It was very cold now in the beginning of winter and every living being seemed to await the appearance of sun in the early morning. Soon, the sun began revealing its smile as it rose over the mountains and lit up the world.

It was very noisy outside the city but the civilians in the city were still in their dreams. With such silence, even the smallest sounds coming from outside the city could send my heart thumping. And with my ears, I could clearly hear the imminent arrival of Meng De’s troops.

But under such precarious circ.u.mstances, I was sitting with my little sisters in the meeting room. Apart from Yi De who was trying to start a conversation, no one was thinking about the battle ahead.

Of course, we have worn our clothes by now.

“…”

“…”

“Umm, can you 2 don’t remain silent.” Yi De pleaded after trying all morning to get us to talk, before curling up and saying with red cheeks, “W, we did it already so what else is there to think about at this point.”

“Wu!!” Yun Chang’s face turned scarlet instantly and she stood up immediately. As she did so, her eyes met mine and she got a shock and squatted on the wooden chair, “Wh, what do you mean we did it already! Isn’t that a little too casual!”

“Th, that’s right. And we haven’t confirmed if I actually did anything right?” I was sleeping on the ground then and I don’t have any memories of doing anything…

“Big brother, that’s so unmanly of you,” Yi De said as she hid her face in her hands, and through the cracks between her fingers, I could sense an undescribable fury, “When we woke up, we were in your room and n, n, naked… How can you still say such things, big brother?”

Geh… This is bad.

I turned and looked at Yun Chang and saw that she covered her face with one hand while she twirled her messy hair with the other and looked lost.

How did it become like this? Did I really lose control after getting drunk?

I shook my head at this but it only worsened my headache.

“I don’t care…”

Un?

Just then, Yun Chang, whose head was hung low, spoke in a calm voice.

“I don’t care! Big brother should take responsibility right?!” Yun Chang raised her head and looked at me. Her eyes were filled with tears, unlike how stern she usually was, and looked completely like a shy and cute girl of her age.

Eh?!!

I sat there stupefied as I heard what Yun Chang said with a reddened face.

“Yun Chang, calm down first…”

“Un, big sister is right,” Yi De seemed to have regained her energy and somersaulted onto the table, “Big brother should take responsibility!”

…

Liu Bei, how would you have handled this situation?

(TL: They did sleep together in the original, but obviously nothing like this happened.)

“…” I lowered my head and sank into silence. I know I can’t just wave this away. As a feudal lord and as a man, I know what I have to do. When I realised this, I couldn’t help but clench my teeth and put my hands on the table as I said, “Alright.”

“Eh?” “Big brother?”

They were surprised at my sudden words and questioning looks appeared.

“What I mean is–” I said resolutely as I placed my hand on my chest, “I will take responsibility and marry the 2 of you.”

In an instant, the room’s air seemed to have solidified. Whether it was me, or my little sisters, we all stood still on the spot.

This went on for a while, until–

“Haa….” Yun Chang suddenly made a weird sound, and the hands which covered her face slid down as she dropped to the ground, “M, marriage?”

“B-b-b-b-b-b-big brother means to marry us?” Yi De said as her finger pointed at the 3 of us in turn with her eyeb.a.l.l.s following suit.

Y, you 2 don’t need to repeat it so many times right.

“D, didn’t you 2 want me to take responsibility?” I was starting to think that my proposal wasn’t the best solution after all and scratched my head in frustration. But now that I think about it, it would be difficult for siblings to marry even if we are only siblings in name, “If you 2 don’t want it, then take it as if I–”

“Ah… No,” Yun Chang shook her head violently when she heard this and waved her hands as well.

“No no, that’s not what we meant.” Yi De looked to the side and covered her small mouth with her similarly small hand, “It’s what we have been wis.h.i.+ng for…”

“Un? Yi De, did you say something?”

“No no no, n, nothing at all.”

… Th, this really is strange~~

“Marriage huh…” I turned to look at Yun Chang when I heard her mutter and saw that she had the most blissful smile I had ever seen on her. Yi De was smiling similarly as she looked at Yun Chang as well.

But…

“But we still need to put this aside for now.” I said and stood up as I looked outside, “Meng De’s troops are at our doorstep after all.”

When Chen Deng learnt that we had not yet left, he came over shortly to the meeting room to see us and ask us why we haven’t left. Of course, I couldn’t tell him the real reason and tried to wave it away. Chen Deng seemed to have caught on to something and smiled. He did not ask any further and only asked what we needed.

“Chen Deng, you already sent notice to Feng Xian right.”

“Yes, I sent a courier yesterday afternoon to Xiapi to notify them. By now, they should be on their way to Liyang where Yuan Shao is currently stationed at.”

When I heard this, I felt relieved. Like this, I no longer need to worry about anything else.

It was now difficult for me to escape and I have resolved to fight to the death with Meng De. Feng Xian and Zhang Liao leaving safely is a good thing as there was no need for them to go through this trial with me.

“Please release w.a.n.g Zhong and Liu Dai as well.” I said ao as I handed a letter to Chen Deng, “Let the 2 of them bring this letter to Meng De. It’s my reply to her letter.”

“Eh? Why is big brother releasing those captured fellows?” Yi De and Yun Chang were by now back to normal and Yi De said to me with displeasure.

“Lord Cao Cao deployed them in the vanguard purely for the sake of having them be her messengers.” Yun Chang said as she tidied her hair. She had worn her armour and was now sitting calmly on the chair as she wielded her Green Dragon Crescent Blade.

Yun Chang is right, Meng De’s intent could not be clearer. The sole reason why things became like this is because of me. Logically and emotionally, there is no reason to kill those 2.

“If that’s the case, then why don’t we have them explain things to Lord Cao Cao and ask her to let us go?”

“…” I shook my head silently.

This was something impossible. Even if Meng De wanted to do so, her strategists would not let her act for personal reasons.

I shot Chen Deng a glance and he nodded.

“I understand but Imperial Uncle need not be too pessimistic.” Chen Deng said and got up before bowing and revealed a scheming look, “Escape may be difficult, but it’s not impossible.”