Liu Bei POV

After Liao Hua, Guan Ping and I concluded that this driver wasn’t part of Cai Mao’s faction, there are other more important things to do before boarding the carriage.

The night sky was dark and the winds blew strong as the clouds covered the moon entirely.

I haven’t done this before, but even a newbie like myself knows that this time tonight is the perfect time to bury a corpse.

“*Heixiu* *Heixiu*~” Liao Hua and I each carried 1 arm while Guan Ping who was comparatively much stronger than us carried him by both legs.

“My lord should slow down a little, there’s a stone path ahead, don’t trip over.” Liao Hua bade me to be careful. Just as she finished, I nearly tripped over.

It was almost pitch black at this point as there were no lamps around. We didn’t feel good about setting up our own lamps either and after some discussion, we decided to commence our operation in the dark entirely.

Of course, burying the dead fake driver wasn’t just my idea. In fact, Liao Hua was the one who first proposed it.

She said that dealing with the corpse was top priority as it couldn’t be left to decompose in the courtyard after all. And if we were to hide it, it had to be buried deep and well enough so that it couldn’t be found as we would have a hard time explaining things if someone were to dig it out.

And so, we decided to bury it behind a large rock in the small garden located in the middle courtyard. It was a good hiding spot and gra.s.s had just begun to bud just 2 days ago so it would help to hide the corpse.

To be honest, my hands were shaking the whole time we were burying the corpse. Though I’ve seen people getting killed and have even killed people since coming to this era, this is the first time I’m actually burying someone, someone who had a strong intent to kill me.

Ah, the last time I saw someone being lowered into a grave was in Xu state– Ah, before that I remember seeing Liu Bei’s mother being lowered into her grave as well.

“My lord, your hands have stopped.”

“Ah, un.”

Liao Hua was overseeing our work. I thought that Liao Hua was an easy-going and nonchalant person but it looks like she’s very concerned with the details. As expected of a former Registrar.

In comparison, Guan Ping who was of a humble background is much more easier to get along with and typically only minds her own business.

After we finished burying the fake driver, we could finally rest easy. After we dusted ourselves down and I put on a more formal looking jacket, we headed to where the real carriage driver was.

“Ah, you’re done with your business, your lords.h.i.+p?”

“Ah, un. Yes, it’s all done, all done.”

I was a little nervous at his question but the big, burly man did not ask any further. Perhaps he feels that he doesn’t have the right to ask any further as an ordinary citizen.

The carriage was very small, and didn’t seem like it was made for carrying human pa.s.sengers at all. When I reached out and touched the wooden walls and surfaces, it felt rough and I was even injured by several splinters which hurt a fair bit. Even so, it seems like the carriage was repurposed as there wouldn’t be sitting cus.h.i.+ons otherwise.

When you think about it, this man is actually rather brave. If I were in his shoes, I would have ran away for my life after being robbed of my money and the proof. I doubt Cai Mao ever expected that an ordinary citizen of Xiangyang city would actually endeavor to complete the mission given to him by the Governor even after being robbed.

When I realised this, I felt that this man might be someone special. Perhaps he might be a rather famous Jing state general in the near future.

“What is your name?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Ah, my lord. My name is not worth mentioning.” He said, his face looking much better than before perhaps because we didn’t suspect him any further and followed him along.

The more he doesn’t want to tell me, the more I want to know.

“Just tell me, I’ll remember it.”

“Ah, this humble citizen has a family name ‘Pan’ but no given name. I live on the 3rd alley of the 3rd street in the east side of the city so you can just call me Pan San Zi.”

“Oh, un.”

I was rather surprised when he told me about his name. I’m not sure if it’s my knowledge of history that is lacking or is he really is an unknown commoner but I have definitely not heard of that name before.

It feels like a shame for someone with such strong values to be only featured as a carriage driver in a small scene in these chaotic times.

Of course, even if I were to tell him to ‘buck up and be a feudal lord~’ or something similar, he would just stare at me in disbelief.

And so, that means he will likely live on as a carriage driver until the day he dies in his sleep one day, or perhaps be forcefully drafted and die in a battlefield somewhere.

Ah, what is the meaning of life? I began to ponder this philosophical question of mine, even though I knew I wouldn’t be able to arrive at an answer.

The carriage soon came to a stop at Liu Biao’s residence. However, when I alighted, I realised that the scenery before me was a little unfamiliar.

“This is?”

“Ah, this is the backdoor of the State Governor’s residence. I come here everyday to deliver water.” The carriage driver said as he leapt down and headed over, nodding as he continued, “I’m truly grateful to my lord for believing me. If you don’t mind, I can deliver water to your residence as well.”

“Ah, I can’t decide on that myself… But you can come around some time and we can discuss this again.”

The one that he has to talk to is the one in charge of all household matters, Gan Qing. I simply don’t have the authority to decide such things.

Thereafter, Liao Hua and Guan Ping alighted as well. The carriage driver bowed to us before getting back up on the carriage and leaving with a whip of the reins.

I probably won’t be able to recall his name and face in a week or 2. All I can probably recall then is that a certain carriage driver existed. He will probably never leave his name in history.

“Oi! Blood brother, blood brother.”

Just as I was engaged in a little sentimentality, and was also trying to engrave the driver’s looks into my memories, that rather irritating voice and vexing method of address made its way to my ears.

I looked over and naturally the one over there was that elder brother of mine. His demeanour now was not like before at the banquet. He completely ignored all proprieties and was leaning out from behind the backdoor and waving vigorously at me.

“Is Lord Liu Biao always like this?” Liao Hua was rather shocked at this sight before her. The way she expressed it was rather underwhelming, as she only took a small step back and her expression did not waver in the least.

“Yes, he is just as you have just seen.”

Should I be telling Liao Hua that this is how Liu Biao has been acting towards me ever since we came to Jing state? I think I better not.

I was a little depressed but I still slowly raised my arm and somewhat lethargically called out to him, “Elder brother, elder brother. I’m here.”

“Quick, quick, come over here. Ah, you even brought 2 attendants with you.” Liu Biao only just saw the 2 people beside me and they both bowed and saluted Liao Biao. When Liao Biao saw this, he lightly coughed and acted more properly as he opened the backdoor.

“Let’s go then.”

“I don’t see any tricks for now but my lord ought to be more careful.” Liao Hua said as she stuck one arm into her sleeve and tidied up her hat and clothing with the other.

Guan Ping, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be thinking too much as she strode toward the residence.

“Ah, attendants, please leave your weapons outside. I trust my blood brother 100% but the rules are the rules so I hope that you will adhere to them.” Liu Biao stopped them short just as they ascended the stairs and came before him.

“…”

“Alright~”

Liao Hua didn’t say anything but Guan Ping immediately a.s.sented and threw her blade such that it lodged itself between the stone steps. I looked at Liao Hua, who didn’t return the gaze and just stood there in a daze for 2 seconds before nodding and stretching her hands as 4-5 short spears dropped to the ground in an instant.

She clearly wore very little, where were all these weapons being hidden?

“Good,” Liu Biao nodded and turned around before elegantly waving to us, “Please come in then.”

I nodded and saluted him before entering the residence.

I hadn’t seen the rear end of Liu Biao’s residence before but there doesn’t seem to be any noticeable difference in the decor with the parts that I’ve seen before. If I had to pinpoint any differences, then it would be that the courtyard in front of us has some stone tables and seats which made it seem more homely. The soil ground was also more welcome than the stone floor from what I’d seen before.

“What do you think, blood brother hasn’t been here before right?”

“Yes, I haven’t seen this section of the residence before.” I nodded at Liu Biao’s gleeful face as he walked over and patted my shoulders.

“The rooms on this side are where I live. Though there may seem to be many rooms, when one gets accustomed to a life with many wives, then one will find the uses in having many rooms.”

When he got to ‘uses’ he gave a sneer that made him look like an adult. Although to be fair, he is an adult to begin with.

“Is, is that so… I’m not too knowledgeable on such things.”

I’m not too willing to speak too much about this topic. Even if there wasn’t anyone about, Liao Hua and Guan Ping were around. If I happened to say something I shouldn’t say, Guan Ping would definitely spill it when we went back. It’s better to act on the safe side and not say anything.

“Blood brother is at it again. I’ve seen the people around you and they are all talented individuals. Could it be that blood brother has never enjoyed this good fortune of his?”

“Ah… I really don’t understand what you’re getting at.”