Liu Bei POV

“That’s right!”

“Now continue reading.”

“Yes.”

When I heard Zi Zhong call out to me, I got up in the hopes of getting some respite and rest but she was merely giving a description of the situation and so my hopes were dashed once more.

“That said, my lord has actually improved by leaps and bounds ever since Xu state.” Zi Zhong said as she stopped using her abacus and placed a hand on her face as she smiled while picking up a scroll with her other hand, “But now that you’ve come back, we need to teach my lord many things that a ruler needs to know. You should also learn some of the laws of the Great Han.”

(Though calling it the ‘Great’ Han is a bit of a stretch.) Zi Zhong whispered as she put down the scroll.

“How to rule a country huh…” I said as I stared at the scroll in front of me.

It contained about 1,000 words but its content was actually closer to 10,000 words. Some sentences would double back on an initial point while others would go round and round before finally settling on a point. If one were to really understand the scrolls, one would be able to understand its profound teachings.

That is if one could understand them.

But it seems like everyone, the Xu state 3 in particular, all hope to groom me into a ruler. Even under current circ.u.mstances, where there is no clear path for us to succeed, they are still wholeheartedly putting in blood, sweat and tears to teaching and training me up.

And they are doing this without the knowledge of who Liu Bei will eventually become. I am different, I know that I am Liu Bei and I know who Liu Bei is so I have the full confidence that I will eventually come to rule over Shu Han. But they do not, and no matter how good they are at seeing the potential of others, they cannot possibly see that I have the potential to be a monarch.

What is it then that drives them to continue teaching and guiding me? Do they just see me as a gamble that requires a hefty amount of investment?

“… My lord.”

“Un?” I turned over when I heard her call me and found that Zi Zhong was staring right at me for G.o.d knows who long.

“My lord, you went into a daze again.”

“Ah… Un un un, I’m very sorry.” I apologised as I hurriedly turned back to my scrolls. Zi Zhong’s tone was rather calm but this was not enough for me to rest easy.

“My lord, I heard bits and pieces of your monologue just now.” Zi zhong continued, “And I could more or less guess what you were thinking when you were zoned out as well.”

“Wu…”

Zi Zhong is really good at reading me huh? By the way, even though Zi Zhong was speaking to me, her hands did not stop at all and she was using her abacus non-stop.

“The reason why I’m teaching my lord all this is not because I am confident about my lord’s abilities.” Zi Zhong said while staring into her accounts, “As a retainer, I ought to be but I am a merchant at heart so I have to rationally a.s.sess and weight the risks and rewards of everything I do. And so, I have not placed any hopes into what might happen in the distant future.”

When Zi Zhong finished, she suddenly stopped her abacus and in that instant, the room was completely silent. I did not dare make a single sound and only when the mix of bamboo and ink filled my nose did I calm down. And just then, Zi Zhong began to speak again–

“So, with respect to the question which you were just pondering, the reason why I am willing to go so far

– Is merely because you are willing to learn.”

“Eh?” I frowned as I slowly understood what she said and pointed to myself, “I’m considered a willing learner?”

“Of course you are.” Zi Zhong smiled and nodded as she closed her eyes, “My lord slacks off and dozes off but be it me, Gong You or Xian He, none of us have ever been subjected to hostility by my lord nor have we been driven away.”

“But I’ve played truant?”

“Every student does that at some point.” Zi Zhong said it as though it were a matter of fact.

I… Am willing to learn huh…

If I think about it, I guess Zi Zhong’s a.s.sessment is not off the mark. Though I sometimes feel unwilling to learn, I am still willing to most times, especially if I am able to grasp and understand the content being taught. Moreover, whatever they are teaching me is a lot more meaningful than what I have to learn in high school anyway.

“And so, that is why we are willing to continue teaching my lord.” Zi Zhong still wore her smile as she looked at me, “And this is one of my lord’s charismatic points.”

Wu… I only just realised that Zi Zhong’s smile was really bewitching. I never really noticed it before but Zi Zhong is quite the heart-stopping beauty when she smiles.

“Alright, we’ve talked a lot.” Zi Zhong said as her smile became even more dazzling and tilted her head towards me, “Won’t you hurry and catch up?”

“Wu… Ah, can I–”

“No.” Zi Zhong immediately denied me and returned her expression into an austere one and returned her hands to her abacus, “And the way you mentioned your truancy made it seem quite serious so I’ll let my personal guard stand watch after I leave.”

“Personal guard?! Stand watch?!”

“Yes, I am involved with logistics and strategic affairs after all so I was given a 100-man personal guard.” Zi Zhong said lazily, “I’ve never used them much but they can be well utilised now.”

Wu… I just dug my own grave.

After Zi Zhong’s lessons was Gong You’s. Leaving aside the content, all I can say is I am induced to sleep. More importantly, there is no break in between for the sake of maximising the time.

However, I have my own ideas.

“Gong You.”

“… No, my lord.”

“…”

“… No, you are only making it difficult for me.”

“Just a while?”

“… Alright, 30 minutes.”

Alright! Though it’s shameless to always do this to Gong You, I really have no choice.

“Thanks so much, Gong You!” I said as I stood before a dazed Gong You and shook her hand vigorously.

“Ah…” Gong You’s head shook as I shook her head and she weakly tugged on my sleeve, “Please come back on time.”

“Un un, I got it.” I said as I vigorously nodded and respectfully saluted her before stepping out of the room.

Ah… The warm rays of suns.h.i.+ne and the smell of fresh dirt. Nature is really great.

I felt like I had just come out of prison. I really have no idea how I made it through the past 4 hours. But now I have a 30 minute break.

I really must praise Gong You here. All this while, it’s been thanks to Gong You for giving me breaks, letting me walk around and even when she would always take a long while before catching me zoning out.

In modern times, Gong You would probably be the well-loved teacher. Zi Zhong would be the level head. And as for xiao Yong, she would probably be the teacher that people dislike as she enforces strict rules on her students but is lax on herself.

Hu~ I breathed out and made my way down the steps with the intent of heading out into the streets.

Of course, I must make sure to come back within 30 minutes. Gong You said so after all so I have to accede to the promise. Especially at times like these, one has to show respect for the promises made or there will never be such chances in future.

Ah… Yes, yes. I remembered something even more important just as I was about to leave the mansion and hurried back into my room to retrieve the helmet or hat.

Based on what Yuan Zhi said, though our defences and counterespionage operations are on point, the enemy spies could still sneak in somehow. It would be fine if they came to learn of anything but my survival. So, to reduce the risk of this happening, I decided to keep using Zhou Cang’s hat whenever I leave the mansion.

After putting it out, I left the mansion and made my way into the city proper. There are quite a lot of people on the streets and it’s rather bustling and prosperous for a county city.

“Mama, who is that?”

“Don’t speak do loudly! He might be a cannibal from the south…”

What do you mean cannibal… If I really were such a dangerous existence, how would I have been able to enter the city?

I looked through the s.p.a.ces between the leaves and found that around 7 of 10 people would be throwing furtive glances at me. I do not blame them. If I saw someone wearing a hat as strange as this, I would be staring at him myself.

Hai… Even though I just wanted to take a stroll down the streets, it seems like soaking in some sun in the courtyard would have been a better idea.

“Umm, may I ask if you know where the blacksmith is? The best and the nearest blacksmith, that is.”

Un? Just as I was about to retreat back to the mansion, a voice came from the side, a voice that I was sure I knew who it was from.

“Right up ahead? Alright! Thanks!”

Wu… Yes, this sonorous and powerful voice…

Only 1 person comes to mind. I tiptoed and looked ahead and saw a girl with a slim figure wearing clothes with a voluminous skirt looking about as she walked ahead. I could only see the side of her face but it was enough for me to recognise her.

It’s Chen Dao as expected.