Vol 9 Chapter 18 (1/2)

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 18: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A MEETING WITH A SAGE ON THE ROAD (5)

Liu Bei POV

“Already… Reached?” Huang Zu asked. I too was similarly confused. Is she satisfied with her currently level of singing… She’s being a little too lax with herself…

“Un,” But just as I was thinking as much, she nodded, “We haven’t reached Xinye yet, but everything has happened as my friend said and I think that I have found what I’m after ahead of time. Though I still need to wait and see for a bit more first.” She smiled gratefully as she said so.

She said a fair bit but none of it makes sense to me as I do not know what she is talking about at all. Found it? Found what?

All I can understand is that she no longer needs to sing.

“Well then–” Just as I gave up on making sense of the girl, she bowed to me, “Lord Liu Bei, if you don’t mind, let’s go to Xinye together.”

“Eh? You’re still going to Xinye?”

I thought you said you found what you were looking for? And did you just change how you addressed me?

“Un.” She nodded, “I’m still going to Xinye. Can we go together?”

“Ah, of course, of course.” I felt a little shy at how direct she was when she repeated her question and hurriedly a.s.sented, “That is my wish as well, please do travel with me.”

“Alright then. Please wait for a moment for me to pack up and we can leave thereafter.” She said and then turned around to pack. Huang Zu joined in as well when she saw this.

“Let me help as well.” I decided to chip in as it would not be very seemly for me to sit around and do nothing while they were both busy. As I folded the stools, I saw Huang Zu was beside me and asked, “By the way, are you going to go to Xinye with her?”

“Yes,” Huang Zu said as she looked down and continued working. Her hair hung down and did not stick to her face, giving me a good view of her eyes, “She is my benefactor after all. Even if her issue has been resolved, her journey is not at an end yet. I shall finish this trip with her.”

Un un. I nodded, feeling that Huang Zu and Yun Chang were more similar than I thought.

“Ah, right.” Just then, the bandana girl spoke up as though she just remembered something and turned to me.

When I turned to look at her however, she immediately looked away and only s.h.i.+fted her gaze back after a moment. But even then, she was looking downwards at my legs or shoes as she slowly said, “My name is Xu Shu Xu Yuan Zhi. You can call me Yuan Zhi while we are travelling together.”

When she finished, she looked up and bowed.

“Ah… Un.”

Her introduction was done rather well and formally but her shyness made it seem like a marriage meeting, which made me feel a little awkward. I took a moment to steady myself before saluting respectfully, “Un, I’ll be counting on you, Yuan Zhi. You may call me Xuan De.”

“… Un, p, please do take care of me.” She hurriedly turned around as she stuttered, “Xuan, Xuan– Xuan De.”

“Un.” I said and nodded, “Ah, by the way, may I ask about what I just drank…”

“This water?”

“Un un, how did you make it?” As I asked this, Huang Zu’s eyes narrowed as she stared at Yuan Zhi. Looks like this is something she’s curious about as well.

“That huh…” Yuan Zhi said as she touched her neck and then the bandana, “It’s my secret concoction, I can’t tell you.”

Liu Qi POV

The atmosphere in father’s residence has been exceptionally heavy these days. I do not know what the others are thinking but that is how I feel.

Logically speaking, not appearing for my duties at the city walls is in violation of military laws and I should be punished but these are extraordinary times and no one can say anything to the special relative of the Governor even if she is just sitting on the stone chair in a daze.

Even the ones who always find trouble with me, Cai Mao and Lady Cai, as well as that la.s.s have not said anything.

I do not know what they might be plotting at this time, but I do not have the leisure to consider what they might be doing now.

After father vomited blood and collapsed the other day, he fell into a coma for a couple of days and only just woke up recently. He can eat now but he still looks pale and sick.

To save father, Lady Cai brought in the physician from the capital who also brought well wishes from the Son of Heaven as well.