A Slightly Rough Welcome
Zhao Yun took the hand Yuan Shao offered. Her unexpectedly courteous demeanor left him looking somewhat bewildered. Given her surname, he had assumed she would be as arrogant as Yuan Shu, but this was quite different. Then again, even in actual history she had been described as charming despite her cunning side. If she had been as haughty as Yuan Shu, there was no way someone of illegitimate birth could have become the idol of the Qingliu faction.
Now, what should he say? Did he need to introduce himself too? Before he could even begin to worry about it, the conversation between the two was already over. Yuan Shu, whom he thought had left, came charging back and forcibly separated them.
"You shameless bitch! Burying yourself in my mother's bed to make a name for yourself wasn't enough, so now you're trying to steal my subordinate too?!"
"Your subordinate? I heard Adjutant Zhao is Lady Mengde's guest general. I'm merely greeting a fellow guest general who's also a friend of mine. Why the outburst?"
"Don't call yourself my sister! How dare a slave-born wench like you act like my elder sister? If you were born a thief, you should live quietly like a dead mouse. Why can't you know your place and stop stirring up trouble everywhere?"
Yuan Shao shook her head as if she were tired of it all, then addressed Zhao Yun as she turned to leave.
"Ha… Adjutant, it seems we'll have to continue our conversation another time because of my uncouth little sister. I hope we meet again soon."
"Ah, yes. Next time…"
"What next time?! You, get to the guest room right now! Zhang Xun! Jiao Yu! Didn't I tell you to take that thing to the guest room immediately?! Why are you still loitering around here?"
Zhang Xun and Jiao Yu bowed and scraped before Yuan Shu, who was throwing a tantrum like a hungry Chihuahua. They seemed accustomed to her tyranny after being subjected to it multiple times. In the end, Zhao Yun was led by them into a guest room so spacious it was larger than most ordinary houses, practically locked inside.
Alone in the wide guest room, Zhao Yun looked lonely and desolate… or not. If anything, his face looked relaxed, as if he had found his own little world. Of course it did. This was the first time he had been left completely alone since falling into this damned ero-game. Though he had lived in a private tent separate from the soldiers while in the army, a tent was still just a tent. It was very different from being able to relax comfortably alone in a proper house. Besides, Zhao Yun had always been used to being alone. Hadn't his past self in his now-unreachable future homeland lived like a shut-in? Though his outer shell was that of a fresh-faced young man who gave off the vibe of a social butterfly, inside was a rotten loner. He was still awkward around women, so this quiet place was more than welcome.
On top of that, there was something he needed to do while he was alone. Zhao Yun glanced around to confirm no one was there, then sat down, picked up a brush and paper, and began scribbling something down.
He hadn't realized it during the earlier incident. Even though this was an ero-game version of the Three Kingdoms with questionable chastity standards, the Three Kingdoms was still the Three Kingdoms. It was a lawless society where anyone could draw a sword at any moment. Since he had failed to flee to the frontier and ended up in Luoyang instead, he needed a new plan. And it had to be a damn good one.
First, let's organize the current situation. Zhao Yun lifted his brush and began writing down everything in his head in elegant handwriting.
1) The Yellow Turban Rebellion was suppressed earlier than expected. The revolt that should have ended in November or December was crushed in early June. Thanks to this, the central government's weakness wasn't exposed, but because Dong Zhuo was the one who suppressed it, the Taliu faction and the Ten Eunuchs retained their power unlike in the original history. This also meant that He Jin and the Qingliu faction—that is, the imperial relatives by marriage and the local gentry—hadn't gained as much influence as they should have. A much more evenly matched political struggle than in the original history was to be expected. Perhaps the Taliu faction and the Ten Eunuchs held a slight advantage right now? In any case, the collapse of the central government due to the mutual destruction of both factions had to be prevented at all costs. Otherwise, an intrusion by Dong Zhuo, Zheng Yuan, or some other powerful figure from the frontier would weaken the central government's legitimacy, and the chaotic times would begin immediately.
@The local gentry had been shown Luoyang's strength, but in exchange, the balance of power between the Qingliu and Taliu factions had been maintained. Unlike the original history where only He Jin's assassination by the Ten Eunuchs needed to be prevented, things had changed significantly. Though the roots were much stronger than in the original history, the number of possible outcomes had increased dramatically. He would have to carefully decide whose side to take and which formation to join.
2) Dong Zhuo's power had grown stronger. Dong Zhuo, who should have been rebuilding in Xiliang after a crushing defeat at Zhang Jue's hands, had instead achieved a great victory. Having dramatically succeeded in her revival through the rebellions of Bian Zhang and Han Sui, she had already obtained the positions of Inspector of Xiliang and General of the West, and had even received a marquisate. Through the suppression of the Yellow Turbans this time, she had demonstrated the central government's strength, so it was unclear whether rebellions would break out in Xiliang as they had in the original history. But even if they did, Dong Zhuo with her newfound strength would be able to suppress them with ease. That would only add wings to a woman who already possessed great fame and power. Though she was currently staying quietly under the Ten Eunuchs, she was not the type of woman to remain a mere hunting dog forever. Since he couldn't predict which way she would jump, he needed to be especially cautious. Fortunately, she seemed to have considerable favor toward him, but that didn't mean she was the type to blindly follow his words and abandon her ambitions. Rather, she would try to win him over, or kill him if that failed.
@She was currently under the Ten Eunuchs, but she could be considered a frontier warlord belonging to neither faction, just like in the original history. In this world too, she would try to force her way in if a gap opened in Luoyang. And with even greater power. Though she held considerable favor toward him, she was by no means a woman who would abandon her ambitions. If she entered Luoyang as she had in the original history, he would have to think about how to prevent other factions from opposing her. If he couldn't manage that, the local warlords would carve out their own territories, and the chaotic times would begin after all. Of course, the best option was to not give her the chance to enter in the first place.
3) Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, Dong Zhuo, and Jian Shuo all wanted him as their subordinate. He wasn't sure about Jian Shuo yet, but Liu Bei, Cao Cao, Yuan Shu, and Dong Zhuo had definitely tried to take him with them. It was impossible to determine the winner of the political struggle between the Qingliu and Taliu factions with only his own strength without joining anyone. The wise choice was to quickly decide on a lord and participate in the political strife together with them. If not that, serving under someone else could also be an option. In any case, Liu Bei was out of the question. She didn't have the power to stop the chaotic times. She hadn't even been able to enter Luoyang in the first place.
@The fortunate thing was that the full-scale conflict between the two factions hadn't begun yet. Since the situation was evenly matched, neither side would make a reckless move. While he still had time, he should quickly choose a lord and discuss future plans together. Honestly, Cao Cao was the most appealing, but Yuan Shu and Jian Shuo were also good options. Following Dong Zhuo, who unlike in the original history was a war hero with high popularity among officials and the common people, wasn't the worst choice either. Leaving the political struggle alone and joining Yuan Shao or Sun Jian to flee to the frontier was also an option, but history had changed too much. He couldn't be certain whether leaving the Ten Eunuchs alone would cause the Luoyang government to collapse. Besides, he didn't even know what kind of person Yuan Shao was yet, and Sun Jian? He was going to be active under Yuan Shu later anyway, so why join Sun Jian now and leave Yuan Shu behind? He would meet with Dong Zhuo, Jian Shuo, and Cao Cao after finishing things with Yuan Shu tonight, so he could meet Yuan Shao and Sun Jian then and decide. At least he still had time.
As he wrote and organized his thoughts, his mind felt somewhat clearer. Looking at what he had written, the only thing he could do right now was meet with potential lords. First, he should deal with Yuan Shu, who was supposed to come personally tonight. It was already evening. She would arrive soon.
…Ah! He needed to burn what he had just written! If he carelessly showed it to someone and aroused suspicion, it would be troublesome. By the way, a fake engagement… what on earth was she thinking? Even Yuan Shu wouldn't take a matter involving her own life lightly, so she was probably thinking hard about various things by now.
Of course, Yuan Shu wasn't thinking about anything at all. Because she was Yuan Shu. Well, if dreaming counted as thinking, then perhaps she was thinking? …Indeed. Yuan Shu was currently asleep. What kind of dream was she having that made her grin so foolishly?
"Ohohohoho! You like the smell of your master's feet that much? Enough to get that dog-cock of yours hard?"
"Woof! Woof woof woof! Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! Sniff! Whimper whimper♥"
Zhao Yun, wearing only shameful underwear, was lying on the floor pretending to be a dog. With a dog collar around his neck, he was acting cute trying to lick Yuan Shu's feet, but Yuan Shu, holding the leash, was skillfully pulling it to torment him by letting him only smell without licking.
"Hohoho! Stop!"
"Whimper… whimper…"
"Good. You're a good boy~ Such a good boy~"
While praising him and stroking Zhao Yun's head with her foot, Yuan Shu casually used her other foot to pull down his underwear, which was about to burst. With a fwip sound, his massive manhood revealed itself.
"…Hmph! You shoved that hideous thing down my throat without even an apology! Now then! Apologize to your master, you mutt! If you want to cum while licking your master's feet, you'd better apologize properly!"
"Huff huff huff huff!!! Whimper whimper!!! Woof woof woof!! Whimper… whimper…"
"…Hah! Kyahahaha!!! That's right! If you're a dog, you shouldn't speak like a human! Now~ As a reward, let your master rub that dog-cock with her foot♥ Cum pathetically while licking between my toes♥"
I'll make it so you can't get that hideous thing up for other women, only getting hard from the smell of my feet! Ohohohohoho!!!
……Hah!!!
Yuan Shu, who had been giggling in her sleep, suddenly jolted awake.
"W-why would I have such a shameless dream…!"
…That lowly bastard!! He must have used some kind of sorcery to make me have this kind of dream! Didn't he pour that filthy thing down my throat without any excuse even after the fact?! Ever since then, whenever I see him my lower abdomen feels strangely itchy and sore, so he must have used that wicked sorcery back then. How dare he use sorcery on me, the youngest daughter of the Yuan clan of Runan, Yuan Gonglu! I'll make him my dog just like in the dream!
…No! Rather, I'll make him pay the appropriate price! This time, I'll interrogate him and make him beg for mercy!
Yuan Shu, breathing heavily as if angry, roughly tidied up and was about to head to the guest room when she suddenly remembered the contents of her dream and glanced down at her feet.
"Ahem! Should I wash my feet again before meeting him…?"
…The smell should be fine, right?