Liu Bei POV

“Could the enemy have seen through us? They haven’t done anything yet after all.”

“Un…” I could not deny that what Feng Xian said might have happened. At the same time, I could not really give a concrete yes either as all we could do was wait. Wait for them to come and then act as per Yuan Zhi’s strategy. Yun Chang and Wen Yuan must be agonising as well in the west side of the city.

“I really didn’t think that the city walls could be constructed like that though.” I said as I looked at the city walls, feeling impressed at the handiwork of Huang Zu and the rest. It was no wonder that Yuan Zhi’s plan could work. Huang Zu and the rest really contributed significantly to this.

“I’m here, my lord.”

Un? Another presence could be felt from behind. Normally, this could only be Wen Yuan but she was waiting at the west of the city. Additionally, this voice is far too tender and calm.

“Yi De?” I called out as I turned back and saw that I was correct.

“My lord.” She said as she saluted me respectfully.

“No no, wait…” I did not understand why Yi De was here, much less her outfit.

Yi De was now holding her Serpent Spear in hand and she wore shoulder plates as well as a protective chest piece on top of her clothing. There is definitely a lot more metal on her than the last time. If this were a game, her defence would definitely be significantly higher. But this is real life, so apart from the places that were covered, other places would still be exposed.

“Yi De, this is…” I asked as I pointed at her outfit.

“This is what Lord Hua Tuo and Lord Xu Shu got me to wear.” Yi De said as she felt her shoulder plates,”They said it was for the sake of safety.”

When she finished, she twisted about. Looks like she’s afraid that it looked weird on her. To be honest, it was a bit weird to see her in armour after so long but for the sake of safety, I do think that this is the right decision.

“Un, I think it fits you.” I said as I gave her a thumbs up.

“Really?” She said blandly. Well this sort of dull reaction is to be expected as it’s just a few pieces of metal after all.

“Lord Zhang Fei, when the fighting starts, you don’t need to charge to the front.” Feng Xian said as she came over and patted Yi De’s head.

Some of her fringe got pushed up while Feng Xian did so and Yi De hurriedly pulled it down and flattened her hair. Looks like she places great importance on her appearance huh? That’s quite unlike of Yi De before she lost her memories.

“That’s it for now, Lord Zhang Fei. You can go and help me count the troops.” Feng Xian said and then turned around, “Go and have a chat with my subordinate officers. They may not be as strong as us but they’ve followed me from the north. If you’re not too familiar with them, they might not listen to your commands later.”

“Ah… Un.” Yi De was stunned for a moment but she hurriedly nodded and saluted before running into the tent where she seemed to have some trouble as she ran about.

“The commander’s office is there!” Feng Xian yelled as she pointed to the right.

“Alright, thanks Lord Lu Bu.” Yi De thanked Feng Xian who nodded, before running off.

I was rather surprised at what Feng Xian did as I have not really heard of Feng Xian showing much concern to others.

“What’s the matter?”

“Ah…” Feng Xian seemed to have noticed

my gaze on her but I could not possibly be so direct with her and decided to say it in a sort of roundabout manner, “Nothing much. I just thought that Feng Xian has become easier to get along with.”

“It’s nothing much.” Feng Xian said as she took a small stool and sat beside me. I looked at her and saw that she was serious as ever, “All I can say is I feel that I should give everyone a better impression of myself.”

“Oh~”

So she was indeed trying to change herself huh?

“This is thanks to Xuan De.” Feng Xian said as she looked at me, “Back when Xuan De spoke to me, I felt as a role model for everyone, I ought to do more. So… I should try to be more friendly and easier to get along with…”

As she said so, her face reddened. When I looked at her, I saw that she had turned away and was scratching her chin with a finger.

“Feng Xian doesn’t need to pay tol much heed to my words. If you can, I think that Feng Xian should continue doing as she is doing.”

At least for me, Feng Xian is role model for everyone as she is. If she intentionally tries to make herself easier to get along with, it might make people feel more awkward.

“I understand.” Feng Xian said as she nodded. Even until now, her face was still red. In fact, it seemed like it only got worse. I was puzzled but felt like it would not be nice for me to ask her.

“Umm, Xuan De…” Just as I was about to let things go, Feng Xian spoke up.

“Un?” I answered and turned to see that she had turned her face away completely.

“Umm… Back when you came to visit me in the encampment…” Feng Xian paused as she said so and turned just enough to catch the slightest glimpse of my face before she continued, “D-did you really come while Wen Yuan was around?”

“… Eh?” I was bewildered at first but soon, I understood what she meant and began to break into a cold sweat as I turned away, “F-feng Xian, what are you talking about? I-I-I-I don’t understand what you’re saying at all?!”

I decided to try to feign ignorance for now. But could it be that Feng Xian detected it? That it aas the truth that I plunged head first into the bathtub while she was sleeping in it. Soon, the image of Feng Xian in the bathtub and what happened replayed in my head, along with the image of her full nude lying on the ground.

Wu… I really cannot look her in the eye. I will definitely reveal myself if I do so.

“But–” Feng Xian did not probe me but continued further, “I asked Wen Yuan about it layer and she said that Xuan De came along earlier.”

“Eh?”

My heart skipped a beat.

“And I continued to question her after that and… Wen Yuan also asked me some questions that I could not answer…” Feng Xian said as her eyebrows leapt up.

For me, I could already guess what it was that Wen Yuan asked. Yes, I completely forgot to match my alibi with Wen Yuan and so, Wen Yuan could very well have exposed the truth.

— My lord (Lu Bu), did my lord (Liu Bei) take the chance to peek on you?

— Un? I left long ago?

— I didn’t hear anything from my lord (Liu Bei)?

Something similar should have went on and I could definitely picture how Feng Xian would have looked like when she got those questions.

“So…” Just as my heart rate was continuing to accelerate, Feng Xian suddenly spoke up and I took a deep breath as I saw her look at me with complicated feelings as she continued, “Xuan De, did you pretend to be Wen Yuan and act out a 1-man show?”

“Wu!” I could not breathe. Not knowing how to react, I just stared fixedly at Feng Xian. I did not know how to react and, who got redder and redder until she looked like a ripe red apple. This is probably the first time I have ever seen her like this. Eventually, she could not hold her gaze and turned away.

“… X-xuan De, when you… Fell head first into the bathtub…” Feng Xian’s body suddenly seemed very big and fearsome to me and I really hoped she would not continue on but she eventually squeezed out the last few words shyly, “… It wasn’t a dream right?”

*Pudong* My head went blank and I dropped to my knees at once.

“Ah, Xuan De, this is–”

“Feng Xian, I’m sorry, I lied!” The anguish and guilt I had buried in my heart erupted into these words I should have said long ago, “I know that you might not believe whatever I say now but whatever happened back then could not have been helped. I really did not have any intention of doing what happened at all!”

Even I found it hard to believe myself. No intention? Who am I trying to kid?