Lu Meng POV

The waves and the winds have begun acting up again these few days.

Though we’re docked at the harbour close to sh.o.r.e, the entire cabin is swaying rather violently. Everyone seated down here is doing their utmost best to make sure the cus.h.i.+ons underneath them aren’t slipping away. At the same time, everyone is also forced to hold their cups of tea the whole time.

If everything went as planned, as originally planned, then we would have been on the way back to Jiangdong by now. To Shouchun, Lujiang and Chaisang, depending on where one was stationed. In short, we shouldn’t be waiting in a harbour outside Jiangxia city.

Even though we took this city, our lord is still calling it a temporary occupation. She’s being way too modest with this.

“When is Lu Su going to come back huh~” Our lord whined as she sat in her own cute posture. When I looked at her, I saw her fidgeting about with her eyes narrowing to a squint. She was so cute that I felt happy just looking at her.

“He should be back by today based on the original schedule.” Zhang Zhao said softly from the side.

It seems like she doesn’t like our lord’s energetic side and her current posture as she’s staring at our lord with a disapproving look. But given that she didn’t say anything about it at all, she’s probably taking down mental notes about it to settle the score when we’re back in Jiangdong.

I’ve always felt that Lord Zhang Zhao is a little too strict sometimes. This is something that has become more obvious after Lord Sun Ce left.

“Lu Meng, Lu Meng.”

“Un? What’s the matter, my lord?” I replied as I focused on my lord when I heard her call me. When I looked at her, my lord seemed to be elated.

“I’m really, really thankful you for this. If it weren’t for what you saw that time, I’d have thought that Imperial Uncle would be getting treated like a king in Jing state.”

“Ah, that was just a coincidence.” I nodded, “I only knew that Imperial Uncle was forced to join their forces and was suffering when I went to save Imperial Uncle who fell into the water.”

“Un, un. I’m really furious at how uncle Liu Biao is treating Imperial Uncle!” My lord exclaimed as she held her fists in front of her and got into a fighting stance, looking more cute than furious. But then, her expression went back to normal soon after as she continued, “But to Imperial Uncle, those depressive days will soon be over. At the end of the day, coming to Jiangdong where we are is the best after all right?”

Indeed.

After the Battle of Jiangxia ended, I told my lord Sun Quan about how Imperial Uncle Liu Bei was not being treated as a guest. My lord Sun Quan got mad immediately, and it was decided that Lu Su would be sent to Xiangyang city under the guise of the Jiangxia negotiations to once again invite Imperial Uncle Liu back to Jiangdong.

But it’s been a while since Lu Su left for Xiangyang and we have had no news thus far.

“Aiya, today’s waves are really huge huh?” Just then, a voice came from the doorway. When I looked over, I saw that it was Lord Zhou Yu walking in.

“Commander-in-Chief.”

“Ah, no need for that.”

When I saw Lord Zhou Yu enter, I hurriedly got up to pay my respects but was pushed back down by her immediately. Thereafter, she fanned away the droplets of water on her and dried her feet on the fur mat at the doorway before coming back in.

I looked at Lord Zhou Yu and found that though she was in usual clothing, she’d

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done away with the inner layer of clothing since it was summer, revealing a very beautiful and exquisite collar bone. At the same time, her fanning speed has greatly increased as usual whenever summer comes along.

“Un? Gong Jin, are today’s drills over already?”

“Now that you mention it, it feels like it’s ended at least 2 hours earlier than usual.”

Our lord asked first when she saw Lord Zhou Yu with her happy mood from before while Lord Zhang Zhao followed up with a slightly cheeky look on her.

“Yes, I returned early today.” Lord Zhou Yu said as she raised her fan, “I left the rest to Ding Feng and Xu Sheng. I’ve already gone through formation training. It’s better to leave martial arts and weapon proficiency training to those 2.”

When she finished, she looked about, as though she were looking for someone.

“Gong Jin, if you’re looking for Zi Jing, he’s not back yet.”

“My lord, who said that I was looking for that dirty fellow?” Lord Zhou Yu said. But she quickly turned her head back and stopped searching.

“By the way,” Lord Zhou Yu said as she closed her eyes and feigned nonchalance, “Shouldn’t that fellow Lu Su be coming back by today? Why isn’t he back yet even though it’s so late already?”

“Ho~ So Gong Jin has been following up closely huh~” Our lord said with a smile, at which Lord Zhou Yu seemed surprised and blushed.

“I-I-I, I just happened to casually have a look at the schedule. It was a coincidence that I knew.” Lord Zhou Yu said as she frowned, her fanning increasing even more, “It’s fine if he isn’t here. I’ll feel less irritated without his overly leisurely att.i.tude of his around me.”

When Lord Zhou Yu finished, everyone around suppressed their laughter. Of course, I was one of them as well.

Even though Lord Zhou Yu is the way she is with everyone, she seems to have a soft spot with Lu Su. Ever since Lu Su was recruited from the skirmishes at Wan city, they’ve had great chemistry together.

And when Lu Su left for the negotiations, Lord Zhou Yu went with him personally for the first 10 miles of the way.

“It’s fine, it’s fine, Nothing wrong with antic.i.p.ating Zi Jing’s return.” Our lord said as she gestured in front of her, “I too am very excited to hear the good news that Zi Jing will bring back to us.”

“Yes, that’s right, I too was excited to hear that.” Lord Zhou Yu cleared her throat and agreed with what our lord said. In comparison, Lord Zhang Zhao’s face darkened.

“Does my lord intend for Imperial Uncle to come to Jiangdong no matter what?” Lord Zhang Zhao asked once more.

“Yes. This is not just my decision, it’s also my big sister’s.” Our lord said as she took out a small pouch and opened it gingerly, revealing the s.h.i.+ny half of the seal.

That is…

When I took a closer look, I finally recognised what it was. Lord Zhang Zhao on the other hand seemed even moodier when she saw it and turned her head away.

“That’s half of the Sun family seal that my lord Sun Ce was planning on giving to Imperial Uncle right?” I asked.

“Yes.” Our lord answered happily and carefully took the seal out, “Big sister wasn’t able to do so back then so I’ll be responsible for giving it to him this time.”

“Hai~ Why must half of the accomplishments of the Sun family to date be handed over to an outsider?”

“Lord Zhang Zhao, just admit defeat.” Lord Zhou Yu said to Lord Zhang Zhao, who seemed close to tears, as she fanned her, “Imperial Uncle Liu isn’t a bad person and it’s a good deal to get the a.s.sistance of him and his comrades for half of Jiangdong. From what I see, he would never have come to Jiangdong if it weren’t for how dire his circ.u.mstances were.”

“If that’s the case, then can it really work this time?” When I heard Lord Zhou Yu’s last sentence, I began to feel worried. Doesn’t what Lord Zhou Yu say make it impossible for Lu Su to succeed?

“No, I sent Zi Jing this time because I felt that the possibility of success was substantial.” Lord Zhou Yu said as she fanned herself, “Xuan De’s position now is akin to one of a subordinate. That means that he is not off the table when it comes time for Jiangxia negotiations. As long as Liu Biao agrees to it, Xuan De’s views need not be taken into consideration; which mean that if we want it, we can have Xuan De brought to Jiangdong and he will be unable to resist us.”

When she finished, Lord Zhou Yu laughed. Though her laughter was pleasant and pleasing to the ears, I still felt a sinister aura from Lord Zhou Yu after hearing what she just said.

But at the end of the day, what this means is that Liu Bei is definitely–

“My lord! My lord!”

Un? Just then, I heard a voice coming from outside the cabin. It came from a distance away and I couldn’t hear it clearly but it seemed rather anxious.

“Un? Zi Jing?” Compared to the rest of us, Lord Zhou Yu recognised who it was immediately and frowned as she got up and left the cabin.

My lord and I looked at each other and followed after Lord Zhou Yu.

“Gong Jin! My lord!” Just as we were about to make it to the doorway, Lu Su came bursting in huffing and puffing, and landed squarely on top of Lord Zhou Yu, “Aiya~”

Lord Zhou Yu lost her balance and fell down along with Lu Su but it seemed like she’d detected something was wrong and cut to the chase, “Zi Jing! What’s wrong with you!?”

At this question, Lu Su’s expression became even graver than before.

“Gong Jin! My lord!” He said as he looked at us, then at Lord Zhou Yu and got onto his knees, “Zi Jing was useless!”

“Eh?”

Our lord seemed befuddled while Lord Zhang Zhao was caressing her hair and sighing.

“Zi Jing! Stop saying all that for now. What is going on?!” Lord Zhou Yu asked as she reached out and touched Lu Su, “Eh? Why are you wet all over? And what is with this stench?!”

“Gong Jin,” He yelled in a tearful and sorrowful voice, shook his head and slowly said–

Lord Liu Bei, Imperial Uncle Liu has drowned!