Liu Bei POV

“Liao Hua, get Guan Ping, we’re leaving.”

“Yes.”

I gave the order to Liao Hua, who’d already made her way to Guan Ping before I told her and carried her up, not forgetting the blanket.

“Elder brother, the blanket…”

“Ah, it’s fine, it’s fine. What is one small blanket when my blood brother has rendered to me such great a.s.sistance?”

“Thank you very much.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

I saluted him but Liu Biao continued to push me out. When we made our way to the door, he turned back and yelled, “My lady, I’ll be sending him out and will be back soon.”

When he finished, he pushed me out with even greater zest. Only after we left the room and entered the courtyard did our pace lighten up.

“Elder brother, what was the rush for?” I asked, and found that Liu Biao’s expression was much more serious than before.

“No, it’s nothing.” Liu Biao turned around before sighing, “There are some things I mean to discuss with you at length.”

When Liu Biao said this, he looked at Liao Hua who was carrying Guan Ping some ways behind. When Liao Hua saw this, she understood and stopped some distance away from us.

Liu Biao looked relieved and pulled me close, “I believe you understand Qi’er pretty well after the Jiangxia expedition right?”

“Ah, un.” I nodded as an ominous premonition sprouted in my heart.

“Then what about Cong’er? Do you understand her?”

“I’ve met her a few times before but I haven’t really spoken to her much so I can’t say I really understand her.”

“… Then, if I were to pa.s.s on, should I hand over Jing state to Qi’er or Cong’er?”

It’s here, it’s here, it’s here!

I was still wondering what all those questions were about. I knew that he wanted to discuss this with me today but I didn’t think the climax would come at the very end.

“Ahem… Umm, what do you think you should do?”

“Hai, if I knew, I wouldn’t be asking you.” Liu Biao shook his head, “By right, it should go to my firstborn, which means that Qi’er is undeniably my heir. But over the past 2 years, Cai Mao and my Lady have been persuading me to make Cong’er my heir. Cong’er has always been a smart girl and her studies are excellent. If she were to be my heir, she would undoubtedly be an excellent ruler.”

“Then you think Liu Qi wouldn’t be a good ruler?”

“Un… That’s not what I meant. But she’s so rigid usually that I feel like it’s hard to get close to her as a father.”

“Eh? You wish to be closer with her?”

Liu Biao’s words greatly confused me. Based on what Liu Qi said, and from their interactions, it was clear that Liu Biao was every inch the strict patriarch.

“Well of course I do, which father doesn’t want to get along with his children?” When he said this, Liu Biao’s expression wavered and a helpless smile floated up, “Of course, I have to admit that the impression I’ve given her isn’t too good. Sometimes, I can’t help myself and there are proprieties to adhere to.”

“You place too much emphasis on those and are too strict on yourself and her.”

“I can’t help it, I’m royalty after all.” Liu Biao gave his usual reply. Unlike before though, his words did not have the strength behind it. It seems like even for someone like him, he finds it vexing and feels helpless when he’s trapped between his principles and his personal feelings.

“So… What do you think?”

“Un…” I pretended to consider it for a moment before giving my reply, “I think Liu Qi will make a good heir. And if you truly think that the proprieties are important, then shouldn’t you give it to your firstborn?”

“It’s because of that, that I’m still hesitating.” Liu Biao looked a bit lost as he said so, and I was puzzled until he gave his next words.

“– Qi’er is after all, only my firstborn daughter, and not my firstborn son.”

“Un, I suppose.”

Right!

I was calm on the surface but frantic inside. I’d completely forgotten that Liu Qi was his daughter and a.s.sumed that there was no difference between making a son and daughter an heir. How do I put it? Have I been completely brainwashed by this era’s societal views? Have I been ingrained with the notion of gender equality?

But if I think about it, it’s a little weird. The Sun clan doesn’t have a problem handing things to their daughter. And surely there must be other powerful families who face the same issue of having no sons.

Aiya, what do I do now? I’m completely confused.

Ahem, I cleared my throat and did my best to calm myself down.

“Ah… Won’t it do to pa.s.s it to your firstborn daughter then?”

“It’s not that it can’t be done, it’s just that– I hope that the one who can be my heir is male.”

“Do you have a son?”

“… Unfortunately no.”

“Then that doesn’t work then. You’ll have to go with your firstborn daughter.”

“Un…”

I did my best to act as normal as I could despite how strange this situation was becoming.

“… Alright. I guess I’m just a weirdo. It’s clearly the same whether it’s male or female.” After sinking into thought for a long while, Liu Biao said these words as he chuckled self-deprecatingly.

No, your thinking is what is more ‘normal’ even for me. It’s not a good thing but it’s definitely normal. When I saw the guilty expression on Liu Biao’s face, I felt my guilt rising as well.

I was the one who acted nonchalant as though he was the one who was weird when he raised the issue of making his daughter his heir.

Ah, perhaps I really have changed.

“It’s not too weird… Boys are a little more dependable, I guess.” I said, trying to recall my 21st century societal norms.

“No need to console me, we’re in the era of the Great Han now and I know what is right and what is wrong.”

Can’t believe I got berated instead…

“Alright, since blood brother has recommended Qi’er, I’ll think about it on the way back.” Liu Biao nodded, though I’m not sure if it’s because he’s accepted it or he’s given up for now.

“Un, that will be the best course of action.”

Good luck. I hope you can reach a suitable decision. Ah, by the way–

“By the way, you’re only 30 over years of age, why have you begun considering this problem?”

Before I could finish, Liu Biao seemed to realise what I meant and smiled as he lowered his head, “No, it was just something that popped up. Look, I could probably die anytime after all.”

When he raised his head, he revealed a toothy smile that made me feel profoundly lonely. It seems like he has more to say but it’s too difficult for me to guess what it is.

I guess it’s fine anyway. Establis.h.i.+ng an heir early isn’t a bad decision. No matter the era, inheritance issues are always messy. Here in this era, we have territory and official positions; back in the present, we have houses, land and insurance payouts. It’s never too early to think about making a will.