The Princess
It was an interesting situation. The reason I had followed the guy selling cannabis leaves was because I was certain the seller was a Yellow Turban, and I wanted to infiltrate their hideout myself.
But now a woman had appeared who was trying to enter the mountain stronghold in exactly the same way. In the end, couldn't we say our goals were the same?
"Guiding you to my master isn't difficult. But how much volume are you looking for that you want to meet him in person?"
"V-volume? A considerable amount. More than you could ever dare to imagine."
"Don't you think that description is a little too vague? If you put it like that, my master won't believe a word of it."
"..."
She had plenty of enthusiasm but zero preparation. Looks like I would have to teach her myself.
"It means I can't just bring anyone unless they're a customer dealing in at least a thousand nyang."
"That's right! I was planning to buy around a thousand nyang myself. Can you take me to your master now?"
"One more thing. Your speech is awfully refined. That alone could make people suspect you're a government plant. If you don't start sounding cheaper, I'm the one who'll end up in trouble."
"I-I don't really know how to do that. I've spoken this way my entire life..."
"Then just keep your mouth shut and nod. Or copy the way Yo Gyeong here talks."
"Yo... Gyeong?"
The woman glanced at Yuan Huan and chewed on the name for a moment. Did she actually know her courtesy name?
As the three of us climbed the mountain, Yuan Huan leaned in and whispered.
Why are we bringing that woman along?
It's obvious she's here for the same reason we are. She might even have connections to the government troops. No harm in getting friendly.
"Why are the two of you whispering among yourselves?"
Had we been muttering too much? The woman suddenly pricked up her ears and shoved herself between us.
"Because we're clearly partners, while you're still just a customer. That aside, I told you to watch your speech."
"I-I'm sorry. I'm still not used to this sort of thing..."
With that kind of head, what kind of infiltration was she even attempting? It suddenly hit me that I didn't even know her name.
"So what's your name?"
"You dare ask a woman's name so casually? Have you lost your mind?"
"Don't you want to meet my master?"
"I-I am... Jo Eun! My name is Jo Eun."
Fortunately her brain seemed to work at least a little. After a few sharp scoldings she was gradually becoming the person I had told her to be. I immediately whispered to Yuan Huan.
Heard that name before?
I know a few people from the Jo clan, but I've never heard that name. Still, her manners are so refined she can't be from an ordinary family...
Yuan Huan might have been a little unhinged right now, but she was thoroughly versed in the etiquette of the scholar-gentry. A woman with an unknown name carrying herself with such elegant poise would naturally strike her as strange.
Before long we arrived at the mountain stronghold. Ha Ui frowned the moment he saw I had brought yet another woman.
"What's going on, Yeop? Why did you bring another woman?"
"She's not just any woman—she's proof the business is booming. This one wants to buy a thousand nyang worth of leaves."
"A thousand nyang? What kind of person throws around that kind of money?"
"A young lady from Jin County. Word of our product seems to have spread pretty far. She figures even with a ten-percent distribution margin on a thousand nyang she'll still turn a profit."
"Distribution margin... whatever that means. Anyway, if she can really pay a thousand nyang, fine. Expanding the sales channels only benefits me."
Dense as he was, Ha Ui swallowed my words the moment I mixed in a few fancy terms. Over the past few days I had been advertising myself as Zhang Jue's son and growing our numbers, so he had no real reason to object.
We moved into the hut. The woman who had introduced herself as Jo Eun was trembling from head to toe as she hurriedly asked,
"W-where is this place? Why are those people wearing yellow headscarves?"
"Have you ever heard of the Way of Great Peace?"
"How could I not know those heaven-defying villains?! Don't tell me these are Yellow Turbans? What in the world are you plotting?!"
Jo Eun had already forgotten her cover and started yelling. I grabbed her by the ear and yanked her close.
Listen, Jo Eun or whatever your name is. I get that you snuck in here as a spy, but if you keep shouting like that you'll be found out in seconds.
Ow... Spy? What are you talking about? I only came to make a deal. And I overheard what you said outside earlier—is it true? Are you really the dead Zhang Jue's son?
Of course not. We came in for the same reason you did. That's why I pretended to fall for your clumsy act and brought you inside.
...
The word "clumsy" must have stung; Jo Eun shot me a sulky glare. For now we sat in a circle and put our heads together.
Jo Eun? Did the government send you? Is your direct superior the magistrate of Bu County? Or someone higher?
Higher than that.
Higher than a county magistrate meant a grand administrator. And if it was higher still... had Liu Xie somehow sent her?
Speak, Yeop. What exactly are these people plotting?
You roughly know what these leaves are, right? It's called cannabis. Chew it and you get something like a drunken high. It easily induces excitement, but the effect is short, so people keep coming back for more.
In truth, simply chewing raw cannabis without heating it produced only mild effects. But in ancient China, short on entertainment, it was still the best stimulant available.
The problem was that five leaves cost a surprising amount, making the cost-performance ratio terrible. Only the children of wealthy, powerful families could even dream of using it.
What are they trying to achieve by selling this?
Several goals, probably. First priority is raising military funds for an uprising. On top of that, soaking the social elite in drugs makes them lose control and turns the people's hearts against them—that's the secondary purpose.
You knew all that and still sold it? Addicts are already appearing not just in Bu County but in Yangxia as well. If Jin County gets infected too, it'll be unstoppable!
What a magnificent patriot. If she knew so much, why had she followed me alone without any government backup and zero preparation?
Trembling...
Yet our conversation sent ripples in a completely unexpected direction. The more Yuan Huan grasped the seriousness of the situation, the more she realized what she herself had been doing, and her whole body began to shake.
Why is that woman suddenly acting like that?
Your words must have pricked her conscience. Cover or not, she really has been soaking the scholar-gentry of Bu County in drugs.
Come to think of it, earlier you called her 'Yo Gyeong.' I'm sure I've heard that name somewhere...
Maybe you're mistaken? I've never heard of any famous Yo clan famous enough for you to know...
Yuan Fang lives in Bu County, doesn't he? I'm certain his eldest daughter's courtesy name is Yo Gyeong!
Huh? How do you know something like that?
Yuan Huan nearly jumped out of her skin when her identity was exposed. Liu Eun's brow furrowed deeply, and she began pouring out words of resentment.
Have you lost your mind? How can the eldest daughter of the prestigious Yuan clan of Chen run around with a scoundrel like this, selling some unknown drug to fellow members of the scholar-gentry?
I-I was only...
Yes, you must have had a purpose, but did it have to be this way? I heard that after you left the capital you were already dragging the family name through the mud, but you should never have gone this far!
...
Yuan Huan could not answer a single word as Liu Eun stabbed straight into her conscience. Watching her shrink pitifully and hang her head, I felt a twinge of sympathy.
Yuan Huan isn't doing this because she wants to. I half-tricked her into coming and forced her to sell the stuff.
Then you should be the one punished. Even if you intended to do the right thing, if the method is wrong I cannot forgive it.
Hey, Jo Eun? I've been curious for a while—what exactly are you that you can hear Yuan Huan's courtesy name and immediately guess her real name and clan?
I already told you, didn't I? I was sent by the government to investigate this 'cannabis.'
You didn't even know what it was until I told you. So now you'd better tell me for real. You said Jo clan, right? What's your exact ancestral seat?
...
Her silence confirmed she was not from the Jo clan. If she lied, Yuan Huan—who knew every internal detail of Chen State—would have caught it instantly.
I am... from outside! Someone who came from outside.
Outside where? Don't tell me you're from the famous Jo clan of Pei?
That's right! Cao Cao, the loyal patriot who tried to assassinate Dong Zhuo, is of my clan.
Is that so? Then you must know a lot about Cao Cao. Ever heard of his friend Lü Boshe who lives in Chenggao?
Of course. I even met him and exchanged greetings not long ago.
You going to keep lying? I watched with my own eyes as Cao Cao slaughtered Lü Boshe's entire family.
...
She had bitten the Pei bait right away. But if you're going to deceive someone, at least pick a better target—how dare she impersonate a relative of Cao Cao?
Haa... Jo Eun, I understand you don't want to reveal your identity. So let's do this. I'll reveal mine first, and then you speak honestly.
Weren't you just a rootless commoner going around pretending to be Zhang Jue's son?
Why would a rootless commoner infiltrate the Yellow Turbans to dig up information? You know there was an assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo last year, right? Just like you said, Cao Cao sent his cousin Xiahou Yuan to kill Dong Zhuo, but it failed. Xiahou Yuan was captured and was about to die for sure.
But she didn't die. Do Yeop—Cao Cao's right hand and Xiahou Yuan's fiancé—rescued her and escaped the imperial palace, didn't he?
Who the hell is calling me a right hand and a fiancé... I'm that Do Yeop. Not long ago I fought Xu Rong alongside Cao Cao at Xingyang and lost, so I split from him and ended up here in Chen State.
...
Had I revealed something too enormous too calmly? Both Jo Eun and Yuan Huan sat there blankly for a while, busy processing what I had just said.
D-don't lie! Do Yeop is a martyr overflowing with loyalty to the nation. Why would such a man be selling drugs as a Yellow Turban lackey in a place like this?
I'm not selling drugs—I'm infiltrating to earn Ha Ui's trust.
Even if that were true, the real Do Yeop would never resort to such underhanded means.
Was trying to assassinate Dong Zhuo a righteous method? It's because you idiots fuss over means and methods that Yellow Turbans and traitors run wild in the first place!
...
Just believe me already! Jo Eun listened, hesitated for a moment, then made her decision. She swallowed hard and spoke.
Very well. I will trust you and reveal my identity. I am... Liu Eun, daughter of King Liu Chong of Chen and princess of the Chen royal household.
...
I was so shocked I lost the ability to speak. So this was how they had felt when I revealed my own identity earlier?
I had roughly figured she was the daughter of some high-ranking house. But this was so high I had no idea what to say.
She was actual imperial blood! Not some distant, diluted fake like Liu Bei—genuine royalty.
I-I'm sorry for not recognizing you, Your Highness. But why would someone of your station come to a place like this?
His Majesty would not authorize an investigation, so I had no choice. The stench of conspiracy was obvious—how could I simply sit and watch?
Haa... Then we can't keep you here any longer. Where is the King of Chen?
He has set up camp in Yangxia together with Chancellor Xu Chang of Chen.
Fortunately that's close. Here's what we'll do. Tomorrow I'll pretend to go out to sell drugs and send you off. Race to Yangxia at once and report everything here to the King. If they surround the mountain in a surprise attack, these people won't be able to do a thing.
I had originally planned something more meticulous, but with such a huge figure taken hostage there was no other choice. As long as the encirclement was properly formed, we could finish this without major losses. That wasn't so bad either.
The next morning I woke to find Yuan Huan missing. I asked Liu Eun, who was already up and arranging her appearance.
"Your Highness? Where did Yuan Huan go?"
"She went to fetch water, Duke Do."
"Suddenly 'Duke Do'...? And she went to fetch water? She's never done that once."
Creak...
Just then the hut door opened and Yuan Huan entered. Exactly as Liu Eun had said, she staggered in carrying two water buckets and set them down in front of us.
"Your Highness, I have brought water for washing."
"Well done."
"..."
Now that Liu Eun's identity was out, she had instantly switched into full imperial-privilege mode. For someone who was a scholar-gentry to the bone, what had she been doing all this time?
"Please use the water in this bucket, Duke Do."
"Why are you doing this too? What's with 'Duke Do' and the honorifics?"
"At the time I failed to recognize Duke Do and committed a grave discourtesy. Are you not the great hero who sought to assassinate Dong Zhuo and bring peace to the realm?"
"What is this... Just act like before! And I didn't try to kill Dong Zhuo for any grand purpose like you think."
"I understand. It must have been by the Son of Heaven's command, correct? The one you mentioned last time who receives the Emperor's orders—that was Duke Do yourself, was it not?"
"..."
She seemed to have regained her wits; even her thinking had sped up. Still, switching attitudes this fast left me unable to adapt.
The three of us went out to sell drugs as usual. I would have to part ways with Liu Eun here.
"Your Highness? I'll make up some excuse for Ha Ui, but he'll definitely grow suspicious. So please borrow troops from the King of Chen as quickly as possible and surround the stronghold in a surprise attack."
"Why not come with me, Duke Do? Why do you insist on returning there?"
"If all three of us disappear at once, we might as well hang a sign saying 'Spies.' I can survive somehow, so take Yuan Huan with you."
No matter how good the excuse, suspicion was unavoidable. A fight could break out at any moment, and taking Yuan Huan into that situation was absolutely out of the question.
"I cannot. If I leave as well, Ha Ui will grow even more suspicious. I will stay with Duke Do until the end."
Yuan Huan herself refused to let me go alone. I had to think it over carefully.
Taking Yuan Huan with me would definitely lower the concentration of suspicion. But it would not drop to zero, so we would still have to accept some risk.
"Fine. Then Your Highness heads for Yangxia, and Yuan Huan, you return to the stronghold with me."
Our destinations were set. We parted with Liu Eun in the village, and Yuan Huan and I returned to our original roles as medicine peddlers, selling diligently.
Footsteps...
With the moonlight as our companion we climbed toward the stronghold. From behind, Yuan Huan asked,
"Duke Do, I have one question."
"I have a request too—can't you just treat me like before?"
"Please do not take away even my desire to show respect toward you."
"Haa... Fine. So what's the question?"
"That is... Duke Do is working for the Son of Heaven, correct? Was the command His Majesty gave you to assassinate Dong Zhuo?"
"No. The Emperor never ordered me to assassinate Dong Zhuo."
"What? Then why..."
"The Emperor wanted me to stay by his side and protect him. That was the only command he ever gave me. But if I simply left a traitor freely abusing the Emperor's authority, how could that be 'protecting' him? So I tried to kill Dong Zhuo."
"Yet in the end you are not by the Emperor's side, are you?"
"Not yet. But my goal is to return to his side. For that I need power. That power is the power of 'people,' and I must gather strong comrades and strike Dong Zhuo once more."
"..."
Yuan Huan gave no reply. If you ask a question and get an answer, shouldn't you at least give some feedback?
While that was happening we arrived at the stronghold. Was it just my imagination? The atmosphere felt as sharp as a freshly honed spear tip.
"You're back?"
Even though the night was deep, Ha Ui himself had come out to greet us. Feeling uneasy, I hid Yuan Huan behind me.
"Business was pretty good."
"Where did the woman who went with you go?"
"She said she'd go get the money, so I sent her."
"Is that so? Did she say she was going to the 'royal residence' to get it?"
"What?"
Shing!
In that instant the Yellow Turbans around Ha Ui all drew their blades and pointed them at us.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"You tell me. Why did you call that woman 'princess'?"
"..."
I had underestimated Ha Ui far too much. The bastard had put a tail on us today.