Vol 7 Chapter 31 (2/2)
“Blood brother must be thinking that I’m just spouting nonsense and giving excuses for my cowardice right?”
“Eh? No no no! How could I be?!”
How many times was this already? I clearly didn’t say anything, nor have I fully described it yet. How is he knowing what I’m thinking even before I have?
“It’s fine. I can understand why blood brother thinks of it that way.” He tidied his clothing once more as he faced me, “My subordinates have kept telling me to mobilise my troops over and over; whether it was to take control of the Son of Heaven or at Guandu. Indeed, I have had many opportunities but I never acted on any of them. And the reason is none other than the fact that I am royalty.”
“Just because you are royalty?”
“Is that not enough?” He returned the question back, and closely followed up, “As royalty, the duties given by the Son of Heaven are of utmost importance. The Son of Heaven made me the Governor of this state, and intends for me to govern this place well. Apart from that, there is nothing else of which I should be concerned about.”
He was very serious when he said all this, and it seems that the concept of being royalty is deeply rooted in him. From how he spoke, I believe that he has never doubted that what he did was wrong. Though he hasn’t actually done anything wrong.
“It may not be very appropriate of me to say this, but the Son of Heaven has few allies now so shouldn’t you be taking more cities and increasing your territory? And defeat the enemies of the Son of Heaven?”
I know that asking these questions will only bring me trouble. This isn’t the first time I’m doing such things. But after hearing what Liu Biao said, I felt compelled to ask him these questions.
“I shouldn’t,” I didn’t expect that he would reply immediately with no hesitation whatsoever, “Because the Son of Heaven has not ordered me to do so. If the Son of Heaven did give the order, then I would do so even if it will cost me my life.”
Liu Biao even lowered his head respectfully when he finished.
But this really hit me hard. ‘Liu Bei’ is someone with the objective of restoring the Han after all, but since the Son of Heaven has not actually mentioned of a need for such a thing, then won’t I just be doing unnecessary things?
Never mind, forget it. Restoring the Han is just an excuse. For me, anyway.
“Ha– Un…” Just then, Liu Biao yawned and looked exhausted.
“Did you not rest well?” I asked.
Liu Biao nodded, “I woke up a little too early this morning as I went to pay my respects to our ancestors in the altar hall before I received blood brother.”
I see. Then in that case…
I thought of something and got up, “Elder brother, can you bring me to the altar hall? I wish to pay my respects too.”
No matter what, I’m Liu Bei now so the Liu clan ancestors are my ancestors.
“Oh?” When he heard my words, he seemed rather surprised, “You’re the first royal to come here with the initiative to propose to pay respects on his own accord.”
I smiled bitterly, and didn’t reply. I’m royalty now so I’ll have to learn some customs from this fanatic.
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