Liu Bei POV

“But they’re both girls, and what about Liu Qi, how could have you have sent her to a military camp?” I felt like it was unfair for Liu Qi but Liu Biao didn’t see anything wrong with it at all.

“So what if they’re girls? Gender equality has been in place for centuries, having women in the army is something normal these days.” Liu Biao said in a rather intense tone that didn’t allow any interjection at all but afterwards he seemed to realise it and nodded, “But of course, I admit that I was very strict with her. But there is no choice, as the eldest child, learning the ways of the military is necessary.”

As he said this, Liu Biao raised his head and looked at the ceiling, or perhaps at the ink marks on the rafters.

“Liu Qi has already matured quite a bit. Liu Cong is still young but she has her own way of doing things when it comes to administrative work and managing the city. I’ll probably have an easy time in the future.” Liu Biao’s tone was still tinged with melancholy but there was a hint of gratification. Looks like he feels that he is inadequate compared to before.

“Alright, let’s leave all that aside for now and get to business.” Liu Biao said as he looked at me.

I understood what he meant by this and shot a glance to Liao Hua and Guan Ping behind. Liao Hua understood immediately and nodded before getting up and dragging the clueless Guan Ping outside.

She even remembered to close the door behind her as she left.

After they both left, only Liu Biao and I were left in the room. The oil lamps in the room burned noiselessly and the gratification that was on Liu Biao’s face earlier was long gone, leaving behind only seriousness that wasn’t there a moment ago.

“So, what was the reason that elder brother summoned me so late in the night today?”

“Un, there are some things I wasn’t able to talk about during the banquet today.” Liu Biao said as he stroked his goatee instinctively with his eyes shut tight, “Though she’s gone now, was Huang Zu doing well while she was still alive?”

Eh? I was completely caught offguard at Liu Biao mentioning Huang Zu first and foremost.

Before our return, he should have received summary reports from the battlefield. And be it when he received us when we returned or during the banquet, Liu Biao never mentioned Huang Zu. I’d thought that he’d forgotten her but it seems like that isn’t the case at all.

“Administrator Huang Zu huh… She was very healthy, she drank a lot of water at least.” I was completely stumped as to how I ought to answer this question and just said what came to mind first. When he heard what I said, Liu Biao happily guffawed.

“Hahaha, that really sounds like Huang Zu.” Liu Biao said, and seemed to be reminiscing about her, “Before Huang Zu went to Jiangxia, she always carried this jar around with her and would finish its contents everyday.”

“Oh? So Lord Huang Zu was always like this?”

I was rather surprised to hear this.

“Yes, Huang Zu has always been an obedient la.s.s.” Liu Biao smiled, but the smile disappeared almost just as quickly, “But that la.s.s is no longer around anymore.”

“Un…”

I recalled what happened on the tower that night when Liu Biao mentioned Huang Zu, that night where I learned more about Huang Zu as a person.

And now that Liu Biao has broached the topic, I feel there are things I have to tell him about her.

“I don’t know how the reports you saw described Lord Huang Zu’s performance but from my perspective, I feel that Lord Huang Zu did her very best.”

“Is that so? If blood brother says so, then that must be the case.” Luu Biao nodded. Looking at him, he probably thinks I’m trying to clear her name but all I’m trying to do is tell the truth as I saw it.

“Did you know, elder brother? In one of the battles, Lord Huang Zu left the city and met the enemy in battle because the enemy insulted your name.”

“… Oh?” Liu Biao’s eyes bulged when he heard this.

“That battle was not ours to fight but she didn’t regret it at all afterwards. Because she felt that she was fighting for your honour.” When I said this, I looked at Liu Biao and saw that he looked a lot more serious than before and decided that this was enough, “So, with respect to Lord Huang Zu, I hope that you can give her a fair judgement. Because while Lord Huang Zu’s strength was insufficient, and she herself had admitted as much, she has truly done everything she could.”

Yes, she has done everything she could. And exhausted her life in the process, to fulfill the promise to ‘defend to the death’ (死守).

“So such a thing happened huh,” Liu Biao said with warm eyes and sank into thought for a moment before shaking his head, “Even though she never really addressed respectfully nor did she show her respect in other ways. If you never told me this, I would have thought that she resented me for making her stay in Jiangxia.”

“No,” I immediately refuted this, because I know that the truth is not as Liu Biao said.

“Lord Huang Zu said that she has always been willing to help you in any way and has never resented you for making her lead the garrison of Jiangxia.”

— Jiangxia is an important city. To the east is the Sun clan and to the north is Cao Cao. It is a bridgehead that connects Jing state to Jiangdong. For the sake of lightening my lord’s burden, I am willing to defend this place to the death. I don’t have much else that I’m good at, but I do have the ability to fight to the death.

“… Eh.” Just as I finished, Liu Biao closed his eyes and silently lowered his head and softly called out to Huang Zu. He placed the hand he had been using to stroke his goatee on the table and looked lost and sad.

“I’ve let Huang Zu stand guard at Jiangxia for 5 years now. I save her when she was about 10 or so, settled her in Xiangyang for 2 years, brought her with me to my battles for another 2 years, and sent her to Jiangxia thereafter.” Liu Biao said softly, “She was still a child back then, and only a year older than Liu Qi but she’d already had more than her fair share of experiences in the battlefield. Her const.i.tution isn’t very good but she’s always been a fighter. When she left, she even engraved ‘死守’ on her plate skirt.”

“Yes, when I reached Jiangxia, Lord Huang Zu was still wearing the very same plate skirt.” I added, “Until the very end, Huang Zu was fulfilling her mission.”

“Un… Yes.” Liu Biao said, before muttering, “She didn’t have to…”

Perhaps Liu Biao thought so but Huang Zu would definitely disagree. Given her personality, if she said she would defend it to the death, she would definitely do it.

“Elder brother, what do you think about Lord Huang Zu?”

“How do I think about her huh…” Liu Biao sank into deep thought. I don’t know if it was because he was merely finding the right words, but he quickly raised his head and said firmly, “Though this might sound strange, but I’ve always thought of her who had a commoner background as ‘royalty’.”

“I see…” I smiled and nodded.

If it were someone else, they would definitely not understand what Liu Biao meant. If it were not for Huang Zu who told me the meaning behind her name, I would probably not understand it.

I have to admit, when it comes to Liu Biao, that is perhaps the greatest praise he can give.

Did you hear that, Huang Zu…

“Ah…”

“Ah, ah, you’re awake now huh?”

“Un… This is… Am I…”

“Umm, don’t worry, you’re still alive.”