Liu Bei POV

“…” I lowered my head and deeply reflected on myself before nodding, “I understand.”

I was indeed thinking about this, and have been for some time now. But as someone from the future, how should I face this era?

Though I’ve grown accustomed to this era, at the end of the day, I do not belong here. Which is why I’ve been plagued by the question of how I ought to choose my own path as someone from the future and as Liu Bei.

— Tell me honestly, blood brother, do you have any ambitions?

Ah… I suddenly recalled my conversation with Liu Biao, in particular, the part which Liao Hua wasn’t privy to.

I s.h.i.+fted my gaze upwards and looked at Liao Hua, troubled over whether I ought to share with her something even I myself felt embarra.s.sed about saying.

“… Liao Hua, do you feel that saving the world counts as a path?”

“Eh?”

I closed my eyes tightly and forced out those words. When I finished, I slowly opened my eyes and saw Liao Hua with her eyes, and mouth, wide open in a daze. When she saw me looking at her, she hurriedly closed her mouth.

“Umm…”

“Hahahahahahahahahahaha!”

“!”

Just as I was thinking about how to explain myself, rambunctious laughter erupted and my heart nearly leapt out of my throat. This laughter came at the precise moment when it would deal the most damage to my psyche.

The mentally battered me looked about to find the source of the laughter only to find that it was Guan Ping who was still sound asleep.

“Hahaha… Ah… I can’t eat anymore.”

So it was just her sleeptalking huh. But what boring sleeptalk that is, and what’s so funny about that…

“Saving the world huh…”

On the other side, Liao Hua repeated my words once more. I looked at her and found that she was currently supporting her face with her hand and looked as though she were deeply considering what I said.

“… If that is your path,” Liao Hua said as she raised her head and looked at me, revealing a rare smile, “I’m very excited to see what comes of it.”

Eh?

“Is something like that really okay?”

“Why not?” She nodded, “If you were to tell the others, I’m sure they would be very happy to hear it.”

“Is that so…” I decided to maintain my septicism about this.

… But, how I put this… Even though I’m still shocked about this, I do indeed hope to continue walking down this path.

As Liu Bei, and as myself.

“Ah, there’s one other thing. You should tell everyone about how someone is after your life. Everyone has more or less guessed as much, but please don’t make them worry.”

“Ah, I got it.” I nodded. I did intend on letting them know soon anyway.

Just then, an idea flashed in my mind and I decided to poke fun at Liao Hua who had been speaking to me coldly the whole time.

“By the way, was Liao Hua concerned about me as well?”

“As a retainer, there is no reason why I shouldn’t be concerned about my lord.”

“Ah… Is that so…”

Though the answer given was perfect, it did not meet my expectations, certainly not like the reaction she gave when Chen Gong played her prank.

I was a little disappointed and looked at her with dissatisfaction while she calmly and steadily sat in her corner motionlessly with no reaction at all.

Ah, Liao Hua can probably be very good friends with Gong You, I seriously thought.

Yi Ji POV

“Young mistress? Young mistress?” I called out as I made my way through the streets looking for that unhappy twintailed lord of mine. Even though we agreed to meet up, she’s nowhere to be seen.

Or could it be that it’s actually my fault?

Un, this is… The third street in the west side of the city, which was where the young mistress told me to meet her. I looked about the vicinity once more and confirmed that this was indeed the precise location where we were to meet.

But really, what could be so important that she sent someone to summon me in the middle of the night?

I don’t understand at all, and all I could do was to try and find the young mistress.

Tonight’s moon was rather bright, but the streets in this part of the city were rather narrow so the shadows made it near impossible to see clearly in the distance. And the night.w.a.tch just sounded the gong for the third watch too. Given how late it is, the young mistress definitely has an important reason for calling me out at this time.

(TL: Third watch = 11pm to 1am.)

“Young mistress~ Young mistress?” I continued to search about in the darkness. Because the surrounding buildings were largely residences, I didn’t dare to call out too loudly.

“Cai Mao! What are you doing?!”

Young mistress? On the other side of the alley I was in, I could hear the young mistress’ surprised voice as well as a rather surprising name.

Cai Mao is with the young mistress? I frowned and bent down as I hurried forward with light footsteps.

“Young mistress, I strongly recommend you to give up.”

I could hear Cai Mao’s voice as I got closer. Her voice was the same as always, devoid of all emotions. How was she able to accomplish this? I’m very curious.

But leaving that aside, if my guess is right, she should be threatening the young mistress.

“Qi’er, listen to us will you?” Just then, another voice could be heard, “As long as you consent to not compete with my Cong’er on the rights to Jing state, I will allow you to be the commandant or administrator of anywhere you please.”

This voice was rather shrill and I could recognise who the owner was very easily. This was Cai Mao’s elder sister, Lady Cai.

“Hmph, you think you can trick me with lies that wouldn’t even fool a 3-year-old?” The young mistress’ angry voice followed soon after, “When Liu Cong takes helm, my life will be forfeit!”

The young mistress was being a bit too hardball here… If she is currently being surrounded and outnumbered, her life might be in peril.

If I knew that she was going into a confrontation with Cai Mao and Lady Cai, I would have brought along Wen Ping.

I was rather worried about her and poked my head ever so slightly out from the alley and peered out. Under the moonlight, I could see the faces of all who were present very clearly. Looks like there are only 3 people around. Apart from the young mistress and the Cai sisters, there didn’t seem to be anyone else.

If that’s the case… Then that’s good.

“Hmph, hahaha.” Just then, Lady Cai laughed exaggeratingly, “I know what you’re thinking about, you must be thinking about that silly uncle of yours.”

“Rude! Even father has to show respect to uncle! What right does someone like you with no profession or t.i.tle to speak of has to bark about like that?!” The you g mistress berated her loudly as she pointed at Lady Cai.

“You!”