Liu Bei POV

“How could that be?” I hurriedly added, “It’s really chilly today so it would be better to put on an extra layer or 2.”

“No thanks, I’m fine with a bit of cold. It’s the heat that scares me.” Zi Long said as she s.h.i.+vered and walked down. Unlike Zhou Cang, Zi Long was careful and hopped from stone to stone until she came before me, “Morning, Xuan De.”

“Un, un.” I nodded and looked at Zi Long’s sleepy face. When I looked up, I found that Zi Long’s hair was really puffing out, more so than even Zhou Cang. Moreover, it seemed like she had tried to tidy it up before already.

“Xuan De, I know that my hair is curling up. Will you quit staring at it with those small eyes of yours?”

“Ah, no.” I hurriedly turned away when I saw Zi Long’s irritated gaze but then realised that I had been exposed already so I turned back and looked at the side, “No, no, I’m just surprised as this is the first time seeing it like that.”

I do not remember seeing her hair acting up like this ever before, be it after she saved me after my escape from Xu state, after Guandu or any other time.

“It got a little humid after it rained yesterday.” Zi Long said as she reached out and touched her curly hair with a look of irritation, “I did my best to dry it last night but it still ended up like this.”

It did rain a lot yesterday when we reached Xinye. To be honest, our raincoats were not that effective as the rainfall was simply too heavy. Zi Long’s hooded cape was just cloth too so it was even worse for her.

“It’ll be alright, right?” I asked in a normal tone despite how comical Zi Long actually looked.

Zi Long seemed to really mind how her hair was and she looked at me and retracted her hand from her hair before she replied, “It’ll be fine. A few more hours when the humidity has subsided and my hair will be like how it usually is.”

It goes with time huh? But I guess that’s convenient then.

“Haa~ Good morning, my lord.”

“Xuan De, good morning.”

2 others greeted me. When I turned back, I saw that it was Wen Yuan and Feng Xian. Wen Yuan was her usual energetic self while Feng Xian was still sleepy.

It seems like Feng Xian is still carrying that growing furball in her chest. But perhaps it’s a good idea now that the weather becoming cold.

“Good morning, big brother.” Yun Chang said as she saluted me.

“Ah… Good–”

“Guan Ping! Wake up!” Just as I was about to return her greeting, Yun Chang immediately went to a door nearby and yelled as she kicked the door down.

It feels like Yun Chang has become more and more of a mother ever since Guan Ping recognised her as such. Though their ages are not far apart, their mental ages are quite different.

“A while more… Just a while more…”

“No! If the enemy were to attack now and you’re still sleeping, you would be dead already!”

Yun Chang then grabbed Guan Ping by her face and came out of the room. I really did not know what to say when I saw this. I guess she’s getting closer and closer to becoming a real mother.

“My lord! My lord! I found it!”

A lot is happening today huh? I thought as I turned back and saw a happy Zhou Cang with flushed cheeks, seeming rather different from how she usually was.

What really drew my attention was that she had taken off her muddy bandages from before but did not put on a new set, rev

ealing her white, slim legs.

“Un? What did you find?” I asked as I did my best to be a gentleman and restrain myself from looking down.

“This, this is the helmet I was talking about last night. I just found it.” She said excitedly with her hands behind her back as though she was about to give me a surprise.

“Oh~ I see~” I too got infected by her excitement. Zhou Cang right now seems a lot more feminine and is acting like a nervous girl who is about to give a present to the boy she likes.

The helmet no longer mattered. It was enough to be able to see the usually crude and rude Zhou Cang like this was already more than enough for me.

“Dang dang dang dang~ Here it is~” She said excitedly still as she brought her hands forward and displayed it to us.

However, I was utterly stupefied by what I saw.

“Lord Zhou Cang… Is this… A Nanman headdress?” Chen Dao, who was beside her, tsukkomi-ed first.

Yes, that seemed to be what she held before me. It was basically a circlet made out of gra.s.s with various unnamed plants and flowers of various lengths stuck on it. There was also a veil of sorts made by large leaves which could be pulled down.

Could it be a Nanman crown? It has a veil after all, crude it may be.

“Too bad~” Zhou Cang judged Chen Dao’s answer as incorrect, which meant mine was incorrect as well. She then held it up above her head and continued, “Has everyone heard of the Wuling Man?”

“Wuling Man?”

“Wuling Man, they are a barbarian tribe who live in Wuling. Emperor Guangwu of Han sent armies 3 times to suppress them but faced great difficulties every time.” Someone began explaining from behind. When I turned around, I saw that it was Huang Zu who had her hair combed and her plate skirt on, “On the 3rd expedition, Ma Yuan, General Who Calms The Waves, died from illness.”

“Ma Yuan?”

This name sounds familiar but I have no impression at all. Oh well, it’s not like I was very interested in history.

“Un un un! That Wuling Man.” Zhou Cang seemed very pleased with Huang Zu’s explanation and continued as she pointed at it, “This hat of mine belonged to the leader of the Wuling Man. Back when I was still a Yellow Turban general, Ou Xing from Changsha in the south gave it to me and I’ve had it since.”

Wow, so you lot engaged in trade now and then during the rebellion? Hmmm, Ou Xing is yet another name I have not heard of.

“So, I’ll give this hat to my lord then~”

“W–”

She came right up and put it on me without waiting. Because of the lead veil, my vision was obscured.

“Un, my lord looks good.”

“Is that so…” I said, believing in Zhou Cang’s a.s.sessment.

“Just like a fool.” But then, Zi Long’s words brought me back to reality.

“Wu… Zi Long, you needn’t say it even if that is the case…”

“But yes, Wuling Man, even us northerners have heard of them.” Zi Long ignored my weak resistance and continued the topic, “How is it like over–”

“Un, Wuling is still rather tenuous presently.” She interrupts even Zi Long huh, “But luckily, Jiangdong was the target of their attacks a while ago and a general there suppressed them successfully so things are still calm for now.”

“A Jiangdong general?” I asked, interested to know who it was and if I knew him or her. There are many famous Jiangdong generals so even I who does not know that much about the Three Kingdoms knows quite a few.

“She’s an old hand,” Huang Zu said, “From the time of Sun Jian. Her name is Huang Gai Huang Gong Fu.”

Huang Gai huh… That name is familiar indeed. What came to mind was not a bearded, half-naked old man but a mature, older sister type who wore modern maid clothes with a broom in her hands. We only met each other a few times but she left quite the impression on me.

“… Does Imperial Uncle know her?” Huang Zu asked as she stared at my face.

“I do, I do. I stayed in Jiangdong for a bit, remember?” I said as I nodded, “I don’t know how she was like before but Huang Gai now has retired from active combat duty.”

I even mistook her for a personal maid.

“I see… Huang Gai was truly a force to be reckoned with back then. I am no match for her whatsoever.” Huang Zu continued.

“Everyone’s awake already huh?” Yuan Zhi said as she stepped out of her room. Looking at her, it feels like she’s been awake for a while now.

“Good morning, Yuan Zhi.” I greeted.

“Good morning.” Yuan Zhi returned the greeting as she looked at me calmly.

“Umm… There shouldn’t be any issues with today’s deployment right?” I asked, still a little worried deep down about Yuan Zhi and wondered if she was up all night thinking about it.

“No problem.” Yuan Zhi said confidently, which gave me some comfort.

“I’d like to ask first, is everyone here?” Yuan Zhi asked as she looked about and counted.