Liu Bei POV

It was very possible that Liu Qi did that to prepare for the fight with the Cai sisters in the long haul because I turned down the command rights to Xiangyang’s garrison.

If that’s the case then it’s a little irresponsible of me, with respect to Liu Qi, to have turned down the command rights. There is also every possibility that she thinks that my actions have made the situation much more complicated and is unable to forgive me.

Though I regret my decision, our move to Xinye has already been set. I also do not wish to impede my comrades’ actualisation of their goals for the sake of intervening in Liu Qi and Liu Cong’s struggle.

But speaking of which, does Yi Ji know about this? Based on how Liu Qi is like now, she should have told Yi Ji what happened right?

Well then, what does Yi Ji think about all this huh…

I looked at Yi Ji, hoping to be able to read something from her expression.

“May I ask if there is anything on my face?”

“Ah, no.”

I couldn’t read anything at all.

“What are you doing big brother…”

Even Yun Chang is berating me. I’m not doing anything improper!

“Un… If Imperial Uncle is thinking about the move to Xinye, then yes, I have already learnt about it from the young mistress.”

Before I could ask, Yi Ji cut to the chase somehow, either by guessing or reading me.

“Ah, I see.”

I was a little awkward in my reply and felt a little embarra.s.sed after having my anxieties, which I was planning on hiding and suppressing, exposed.

“Imperial Uncle’s move to leave Xiangyang city, which is rife with danger, is a brilliant escape plan for himself. However, the young mistress is left behind alone in a time of need.”

“Ah… That is…”

“Lord Yi Ji, that’s a little too much…”

Yi Ji sent a vicious attack with her small mouth after I stammered a response. Though Yun Chang felt that it was a little unjust to me, what Yi Ji said was exactly what I’d been thinking about. And now, I have been blamed for it before I could even apologise.

It’s now clear that, be it Yi Ji or Liu Qi, they’re all unhappy about my decision to move to Xinye.

Unfortunately, I can’t put aside everything else for Liu Qi.

As I steeled myself, I lowered my head and saluted, “Lord Yi Ji, I am here to offer my apologies for the very matter which you just spoke of. Ever since I came to Jing state, I’ve been an eyesore for the Cai sisters and have joined forces with Liu Qi against them. During the Jiangxia expedition especially, I, Liu Bei, am truly grateful to all a.s.sistance rendered to myself and my comrades by Liu Qi. If I can, I wish to continue working with Liu Qi.” As I said so, I raised my head slightly, “But now, I have chosen to leave Xiangyang and garrison at Xinye, for the sake of avoiding the Cai sisters. This, I have done for the sake of my retainers and my army, and is not a rash decision for my personal benefit. Therefore, this decision was not for me, but for us.”

As I said so, I slowly waved one hand back towards my comrade and kin, Yun Chang. I looked at her and she nodded back at me.

“Un…” Yi Ji gave a long grunt in response and squinted at me with the same gleam in her eyes as she usually had when she looked at me.

“So, I hope to seek Liu Qi’s understanding on this. Moreover, Xinye is not too far away so if anything should happen, please let me know and we will rush here immediately.” I hurriedly continued, feeling a little apprehensive under her intense stare.

Yi Ji continued to stare at me. Just as I felt that she was going to blow her top at me, she gave a long sigh instead, “I understand”

Then she suddenly bowed and said, “Actually, I lied to you.”

…

Eh?

“Umm, what do you mean?” Yun Chang was perplexed as well.

“I discussed this matter a few nights ago with the young mistress,” Yi Ji said with a victorious smile, “The young mistress was very surprisingly understanding, and I myself understood your intent behind the decision to move to Xinye.”

Ah… What the heck, so that’s what happened huh… I can finally rest easy now.

“You’re not lying to me now, are you?”

“I don’t usually lie.”

Didn’t you just do so? And how dare you say it so confidently after tricking me several times over now.

“Presently, there are not many feudal lords who will think for their subordinates.” Yi Ji leaned her head to the side as she said so, “Imperial Uncle is really weird. If you were truly thinking about your subordinates, pardon me for saying this, you should have taken Jing state by force.”

“Lord Yi Ji, that shows that you still don’t understand big brother.” Before I could answer, Yun Chang took a step forward and replied, “My big brother is a man of honour. Taking Jing state by force is something that goes against his values. Moreover, Lord Liu Biao is a benevolent and capable ruler. If taking Jing state by force will only lead to hards.h.i.+p and suffering for the people, big brother will definitely not do it.”

Yun Chang said all this in one breath. She definitely has more skill with words than I do.

“To be honest, it’s a lot simpler than that,” I hurriedly continued when Yun Chang finished in the hopes of finis.h.i.+ng it myself, “This place belongs to my elder brother so I can’t just take it for myself.”

Leaving aside the depth of our brotherly relations, I am truly grateful to Liu Biao for taking me in. There is no way I could possibly repay this favour with enmity.

Unless Liu Biao himself plans on giving me Jing state, but this is impossible.

“That’s alright. If Imperial Uncle is going to go that far, then I have nothing more to say.” Yi Ji swung down her sleeves as she said so, “Though I did say you were weird, you are weird beyond comprehension.”

“Haha, I’ll take it that you’re praising me.”

“Don’t think too much about it, big brother, Lord Yi Ji is indeed praising you.” Yun Chang seems to understand what Yi Ji said and nodded as she said so.

Whatever, I’ll just leave it at that.

“But I can finally rest easy now then.”

Liu Qi and her side are not angry with me, and I can avoid Cai Mao and Lady Cai for a while after moving to Xinye.

“Ah, about that, I hope that Imperial Uncle doesn’t lower his guard.”

“Eh?” Just as I was feeling relieved, Yi Ji’s face became serious once more.

She looked about and spoke to Yun Chang and I in a soft voice, “If the young mistress and I are correct, then Cai Mao and Lady Cai should be plotting something that will bring harm to Imperial Uncle.”

“Eh? Why is that?”

“Though you are leaving to Xinye, the threat posed to them by you has not been eliminated.” Yi Ji continued, “During these few days, you will be preparing to move out to Xinye, and will be at your most vulnerable. If I am someone who wishes to bring harm to you, I will act in this period and eliminate the threat once and for all.”

As she said so, Yi Ji even did a slicing motion against her neck with her hand. But because her face was rigid and expressionless while she did so, it was more comical than scary.