Vol 2 Chapter 11 (2/2)

“Can’t sleep.”

I tossed and turned on the bed but whether it was because of my inner turmoil or something else, I just couldn’t fall asleep even though I was tired.

Forget it, might as well take a walk and get some fresh air.

Just as I was about to walk out, before I opened the door, weak sobbing sounds could be heard from the courtyard.

“*Wu* *Wu*… *s.h.i.+ku*– *Kuh*… *s.h.i.+ku*–” The sobbing came in dribs and drabs, probably out of fear of being heard. “Pan Feng… I’ve lost Ji state, but… But you must return!… Pan Feng! You can’t be dead… Can’t be dead…”

Gradually, her volume increased as she lost control of her emotions.

In reality, Han Fu herself probably knows. That the chances of finding Pan Feng alive are slim since he has not appeared since.

All thos who haven’t fallen asleep can probably hear her by now but no one went to comfort her as it would be of no use anyway.

The only thing that can comfort her is news that Pan Feng is still alive.

And at this time, letting Han Fu cry it out might actually be better.

Un…

I dispelled the notion of leaving and returned to my bed as I silently prayed that tomorrow would bring favourable news of Pan Feng’s fate. Thereafter, I fell asleep before I knew it.

By the morning of the next day, I awoke at an unusually early time while everyone was still asleep. I left the courtyard and went to the main hall, and told the Xu state 3 to come along with me as I did so.

“Huah~” “My lord you woke up really esrly huh~” “Is there something to do? If there is, then just get the Chen Deng father and son pair– Haa~”

The 3 of them seemed to not have fully awakened but I went into the main agenda right away.

“Send some people over to Yuan Shao and see what information we can get about Pan Feng.”

“… Un.” “Ah… That can be done, but don’t expect too much.” “If there hasn’t been any news of him until now, then it will be difficult to expect there to be news that he is alive.”

Though what xiao Yong said was the truth, I want something more concrete… And I did promise Han Fu after all, so the least I can do is give her a conclusive–

“Report!” Just as I was still in my thoughts, a soldier came running in with a message. “Yuan Shao’s amba.s.sador seeks an audience!”

“… Now. I’ll see him now!” I was stunned for a moment before I spat out a reply. I frowned and sighed, “Looks like we don’t need to send anyone now.”

But this is good too. Before everyone one else has woken up, we can zero in on the important matters quickly.

“Greetings Lord Liu Bei.” Just then the amba.s.sador arrived. He saluted before continuing, “I have urgent military affairs to attend to back at my base so I will get to the point. I’ve heard that Han Fu has entered your jurisdiction.”

You really did get to the point huh. I never thought that news would spread this fast.

“… Ah, yes.” No point lying here.

“If that’s the case then our discussions can proceed further.”

“Eh? About? You want to finish her off?”

How ruthless can they be.

“Ah, no. That’s not it.” The amba.s.sador shook his head, and brought out a piece of silk which he handed to me. “This was written by our lord. What I wish to convey to you is all inside.”

Un… I have an ominous feeling about this.

I slowly opened the piece of silk, and beautiful writing greeted me as I did so.

I really didn’t expect that that rich young miss could write so beautifully. As I thought so, I began to read the contents with difficulty. Good thing the contents were not written properly in the old script and seemed to be a form of cursive that was easier for me to read.

‘I have now taken Ji state. As for little Han Fu, I have no intention of finis.h.i.+ng her off. In any case, I’m leaving her alone as long as she doesn’t do anything funny. As for her subordinates who got captured by me (some ink marks). A, actually I really was planning to let them go after entering the city but who knew that they would try to escape even under such circ.u.mstances, so, so I had no choice. Let me be clear about this, I really didn’t order Yan Liang and Wen Chou to kill them. Or rather, before I could say anything, they had done so already… I, I really couldn’t do anything so I’ll trouble you to explain this to Han Fu. But, but it really isn’t my fault!!’

After I finished reading it, I wordlessly pa.s.sed to the Xu state 3.

Rich young miss Yuan Shao’s letter became less and less formal as I read on.

But not your fault huh? Who knew that they would try to escape huh?

… What the h.e.l.l is that rich young miss spouting about. In normal circ.u.mstances, if they were captured, they would expect to be executed so why not try to make a break for it?

But I really didn’t think that that timid Pan Feng would really… Maybe to him, the precious home with Han Fu and Zhang He was more important than his life.

— Wait for me, my lord.

— I’ll be coming to see you now.

Why?

In my head, I could clearly see the confident figure of Pan Feng as he escapes from Yuan Shao’s camp. Was the reason for him taking such a risk, all to return to his lord’s side?

But now, I will never know.

“… Alright, I got it.” I stood up and decided to fulfill the necessary niceties and send the amba.s.sador out. “Let me see you out.”

As I guided him, he began speaking to me.

“Lord Liu Bei has now gotten hold of Xu state, but many feudal lords are eyeing Xu state hungrily. If you don’t mind it, perhaps you can join my lord, we will definitely welcome you.”

I’m still not the Governor yet. And isn’t your rich young miss also looking hungrily at Xu state as well? Of course you would welcome me.

“Ah, I’ll think about it.”

I gave an appropriate answer but he could tell my intent from this and did not press the issue.

Thereafter I sent him off and gave a few courteous words, and after which he left.

Hai~ This is bad.

How do I tell Han Fu about this later? Now that I know the truth, it’s hard to talk about it.

As I was deep in thought about this, I made my way to–

“Morning Lord Liu Bei.”

“Un? Han Fu, you’re awake already?”

Seeing Han Fu awake and walking towards me, I got nervous and blurted out a question.

“Un, I’m awake.” Han Fu smiled at me but for some reason, her smiling face was dreadfully pale.

“You don’t look so good. Have you had breakfast?”

“Ah, I need to go to the toilet first.” Han Fu said, and then quickly walked off.

“Oh, oh.” I nodded.

So it’s just the toilet huh… Having to face her all of a sudden made me really nervous.

I walked to the main hall, and saw that Zhang He was standing there.

“Zhang He is awake too?”

“… Ah, good morning Lord Liu Bei…” She seemed to be nervous when she saw me and lowered her head as she did so.

I feel like she has something difficult she wants to say…

“Ah yes, an amba.s.sador from Yuan Shao came this morning and gave me a letter… Gong You, have you all shown it to Lord Zhang He?”

“About that.” “We put the silk in the main hall and left for a bit.” “But we don’t know where it got blown to…”

Un? It’s lost?

“Speaking of which Lord Liu Bei, have you seen my lord?” Zhang He came up and asked me after pondering for a while. “I’d thought she would be here to eat breakfast but I haven’t seen her.”

“Ah, I saw her. She said she was going to the toilet.”

…

Eh?

She came to the main hall, the silk went missing, and then she went to the toilet with an unusual expression–

Could it be!!

“Lord Liu Bei?!”

I hope my guess is wrong.

I didn’t say anything and sprinted to the toilets as I kept praying in my heart for it to be wrong.

“Lord Han Fu, Lord–”

And then…

When we came to the toilet, I found that my guess was right,

Just as Han Fu herself had said, she was here.

Her small body was slumped against a wall while her hands held onto a knife that was stuck in her chest. The blood on the ground seemed to have begun to dry. On her face was a warm smile.

“Ah! My lord!” Zhang He who came running behind me collapsed to the ground as she held her mouth, completely losing her usually reliable expression, as she saw this tragic scene, “Why… why you too…”

Han Fu probably planned on this the moment she knew he was dead huh…

I frowned and went up to check anyway but her icy hands had no pulse and her tiny nose would never breathe again.

I found the silk beside her but it was of no use anymore.

Because the Governor of Ji state, Han Fu, was now dead.

<script>