Vol 3 Chapter 14 (2/2)
(TL: Minor characters. In the original, they left Yuan Shu after he declared himself Emperor.)
…
“A-re?” Yuan Shu, who was behind me, let out an unexpectedly strange sound at her gross misjudgement of her subordinates.
But really, shouldn’t it be me who is making strange noises?
“Oi oi!” I lamented as I squatted down and hugged my head, “Didn’t you say your generals won’t surrender?!”
“I, I didn’t even know I had subordinates by that name!” For some reason, she yelled back at me as though I had maligned her. “I can only remember Yan Xiang and Ji Ling~~~”
“… Hai~~~” I gave a long sigh as I walked toward Yuan Shu.
“You, what do you…” She seemed frightened when she saw me walking over but returned to a calm expression soon after as she continued in a slightly tearful voice. “Yes, that’s right. I agreed to give you my head and I will not go back on my word.”
I smiled helplessly at her voice and when I bent down after I walked behind her, she even trembled lightly.
And thereafter– I loosened Yuan Shu’s restraints.
“… Eh?” She was dumbfounded at this action of mine and did not know if she should even stand. “What are you…”
I stretched my back and feigned a look of nonchalance. “Maa, I’ve already taken the city so I no longer have any reason to keep you tied up.”
“Bu, but didn’t you, my head…”
“Just a bluff, I don’t like such b.l.o.o.d.y acts.” I hurriedly waved my hands to allay her concerns.
“Eh? A-re?”
Seeing that she was still in a state of shock, I exited the tent to look for Feng Xian with the intention of untying the ropes on the other 2 as well, hoping that she hadn’t killed the 2 hastily.
“Is my lord done?” Just as I exited the tent, Feng Xian who was leaning against the tent feigned ignorance and asked.
“… Were you eavesdropping?”
“I guess,” She admitted to it unhesitatingly after she saw that she had been seen through. “I was just afraid Yuan Shu would join us or something…”
“Haa? Join us?” What are you talking about?
(TL: In case this isn’t clear, by ‘us’, she means the harem.)
“My lord, you really have no EQ.” Her expression wavered slightly, and her eyebrows seemed slightly creased. She then turned to the 2 figures to the side. “Go in and speak with your lord, you 2.”
As she said so, I saw that the bindings on the 2 subordinate generals had already been removed, and they seemed to be very reserved as they stood there motionlessly. Well, I guess that’s normal for a captive.
“Relax, your lord is inside and she’s perfectly fine.” I smiled as I said so, hoping they would be less wary.
They looked at each other and bowed to me before rus.h.i.+ng past me into the tent. Within a short amount of time, the sound of several girls crying could be heard from the tent.
Loyalty is what holds a lord and his retainer together but I can feel something deeper than that, something more akin to familial love and bonds.
“Oh Feng Xian, did you know? About Shouchun city.” I had a lot of thoughts bothering me but I couldn’t forget to discuss serious matters with Feng Xian.
“Ah, the signaller told me just now and I’ve told the troops to prepare to move out.”
“Un,” I replied, feeling perfectly calm and devoid of all nervousness.
“We’ll leave when the preparations are done.” I said as I looked as the ground and kneaded the gra.s.s with my boots.
“Got it… Ah, that’s right, there was one other piece of news.” Feng Xian continued as she recalled something. “Apparently, another army that belongs to Lord Cao Cao is currently making its way here from Xu state.”
Is that so. So she did have other armies ready huh.
But… Xu state huh.
“Who is it that’s leading the army?” I asked, though I already knew who it would be.
“Supposedly it’s the newly appointed Inspector of Xu state, the name was…” Feng Xian thought for a moment before continuing in an uncertain tone. “… I think it’s Che Zhou.”
<script>