The Filial Son, Honey Water, and the Cold Mat
The mat was cold. Far too cold for nighttime. It was early summer, just past spring, yet the air here felt like the dead of winter—chilling to the bone. Inside the tent, the women were enjoying their food as if completely unaffected by the cold, while the men around them shivered violently from an inexplicable chill. Then again, perhaps it was only natural. As if to prove the old saying that when a woman harbors a grudge, frost falls even in the height of summer, the three women were radiating icy auras from their very bodies.
Yes. The true source of this bitter cold that had plunged the surrounding men into a frozen hell was the frigid atmosphere emanating from those women.
“Hyeondeok! Isn’t this our first meeting?! How can you sit there with such a sour face on such a joyous day? Come now, smile!”
Cao Cao, seated to my right, drank her wine with a bright smile. Though she was looking at Liu Bei with a grin, the overwhelming pressure she gave off suggested she might lash out and beat someone at any moment.
“Yes, I doubt I will ever forget my first meeting with Lord Maengdeok.”
On my left, Liu Bei stared at Cao Cao with a completely expressionless face. No one back in Nusang Village could have imagined Liu Bei radiating such a vicious aura.
“Born into a eunuch’s household yet speaking in such vulgar tones… Simply being in the same space lowers my dignity. Don’t you agree, Ji Ling?”
“Huh? Uh…”
“And that commoner recognized that clown of a woman but not me… Well, I suppose lowly creatures naturally understand one another, don’t they?”
And at the head seat, Yuan Shu glared coldly at the two women and me. Every time Cao Cao or Liu Bei opened their mouths or made eye contact with me, she picked a fight and froze the mood even further.
“Mmm… Ikdeok. This broth and duck meat go surprisingly well together. …But why are you trembling so? Are you nervous because important people are present?”
“Big Sis, can’t you feel the atmosphere at all?”
“?”
“Aigoo, never mind. Big Sis, just eat your food quietly.”
“Mmm!”
Finally, there was Guan Yu. She was staring at Zhang Fei in confusion as he ate far more quietly than usual. As for Guan Yu, she didn’t seem to notice anything else—she was simply delighted that the smoked duck was delicious.
How did it come to this? When Cao Cao first met Liu Bei, the mood had been surprisingly warm… Even when Yuan Shu suddenly barged into the banquet and naturally claimed the head seat, the atmosphere hadn’t soured.
But the moment Cao Cao abruptly offered me a commission, everything changed. Liu Bei, who had been smiling gently, froze her expression and glared at Cao Cao. Cao Cao refused to back down, smiling as she locked eyes with her in a silent battle. And Yuan Shu, for some reason, began spitting venom as if her mood had been utterly ruined.
“Lord Maengdeok, as I said earlier, our Bangyeol is quite satisfied with life in the volunteer army. Moreover, those who enlisted alongside him have no intention of leaving the volunteer forces either. So please, withdraw your offer.”
“Oh my~ Hyeondeok, really! I was asking Bangyeol, wasn’t I? I don’t understand why you’re answering in his place~ Why don’t you stop making things awkward for him and just listen quietly?”
It was freezing. The time when I could no longer delay had finally arrived.
Cao Cao was tapping her leg impatiently, as if in anticipation. Liu Bei had turned deathly pale and was staring at me with desperate eyes. Yuan Shu glared at me with a face full of rage, though I had no idea why.
The three women were putting immense pressure on me, but my answer had been decided long ago.
“Thank you for the offer, but I still have work left to do in Nusang Village.”
Would someone who ran to Liu Bei simply to avoid dying on the battlefield willingly submit to Cao Cao? Absolutely not.
Who was Cao Cao? Another protagonist of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Liu Bei’s mortal enemy. A brilliant artist. The treacherous hero of the chaotic era who would eventually lay the foundation for the state of Wei.
…And a master of purges.
She had killed a servant while pretending to sleep out of fear of assassination. When morale hit rock bottom due to lack of supplies, she beheaded an innocent man to raise spirits. She publicly declared she would boldly employ anyone with talent regardless of morality—then executed a renowned scholar on charges of filial impiety. She killed even close friends if they displeased her. Even the loyal subject who had delivered half the empire to her was eliminated the moment he became a political obstacle. That was Cao Cao.
If I had to worry about when I might die while fleeing under Liu Bei, under Cao Cao I would have to worry about my head flying off in my sleep. And it wasn’t as if Cao Cao avoided dangerous battles. Thinking back, she had faced crises on the battlefield from her early days to her final years almost as often as Liu Bei.
In other words, from the perspective of an unambitious retainer, Cao Cao was nothing more than a downgraded version of Liu Bei. So of course I had to refuse.
However, Liu Bei, unaware of any of this, was deeply moved by Bangyeol.
“Ah! Bangyeol…!”
Liu Bei was burning her happiness circuits at full power inside her head.
Even if Bangyeol used the family fortune to buy an official post, could he possibly obtain a higher position than becoming the retainer of a prestigious family? At best, he might secure some insignificant county magistrate post in a remote area. And yet he refused to fall for the temptation of that seductive but promising wench…
…You’ve decided to stay with me, haven’t you!
Bangyeol found Liu Bei’s sparkling eyes extremely uncomfortable. She seemed to be misunderstanding something… But whatever. When he eventually gathered his loot and deserted in secret, this would actually make it easier not to get caught. A net gain, really.
And for some reason, Yuan Shu’s face brightened as well.
Aha! That brat had ignored my order to wait beside Ji Ling, which had left me dumbfounded, but it seemed she had planned to come after the banquet ended! Hmph! How insolent. No matter how uneducated and lowly one might be, how could anyone choose a banquet over a summons from the Nanyang Yuan clan?
Truly a lowly birth—running off in a panic just to stuff his face. Though she grumbled inwardly, her body was already trembling with excitement. She could barely stop herself from humming a little tune.
Of course. If even that eunuch’s granddaughter knew him, there was no way he wouldn’t recognize the youngest daughter of the most prestigious of prestigious families—the Nanyang Yuan clan’s Yuan Gonglu.
This fellow had clearly refused Cao Cao’s offer because he intended to join her. Otherwise, why would someone with such talent choose to remain in a pathetic volunteer army? Sure, he had gained some fame by killing a few farmers, but his origins were still that of a commoner. No matter how great his achievements, there was a limit to how far one could rise alone.
But now, by a stroke of heavenly luck, he had been able to offer a small favor to Yuan Gonglu. He must be planning to use that connection to crawl under her feet. For someone of such lowly birth, doing what he ought to do for his betters was only natural—yet daring to expect a reward was utterly insolent.
…Still, failing to bestow grace would tarnish the name of the Nanyang Yuan clan, so she had no choice. She would simply wait until he knelt, weeping and begging to be accepted as her subordinate, then graciously permit it.
Ah, she had forgotten. Before that, she needed an apology for him touching her body. How could she have forgotten that he had not only touched her as he pleased but even used the excuse of drawing his bow to embrace her?
…Though for a commoner, his body hadn’t been particularly filthy. Perhaps she could be a little merciful. Yes. She would use him as a chair for a few days and then forgive him. His body had been quite sturdy—he would make an excellent chair.
Beaming.
As Yuan Shu left the banquet hall with quick, cheerful steps, Ji Ling hurriedly followed after her.
“Ji Ling, a guest will be coming today, so prepare an extra cup of honey water.”
“A g-guest, my lady?”
Without answering, Yuan Shu went inside to dress. A white fur coat with blue accents, a gold necklace crafted by a master artisan—the outfit she favored when she wanted to display her dignity. In her mind, she was already picturing herself striding proudly through Luoyang with Ji Ling and Bangyeol guarding her on either side…
But would Bangyeol really come?
Well… no one could say for sure.
Meanwhile, at the awkward drinking party that had ended after Cao Cao was rejected by Bangyeol.
Cao Cao hadn’t been particularly bothered, since she had expected the refusal from the start.
“…Aman! Are you even listening?!”
“Hm? Ah, yes?”
…Alright, she was a little bothered.
“Just as you predicted, the fellow refused. But if you knew that, why did you even make the offer?”
“Ah, that? It’s because I could at least confirm something.”
“Confirm what?”
“Bangyeol and Hyeondeok’s intentions. Their reactions when I offered the commission told me everything… Bangyeol wants to leave, but Hyeondeok is desperately trying to hold onto him.”
“He refused quite firmly… Are you sure the boy truly intends to abandon Hyeondeok?”
Even though Xiahou Dun sounded half-doubtful, Cao Cao’s opinion did not waver in the slightest.
“It’s certain. He’s simply reluctant to serve me as his lord as well.”
“Is there any need to cling to someone who doesn’t want you? That unlucky bastard—might as well just let him go.”
“Hahahaha!! That was my plan as well! …However, if Bangyeol’s prediction is correct and General Lu has truly been dismissed from his post… then I’m afraid I’ll have to keep him by my side, even if it makes me feel a little sorry.”
“If that’s what you want, I won’t argue. …But do you have a way to hold onto him?”
“Of course! I already have one idea in mind. Listen…”
“Lord Qiduwei! Lord Qiduwei!”
The sudden call in the middle of the night made Cao Cao stop mid-sentence.
“I’m here! Yes, what is it?”
A dust-covered messenger who had clearly rushed from far away knelt before Cao Cao.
“Are you Lord Cao Qiduwei or Lord Yuan Qiduwei?”
“Gonglu is on the other side. I am Cao Cao.”
“Urgent news from Jizhou! Here…”
Cao Cao took the bamboo slip the messenger offered. The moment she read its contents, her eyes widened in surprise. Then, shortly after, a deep, intrigued smile spread across her face.
“Wonyang?”
“What is it? What kind of news would make you react like that?”
“…It seems Bangyeol’s prediction was correct… Hahahaha!!! This is getting quite interesting, isn’t it?!”
“What?! …No way.”
“Yes. General Lu… No, correction. Elder Lu Zigan has been dismissed from his post as Zhonglangjiang.”