I have been in danger? How ingenious of him.”

“Ah, naturally. Lord Liu Biao is a genius after all and sees through many things.”

“I see…” Liao Hua said as she rolled her eyes, “But, this is a very important matter. Why did Liu Biao choose to divulge it to you? Could you be Lord Liu Biao’s kin?”

“Ah… This is…” The man outside stammered something incomprehensible.

“But if you were his kin,” Liao Hua said with gleaming eyes as she stuck her left hand into her sleeve, “Why are you but a mere carriage driver?”

Yaa!!!!!!! Immediately after Liao Hua finished, the door was slammed open forcefully as the man outside yelled.

“Liu Bei! Hand over your life!” The man yelled as he charged in.

Liao Hua, who stood in the blind spot of the backdoor, drew out her short spear and stabbed at his back as he ran in.

“Ah!” But that man had sharp senses and dodged Liao Hua’s attack before responding with a swing of his sword.

Liao Hua silently bent backwards to avoid the blade and actually fell to the ground, rolling towards the man as she did so and stabbed deeply into the man’s calves as he howled under the moonlight.

“You b.a.s.t.a.r.d!” But the man’s will was extraordinarily strong as he was able to move deftly even with the spear stuck in his calf. Liao Hua quickly took several steps back after the attack but the man was able to catch up to her almost as quickly, blood streaming out of his leg as he did so.

“Liao Hua be careful!” I yelled out at Liao Hua as she locked eyes on the machete, ready to dodge anytime. Though it was perilous to wait, it was better than doing nothing.

“Lord Liao Hua! I’ll save you!”

Un? Just then, Guan Ping roared out as she charged at Liao Hua with a slightly smaller version of the Green Dragon Crescent Blade in hand.

*Ding*! Sparks flew as both blades met.

“Haa!! Hei!” Before the sparks could go out, Guan Ping pulled back and swiftly slashed at the man’s throat and abdomen. He was able to block both attacks but was forced to step back as he lost his balance.

“An opening!” Guan Ping yelled out and slashed out, leaving a clear wound on the man’s chest.

The man continued to fight on but Guan Ping bent down and swept out with her blade at the man’s legs, knocking him off his feet.

Wuu… Wuu… He heaved as he lay on the ground, blood streaming out of both legs. Even so, he continued to stare and curse at me while Liao Hua, Guan Ping and I just stared at him.

“Oi! Who are you?! Who sent you here?!” Liao Hua stepped forward and asked.

But in the next instant, the man stuck out his tongue and bit down viciously, and blood poured out in every direction instantly.

“Pu.” Liao Hua sighed. She was clearly unsatisfied but she could do nothing but give up.

Thereafter, the man continued to thrash around for a while before he stopped moving forever.