Liu Bei and Lady Sun. And I
Her name was Sun In. She was the woman who would become Liu Bei's wife.
Sun Quan had sent his younger sister to Liu Bei to solidify their alliance. In other words, it was a political marriage.
Nevertheless, when Sun In arrived at Liu Bei's base in Gong'an, her appearance was a million light-years away from that of a demure bride.
The sound of the guards and attendants who came to welcome her whispering could be heard.
“Is that Sun In? So she's the lord's wife?”
“I heard the same.”
“But what kind of outfit is that, and who are those people? I thought they were just attendants.”
“If they're just attendants, that's lucky. I thought they might be coming for a military review.”
Newlywed Sun In was wearing light armor, with a light sword at her waist and a bow on her back.
Moreover, the dozens of maids she brought were also armed with armor and weapons, much like her. It was as if she had brought a female army.
Given that the scene looked like they had come not for a happy marriage but for a fight, it was only natural that they would react this way.
“Can't you keep quiet? What are you trying to do on this auspicious day?”
His father, Jin Do, who had come to escort Liu Bei, scolded the soldiers in a low voice.
Upon his warning, the soldiers closed their mouths and maintained their expressions as if nothing had happened. However, Jin Do's eyes were slightly shaken, as if he was also a bit flustered. It seemed he was worried about the possibility of a real military review.
In front of them stood Liu Bei in an awkward posture. Even he, who was usually unflappable, seemed to have difficulty adapting to this scene.
As someone who paid attention to his attire, Liu Bei had chosen the most neat and pleasing outfit from those he owned.
And on the opposite side, a woman armed with weapons was facing him.
“I am Left General Liu Bei. It has been a long journey. Please make yourselves comfortable at Gong'an Castle.”
Liu Bei greeted her politely, but Sun In only showed the attitude of 'Well, at least I should give a greeting.'
Then she looked over the attendants on her side. Then, glancing at me, her eyes sparkled. She was beautiful enough to be called a beauty, but her attitude made it hard to feel affection from the start.
What is this? It's nothing special, right?
Honestly, I didn't feel like doing anything here. I didn't know what to do.
What could I do by inserting myself between a married couple? After all, I was the one who would later try to kidnap Liu Shan and fail, returning to Wu.
Sun In maintained her wanton attitude to the end, but Liu Bei did not lose his manners. However, seeing his face as he returned to Gong'an, it seemed he was sighing deeply inside. Having served him for a few years now, I could guess his thoughts just from his expression.
December 209 AD, winter. At the end of the year as it was fading, Liu Bei and Sun In became husband and wife.
Liu Bei was 48 years old, and Sun In was 18.
The newlywed life of Liu Bei and Sun In... well, I heard it wasn't going smoothly.
From the first meeting, anyone would have expected it, but Sun In was not an ordinary wife.
Sun In had given weapons to dozens of maids and kept them around her constantly. Naturally, her husband Liu Bei was extremely burdened by her. If even entering the inner chamber was filled with armed maids bustling about, it was strange that he was comfortable.
Moreover, Sun In's temperament itself was wanton, leading her to make the managers and soldiers she brought commit illegal acts.
As complaints poured in from all over, Liu Bei appointed Zhao Yun as the Supervisor of the Camp to fix it. At least, with Zhao Yun's efforts, it had calmed down a bit, but Liu Bei's anxiety had not disappeared.
Since they could not trust each other, this couple eventually chose to live apart.
Sun In repaired a castle to the west of Gong'an and lived there. This was enough to say they were husband and wife, but nothing more.
Still, if she lived quietly, it would be fine, but she couldn't get rid of her personality and continued to act wantonly. It was fortunate that Zhao Yun barely managed to stop her; otherwise, who knows what would have happened multiple times.
The peculiar newlywed couple's time passed in a creaky manner for several months.
It was a certain night. Feeling the cool air of early spring, I was wandering around inside Gong'an Castle. There was no particular reason. It was just that sleep hadn't come easily today.
I was thinking about when we could enter Shu. I saw someone going somewhere over there. Because the moonlight was bright, I could recognize who it was.
Eh? Isn't that Zhuge Liang?
Curious about what was happening in the middle of the night, I followed him. He didn't go far and stopped at a nearby pond.
When I got closer, it didn't seem like he was doing anything special, just looking up at the sky in thought.
“Eh? Who... isn't that Jin Wei?”
“Yes. It's me, Military Advisor Zhuge.”
Upon sensing my presence, he noticed me.
“But what business do you have in the middle of the night, Jin Wei?”
“I was just wandering because sleep wasn't coming. But...?”
I said cautiously, looking at Zhuge Liang's still stern face.
“But are you perhaps worried about something, Military Advisor?”
“Worried about what... I was just wandering because sleep wasn't coming.”
Zhuge Liang just smiled bitterly and brushed it off. His face was clearly full of worry, but...
When I looked at him worriedly, he said,
“Actually, I've been worried about Lord and Lady Sun's matter.”
Ah, as expected, it was because of that.
Once the topic was raised, Zhuge Liang continued with a sigh.
“It seems that Zhao Yun is having a hard time trying to stop Lady Sun from committing illegal acts. I heard that recently, he punished only the managers under her because he couldn't punish Lady Sun herself after she caused trouble to the people. So, it seems to have calmed down a bit lately, but who knows when it will explode again...”
From what I heard, Liu Bei and Sun In no longer see each other's faces. Besides her fierce personality, she brings armed maids everywhere, making even entering the inner chamber burdensome. But considering the alliance, he couldn't just ignore it.
From what I heard, Liu Bei's stress seemed to have piled up quite a bit.
After all, people can have more emotional investment in private matters than public ones. How can one work comfortably if their private life is not comfortable? Moreover, Lady Sun was also related to the Wu alliance, so she couldn't be seen as purely private.
But what could I do? I was only thinking about handling the matter that Zhao Yun was managing, eventually saving Liu Shan who was almost kidnapped.
“Lord said that he can't shake off the thought that this isn't a husband-wife relationship but that spies have been planted to monitor Lady Sun.”
In the end, I had no choice but to make a decision to do something. Since there was still time before entering Shu, it might be okay to do something before then. Most importantly, Zhuge Liang, you must not overwork yourself.
“Military Advisor, then shall I meet Lady Sun once?”
“You, Jin Wei, are saying you'll meet once?”
“Yes. Since I've left my hometown and am far away, it might be lonely. So, if I have someone to talk to, it might improve a bit?”
“A woman's heart is best known by a woman, so it seems like a good idea. But... will it be okay?”
“Yes. Let's meet and talk first.”
The next day. I prepared some gifts including tea and headed to the castle where Sun In resided.
It was said that the castle was also called Lady Sun's Castle, which seemed to be used in a mocking sense. After all, since Liu Bei and Sun In's relationship wasn't good, it could be called that.
“What business do you have here?”
When I arrived at her residence, a maid came out and spoke to me. The maids were armed with armor and weapons like when I first saw them. It must be tiring to always carry that. Not soldiers or warriors.
Having had a idle thought for a moment, I stated my business.
“I am Jin Cheong, under the command of Left General Liu Bei, and I hold the position of Wei. I have come to pay my respects to Lady Sun. May I meet her?”
Before the maid could relay the message, a sharp voice came from inside.
“Now that you've come, what kind of greeting is this! Surely it's someone sent by Zhuge Liang or Zhao Yun to monitor what I'm doing!”
Well, it's not going to be easy.
“No. I misheard. I came to check if there are any inconveniences Lady Sun might be facing in her daily life.”
At that moment, a figure walked in briskly from inside. It was Sun In.
She was only carrying a bow on her back and was dressed in plain clothes without wearing armor. After all, she wouldn't always wear that uncomfortable thing.
“Let me see. I think I've seen your face before. Yes, that's right, when you first came, you were accompanying Liu Bei. Because you're a woman, it remains in my memory.”
Can I call my husband like that?
“Yes. Greetings again. My name is Jin Cheong. I hold the position of Wei.”
Sun In looked me over once and gave a signal to the maid beside her. The maid who received the signal went inside.
“A Wei like you wouldn't have such a casual position, right? Just because of that reason you came?”
“Due to the busy public affairs, I was able to come now. However, if there are any inconveniences or troubles even now, I will have our side fix them immediately. This is also an important matter, so please allow it.”
“Hmm... Check the belongings and let them in.”
Before I could say anything, she went inside first with a swish.
I sighed briefly inside and handed the belongings to the maids who came closer.
To not provoke her, I was dressed in plain clothes without weapons or armor. The luggage was only a tea set or snacks.
After the belongings check, I received permission to enter.
Passing through the outer gate and then the inner gate opened. It was the moment I stepped into the entrance of her residence.
Clang!
Suddenly, the ground vibrated, and I had to stop my steps for a moment at the scene that appeared before my eyes.
Rows of maids lined up on both sides. They were holding long spears like soldiers in formation and staring at me with sharp eyes.
Ah, so the maid who went in earlier was for this.
Clang! Clang!
They continued to stare at me and repeatedly tapped the floor with the tips of their spears. It wasn't a one-off skill; it was quite consistent. Clang! Clang! Clang!
When dozens of spears hit the floor at the same time, the dust jumped up in surprise, and the floor trembled as if frightened.
Ah, they're testing me. Compared to dozens of armed maids, I was in a completely unarmed state without wearing armor or holding a weapon.
And in the middle of it all was Sun In, holding her head high. How about it? Scared, can't come in? With that expression.
However, I didn't stop my steps because I was scared. It was just that I had a momentary distraction,
So that's why Liu Bei would be reluctant. Do they treat every guest like this? What a bad taste. What a bad taste.
I just walked in between them. With a pace that was neither fast nor slow.
“Hmm?”
Sun In's eyebrows twitched slightly at seeing me walk casually among the armed maids.
Would you be scared by this much?
“Uhm. Yeah. I like that guts of yours. Come in and first listen to the story.”
I sat in the reception room and had a private conversation with Sun In. Coming this far was quite demanding, but now it was the start.