Liu Bei POV

“Already… Reached?” Huang Zu asked. I too was similarly confused. Is she satisfied with her currently level of singing… She’s being a little too lax with herself…

“Un,” But just as I was thinking as much, she nodded, “We haven’t reached Xinye yet, but everything has happened as my friend said and I think that I have found what I’m after ahead of time. Though I still need to wait and see for a bit more first.” She smiled gratefully as she said so.

She said a fair bit but none of it makes sense to me as I do not know what she is talking about at all. Found it? Found what?

All I can understand is that she no longer needs to sing.

“Well then–” Just as I gave up on making sense of the girl, she bowed to me, “Lord Liu Bei, if you don’t mind, let’s go to Xinye together.”

“Eh? You’re still going to Xinye?”

I thought you said you found what you were looking for? And did you just change how you addressed me?

“Un.” She nodded, “I’m still going to Xinye. Can we go together?”

“Ah, of course, of course.” I felt a little shy at how direct she was when she repeated her question and hurriedly a.s.sented, “That is my wish as well, please do travel with me.”

“Alright then. Please wait for a moment for me to pack up and we can leave thereafter.” She said and then turned around to pack. Huang Zu joined in as well when she saw this.

“Let me help as well.” I decided to chip in as it would not be very seemly for me to sit around and do nothing while they were both busy. As I folded the stools, I saw Huang Zu was beside me and asked, “By the way, are you going to go to Xinye with her?”

“Yes,” Huang Zu said as she looked down and continued working. Her hair hung down and did not stick to her face, giving me a good view of her eyes, “She is my benefactor after all. Even if her issue has been resolved, her journey is not at an end yet. I shall finish this trip with her.”

Un un. I nodded, feeling that Huang Zu and Yun Chang were more similar than I thought.

“Ah, right.” Just then, the bandana girl spoke up as though she just remembered something and turned to me.

When I turned to look at her however, she immediately looked away and only s.h.i.+fted her gaze back after a moment. But even then, she was looking downwards at my legs or shoes as she slowly said, “My name is Xu Shu Xu Yuan Zhi. You can call me Yuan Zhi while we are travelling together.”

When she finished, she looked up and bowed.

“Ah… Un.”

Her introduction was done rather well and formally but her shyness made it seem like a marriage meeting, which made me feel a little awkward. I took a moment to steady myself before saluting respectfully, “Un, I’ll be counting on you, Yuan Zhi. You may call me Xuan De.”

“… Un, p, please do take care of me.” She hurriedly turned around as she stuttered, “Xuan, Xuan– Xuan De.”

“Un.” I said and nodded, “Ah, by the way, may I ask about what I just drank…”

“This water?”

“Un un, how did you make it?” As I asked this, Huang Zu’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Yuan Zhi. Looks like this is something she’s curious about as well.

“That huh…” Yuan Zhi said as she touched her neck and then the bandana, “It’s my secret concoction, I can’t tell you.”

Liu Qi POV

The atmosphere in father’s residence has been exceptionally heavy these days. I do not know what the others are thinking but that is how I feel.

Logically speaking, not appearing for my duties at the city walls is in violation of military laws and I should be punished but these are extraordinary times and no one can say anything to the special relative of the Governor even if she is just sitting on the stone chair in a daze.

Even the ones who always find trouble with me, Cai Mao and Lady Cai, as well as that la.s.s have not said anything.

I do not know what they might be plotting at this time, but I do not have the leisure to consider what they might be doing now.

After father vomited blood and collapsed the other day, he fell into a coma for a couple of days and only just woke up recently. He can eat now but he still looks pale and sick.

To save father, Lady Cai brought in the physician from the capital who also brought well wishes from the Son of Heaven as well.

Ah… It’s so hot.

I was currently sitting in front of the doorway of the room and looking up at the spa.r.s.e clouds in the sky, praying for some wind to blow some clouds my way and provide cover from the sun.

“E, elder sister…”

Un? I reflexively looked up and saw Liu Cong standing beside me.

Hmph. I turned away and regretted ever looking over.

“Ah… Umm…” She mumbled and fidgeted about, making me even more irritated. But at this time, I did my best to suppress my anger as I really do not have the mood to speak with her at all.

I also have to admit that she is likely unaware of Cai Mao’s plan to kill uncle, which is why I do feel a bit sorry for what I did to her.

I will just stay silent this time instead of las.h.i.+ng out at her in repentance.

“Umm,” She continued to fidget about. Right when my irritation was about to peak, she finally spoke up slowly, “I wonder if father is alright.”

Is that all you wanted to say…

“Who knows?” I said coldly. I wanted to end the conversation with that but it did not feel right ending a question with another question so I added, “But if it’s father, he should be fine.”

When I finished, I decided to stand up and head towards the courtyard in case Liu Cong might continue the conversation. I am not actually planning to go anywhere as the physician is still performing his diagnosis and I should not be too far from father. I just do not want to be close to that girl, that’s all.

At the same time, I did my best to put some distance between me and the flowers in the courtyard.

*Dang* *Dang* *Dang*! *Dang* *Dang* *Dang*!

Just then, knocking could be heard from the outer courtyard.

The attendant sitting at the doorway in a daze hurriedly got up and asked, “Who is it?!”

“I am the Administrator of Changsha and I am here to give my well wishes to the Governor!”

“I’m coming!” The attendant yelled and began to head out.

“Oi, attendant!” I called out softly to him just as he was about to leave, “Now that the Governor is gravely ill, you should know what to say.”

The attendant frowned in confusion at first but he soon realised what I meant and gave an “Oh” before nodding and continuing on his way.

As I looked at the attendant’s back, I could not help but think that attendants had to be smart. As I thought so, I recalled that Xiang Lang attendant who I never saw again after the banquet. Perhaps she could not take the oppressively heavy atmosphere in this place.

As the door opened with a creak, I hid behind the wall of the inner courtyard.

“Ah, you’re… Lord Han Xuan?”

“Yes, I am Han Xuan, the Administrator of Changsha.” A rather pleasing male voice wafted in from outside. Even though he was just speaking normally, it sounded like he was singing, “I have heard news that the Governor has fallen ill and came to give him my best wishes. How is the Governor doing now?”

“He is well, thanks to your goodwill. The diagnosis is that he has fallen ill from overwork.” The attendant replied, “Though you have come a great distance to offer your well wishes, the Governor needs quiet rest above all so I’m afraid it will be difficult for you to come in and speak to him. The Governor has however given us instructions to accept any gifts first. Please sign here on this book and when the Governor has recovered, he will pay a visit to you personally in thanks for your goodwill.”

The attendant’s words completely shut down Han Xuan, giving him no room to maneuver. Of course, these words were not from him and were from the diplomatic genius, Kuai Liang.

“Alright, if it has to be that way then I’ll take my leave.” Han Xuan said before leaving. After hearing some footsteps, the door shut. Looks like he did indeed leave. Compared to the other Administrators, he’s a lot easier to deal with.

Even though the weather is so hot, various Administrators from all over Jing state have come to visit father. They came everyday, and sometimes, there were even senior local officials who came to visit.

This, was precisely what I and the Kuai sisters feared. Firstly, father was indeed gravely ill and needed rest. But more importantly, these visits are not done out of concern but for the purpose of getting more information. If someone with untoward designs comes to visit and sees father’s current state, he might be emboldened to take action.

What’s most important in these extraordinary times is to maintain stability. It’s a good thing that the commoners do not know of this yet.