Vol 9 Chapter 23 (1/2)

VOLUME 9 CHAPTER 23: DON’T TELL ME THESE ARE THE CHANGES IN XIANGYANG (5)

Liu Qi POV

I cannot believe Liu Cong was able to step up against me so strongly like that. I really take my hat off to her. And to be able to say what she said, she must have been doing it for a while now.

If that’s the case, then maybe she could succeed… No, the time for saying such things has long since pa.s.sed.

We are already grown up now. Even if I do forgive her for what happened back then, so what? Only one of us can receive the inheritance. The other will be left in the lurch.

“You’re too naive.” When I thought about this, I began to feel that I was being silly las.h.i.+ng out at her like that, “Times have changed. Even if you do find the same flowers as before, so what?”

“No matter the times, I’ll still be your little sister.” But even so, she remained defiant, “As long as elder sister acknowledges this, it’s enough.”

“…” I stared daggers at Liu Cong and wondered why she was so obstinate and unyielding, “Liu Cong, you–”

Elder sister~

Wu!

An auditory hallucination of Liu Cong calling out to me a.s.saulted my mind. That voice called out from a distant and close by and seemed continuous and unceasing.

Now that I think about it, it seems like she’s always addressed me respectfully even after I started calling her by her full name directly…

“… Do as you wish.”

After thinking about things for a moment, I decided to give up and let her be. Just as when I left father’s room, I just turned around and continued walking without looking at her.

“Ah! It’s a promise then!” Of course, her voice still rang out from behind, “Elder sister need not worry about father!”

… Hmph. She sure can talk big even though she’s younger than me by 3 years.

I did not reply her as my emotions were a mess. Only after about 30-40 paces did I cowardly turn around. When I did not see any sign of Liu Cong, I heaved a sigh of relief.

“Young mistress, this is–”

“I do not wish to discuss what just happened.” I raised my hand and interrupted Yi Ji as discussing this topic would only make things worse.

When Yi Ji heard my response, she understood my intent and did not say anything and only saluted. As she followed me, I could hear her muttering under her breath. When I listened closely, I found that she was talking to herself on the preparations to go to Jiangxia.

I do not remember if I have raised it with her before but I have to say that Yi Ji is a lot more important to me than I initially thought.

“By the way, sorry about what happened before. I lost my temper back there.” I apologised when I remembered how I pushed her away.

When I looked at her, I saw that she had no expression on as usual. Only after a moment did she recognise that I was speaking to her and she stopped her internal discussions.

“Since you do not wish to discuss what just happened, I too do not wish to as well.”

“… Haha, I see.” I smiled and felt relieved.

Just then a rather tasteless question came to mind. Tasteless though it may be, it was not too boring as a topic of casual conversation.

“Yi Ji.”

“Your retainer is here.”

“If I am no longer around, will you go and serve Liu Cong?”

“No,” Yi Ji replied immediately, “I was planning on seeking refuge with Imperial Uncle Liu if that should come to pa.s.s.”

Ah~ Just as expected huh? Yi Ji respects uncle just as I do. But perhaps I shou

ld have realised this during the Battle of Jiangxia.

“But it looks like that wish can no longer be fulfilled.” She added.

As she said so, her gaze s.h.i.+fted lower, a sign that she was sad. I never noticed this before I got close to her but now I have begun to notice Yi Ji’s subtle changes in her behaviour.

Those words of her brought my feelings towards uncle back to the surface again. To me, Liu Bei is not just my uncle.

I wonder where uncle is now.

I wonder what Xinye is like now. There has not been any news since then after all.