Vol 8 Chapter 34 (1/2)
VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 34: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A SUDDEN CHANGE IN THE WINDS (1)
Liu Bei POV
“Uncle is really in a good mood huh, seeing as you’re able to laugh.”
Eh? When I heard this voice and means of address, I trembled.
“Liu Qi!?” My eyes widened as I looked over and saw Liu Qi who was wearing a plate skirt standing beside me.
“Are you alright!?” I hurriedly looked her over and saw that though her clothes were dirty, there was no sign of blood.
“Uncle shouldn’t use such an obvious gaze to inspect people. It feels weird.” She said with a serious expression as she took 2 steps back.
“Haha, sorry about that.” I hurriedly s.h.i.+fted my gaze away. But really, I was elated. My companions and Liu Qi and her people are alright.
“A while ago when we brought my lord to sh.o.r.e, we were on our way to Jiangxia city when we found Lord Liu Qi and the rest who were ready to retreat.”
“Retreat? Has it been decided already?” I asked and only then looked at my surroundings and found that we were some distance away from the port.
“We just received the edict with the order for us to retreat so it’s time we do so.” Liu Qi opened the edict and showed it to me as she said so, “I didn’t think that something like this happened to uncle.”
“Ah… Yeah…” Of course, I can’t explain to Liu Qi what happened with Lu Meng.
As I looked toward the port, I saw that the flames continued to spread and surge. Looks like Lu Meng has sealed her victory as she said in the time when I was out.
“Sorry that I left shortly after the battle began and couldn’t help.” I apologised when I remembered that I wasn’t of any help at all and even hindered her plans.
“Uncle need not apologise.” But at my apology, Liu Qi only shook her head and showed me a forgiving expression, “You’re not of much help anyway.”
That’s too much!
“Lord Liu Qi, how can you say that–”
“Even if it’s the truth, please be a little more tactful…”
“Objection!”
Chen Dao defended me while surprisingly, Chen Gong and Zhou Cang also stood up and protested.
“Please forgive me.” Liu Qi smiled when she saw this and softly apologised.
“Oh, right. What about Huang Zu?”
“…”
I posed the question very casually but Liu Qi’s smile froze and she stopped speaking with no intention to continue.
“Un? Just say it, Liu Qi.” I bade her to continue, as I could guess what the situation was like from what I saw.
“When we left, Huang Zu was still fighting. It was already very perilous then. If it’s now–” Liu Qi shook her head as she said so.
I see… So it came down to that in the end huh…
“I understand.” I nodded seriously as I thanked her.
“Uncle, can you still ride?”
“Un… I should be able to somehow.” I said as I applied strength and got up from Chen Dao’s thigh.
“Let me carry you, my lord.”
“No, no need for that. I know that you’re all very tired as well.” I said as I looked at Chen Dao, and at Zhou Cang and Chen Gong. They have been through the battle, and swam about in the river for a while yet they were still up and about. It was clear that they were holding up just based on their willpower.
As their lord, how could I not think of them at times like these?
“My lord!”
“No need to say any further, Chen Dao. Just help me bring my horse here.”
“But…”
“Chen Dao, Imperial Uncle has said as much so no need to say any further.” Chen Gong said as she walked over and patted Chen Dao’s shoulders. Chen Dao had a difficult expression on as she looked at me before she folded her arms and went over to guide my horse.
I heaved a sigh of relief inside and looked at Chen Gong, but when I looked at ger, she turned her face away.
“Please don’t look at me with such eyes. I just don’t want to listen to such silly conversations.”
“Un, I know.”
This is how Chen Gong should be like.
“Hmph.”
But who knew that when she looked at me, she got even more angry and rolled her eyes before she stormed off.
Ah, I really don’t understand.
Up till now, I’m still unable to grasp how the girls by my side think. Sometimes, I don’t know if what I’m doing is right or wrong, and when I voice out my thoughts, things are never as what I thought.
It really is difficult to understand girls…
“Stop making silly smiles to yourself, uncle. We need to get going.”
“No, I’m just smiling bitterly at my situation.”
“You’re clearly giving a silly smile. I really wonder how uncle usually spends his days with so many young girls about him.”
Eh?!
“No no no, you’re misunderstanding things! I always sleep alone!”
“Eh? What I meant was that uncle would have met with some inconvenience in his daily life from time to time, why is uncle talking about sleeping?”
“Wu!”
I took the bait! I actually got tricked by my own niece!
The corners of her lips curled upward slightly, as she smirked at me. I really wonder if she is influencing Yi Ji or if it’s the other way round. They really are alike in the most uncanny of ways.