The Young Bride of the Liu Family (2) — Debut as the Mistress of the House
As the afternoon wore on, just as Liu Bang had predicted, the guests began to arrive. The savory aroma of dried seafood brought from the Lü family and the simple vegetable soup made from whatever we could scavenge from the garden was beginning to fill the air.
“Brother! Congratulations on your marriage!”
A roar loud enough to rupture eardrums tore through the entrance as the straw mat hanging over the door was flung aside with such force it nearly ripped. A bipedal beast of a man strode boldly into the main room. His shoulders were so broad they looked like they might get stuck in the doorframe, and his forearms were thicker than my waist. His face… to be honest, he looked exactly like a bandit chief who had just stepped off a wanted poster outside the government office. Piercing eyes, a wild beard, and the unmistakable stench of animal blood clinging to his entire body.
“I brought the liquor! Let’s drink ourselves half to death tonight!”
“Oh, Fan Kuai. You’re early,” Liu Bang said, his face lighting up as he sprang to his feet.
Fan Kuai laughed heartily and thumped his own chest with loud thuds. “Of course! It’s my brother’s wedding day. Who else but this Fan Kuai should arrive first?”
Fan Kuai. The moment I heard the name, my internal database kicked into high gear. Internally, he was a dog butcher and Liu Bang’s sworn brother. He was also destined to become the future husband of my younger sister, Lü Su. Externally, he was the fierce warrior who would later crash the Feast at Hong Gate, chew raw meat in front of Xiang Yu, and protect his lord. The future Marquis of Wuyang.
…Su-ah, I’m sorry. Your future husband is a lot more feral than I expected.
I offered my sister a silent apology in my heart.
“Oh, so this must be the new sister-in-law?”
Fan Kuai’s bold gaze swung toward me.
“Just like the rumors said—she really does look like a fairy! Brother, you’re one lucky bastard.”
As he turned his massive frame fully in my direction, I flinched for a split second at his overwhelming size. Still, I calmly lowered my head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Lü Zhi.”
Fan Kuai stomped over with heavy steps and set down a jar of liquor that looked like it weighed as much as a sack of rice.
“Name’s Fan Kuai. I butcher dogs for a living. Since I’m basically a brother to the boss, take good care of me from now on, sister-in-law!”
“Of course. I’ll be counting on you as well.”
“Hey now! Your voice is too small! Speak with more confidence! You’re the wife of the great Liu Bang, after all!”
“…Understood.”
His relentlessly high energy was exhausting. My ears were ringing. Yet there was something refreshingly honest and cheerful about him that put me strangely at ease.
Brash, simple, and the same inside and out. Definitely not the type to stab anyone in the back.
In terms of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he occupied a similar position to Zhang Fei. But unlike Zhang Fei, who would beat his subordinates while drunk, Fan Kuai was surprisingly sensible and quick-witted. He was someone worth getting close to. As long as you could ignore the terrifying face.
“C-congratulations on the marriage.”
Before Fan Kuai’s commotion could die down, the next guest arrived. A neatly dressed, slender middle-aged man. He looked visibly exhausted, but a sharp intellect gleamed in his deep-set eyes.
“Oh! Xiao He! Thanks for coming!”
“Well, if I didn’t come, who would clean up after you? I also have some things to say about that ‘ten thousand coins’ incident from the banquet.”
“Ah, that… ahem. Let’s talk about it later.”
“…You always dodge the subject like that.”
Xiao He. The chief clerk of Pei County. Liu Bang’s brain. And the legendary chancellor who would later lay the foundation for the Han Empire. When Liu Bang caused trouble, Xiao He cleaned it up. That was the general pattern of the early Chu-Han era.
This is another person I should get close to.
I straightened my clothes and approached him.
“Lord Xiao.”
“We meet again, young lady. No, I suppose I should call you madam now.”
Xiao He recognized me immediately and bowed his head.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Xiao He. I serve as the chief clerk of this county. I look forward to working with you.”
“I am Lü Zhi. It’s a pleasure.”
Xiao He nodded, then stared intently at my face. It wasn’t mere curiosity—his gaze was clearly probing. He must have remembered what happened at the banquet. The bold woman who had asked Liu Bang about the purpose of life and boldly stated her own philosophy.
Is he wary of me…?
I subtly raised my eyes to read his expression. Fortunately, the look in his eyes seemed closer to interest and anticipation than suspicion.
“Madam.”
A moment later, Xiao He added in a low voice.
“Yes, my lord?”
“Liu Ji isn’t as stupid as he looks. However, he is every bit as sloppy as he appears—perhaps even more so. You’ll have your work cut out for you, but please don’t abandon him. Take good care of him.”
There was no mistaking the sincerity in his voice. Xiao He knew Liu Bang’s flaws better than anyone, yet he still believed in him and supported him. He genuinely wanted Liu Bang to succeed.
“I will. After all, it’s the path I chose.”
My firm reply softened Xiao He’s expression considerably.
After that, the guests continued to arrive one after another.
“Lord Liu, congratulations on your marriage.”
Cao Shen. The head of the prison officers. Not quite as massive as Fan Kuai, but solidly built. He spoke little, yet his eyes were deep and steady. He would later become the protagonist of the phrase “following Xiao’s rules and Cao’s precedents” when he succeeded Xiao He as chancellor.
“Brother! Congratulations on your marriage! Wow, sister-in-law, you really are beautiful!”
Xiahou Ying. A government office coachman. A cheerful and friendly man in his early thirties.
I need to treat Xiahou Ying especially well. He’s the one who will later save the lives of both Liu Bang and my child.
During the Battle of Pengcheng, after being beaten like a dog by Xiang Yu, Liu Bang would later repeat the same heartbreaking act of abandoning his children. The one who stopped him and broke through the encirclement while carrying Lü Zhi’s son Liu Ying—the future Emperor Hui—and daughter was none other than Xiahou Ying.
Wait a second. My child? That can’t possibly happen.
I shuddered at the horrifying thought that had unconsciously crossed my mind and forced a warm smile toward him.
“Brother Liu, congratulations.”
Zhou Bo. A musician who played at funerals. His appearance was rough and taciturn, but his eyes held a rock-solid steadiness.
…The man who will one day exterminate the entire Lü clan.
It felt a bit awkward, but I didn’t let it show.
And finally.
“Brother! I bought some fruit.”
“Oh, thanks! As expected, you always know what’s needed.”
Lu Wan. Liu Bang’s childhood friend, born on the same day. His shadow. Liu Bang cherished him so much that he would eventually grant him a kingship, but in the end, he would betray him and flee to the Xiongnu.
…A traitor.
It might not be right to judge someone based on future knowledge, but I couldn’t stop my expression from hardening. I observed him carefully, wondering what might be hidden behind that friendly, gentle smile.
“Say hello. This is my wife.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, sister-in-law! My name is Lu Wan!”
“…Yes, it’s nice to meet you. Please take care of me.”
I nodded as naturally as I could manage. Lu Wan headed toward the old wooden platform in the courtyard where the others had gathered, and Liu Bang excitedly followed, carrying the jar of liquor Fan Kuai had brought.
“Alright, everyone’s here! Let’s get this party started!”
And so, a modest and rather shabby banquet attended by the future heroes of Han began.
…
The banquet continued well into the evening. I desperately played the role of the perfect hostess. I used up every last ingredient we had to prepare food, served it, cleared the dishes, and cooked again. The six months of bride training combined with ten years of living alone finally paid off.
I’m going to die… seriously…
My back felt like it was about to snap. The men drank boldly, talked loudly, and laughed. Politics, complaints about the Qin dynasty, stories about women… the topics weren’t all that different from what middle-aged men in the 21st century would discuss. It was only after the sun had set halfway that I could finally stop serving food and sit down at the edge of the wooden platform. Of course, I wasn’t drinking. I simply observed them with calm eyes.
So this is the Liu Bang family…
A dog butcher, a clerk, a prison officer, a coachman, a funeral musician, and an unemployed man. A ragtag bunch with completely different occupations and social statuses. Yet every one of them sincerely regarded Liu Bang as their elder brother and gathered around him.
“Brother, have another drink!”
“Sure, keep it coming!”
“Ji. You should restrain yourself from drinking too much on your wedding night. Show some consideration for your wife.”
“Ha, Xiao He, you’re always so uptight. It’s a day like today—you can drink! Even my wife gave permission!”
Amid the noise, I quietly ran the numbers in my head.
Who should I win over first among them…?
Xiao He. Administrative ability, intelligence network, and a check on Liu Bang. Fan Kuai. Overwhelming martial prowess and blind loyalty. Xiahou Ying. Mobility and sincerity. Cao Shen. A well-rounded all-rounder in both civil and military affairs. Zhou Bo. Modest but solid capabilities. Lu Wan. …On hold for now.
The answer’s clear.
Xiao He and Fan Kuai. If I could bring these two onto my side, I would effectively control both Liu Bang’s civil and military wings. Besides, Xiao He already seemed interested in my intellect, and Fan Kuai was simple enough to approach easily.
The more trust I earn from these founding ministers, the more I’ll be able to accomplish.
What I needed to focus on right now was Liu Bang, but ultimately, what I had to prepare for was my political foundation as Empress Lü. After all, Liu Bang would die fifteen years before me, and after his death, I would have to govern the empire as empress dowager. I would need people on my side then.
Surely history won’t change just because of me and let Liu Bang live a long life?
The possibility crossed my mind, but I decided to set it aside for now. No one could know how the future would unfold.
“Husband.”
I made up my mind and spoke.
“Hm? What is it?”
“Would it be alright if I offered a cup to Lord Xiao?”
Anyway, for now, I decided to invest in the ‘solid blue-chip stocks’ right in front of me.
Liu Bang widened his eyes in surprise. Most women would hesitate even to join a drinking party, yet here I was offering to pour the drinks.
“Oh, Zhi, you’re more proactive than I thought? Alright, go ahead and pour for him.”
Fortunately, he didn’t seem to have caught on to my political intentions. I picked up the wine jar and rose gracefully from my seat. Dragging the hem of my silk skirt, I approached Xiao He.
“Please accept this cup, Lord Xiao.”
Xiao He flinched in surprise. No matter that I was his friend’s wife, it was an extraordinary act for a woman to pour wine for a man who wasn’t her husband. He stared at me for a moment with the calculating eyes of a strategist trying to read the meaning behind my actions. But apparently he couldn’t see into the deepest parts of my heart, because he soon smiled lightly and accepted the cup with both hands in a respectful gesture.
“It is an honor, madam.”
The clear sound of wine filling the cup rang out.
The banquet finally ended when the night had grown deep and the stars were pouring down from the sky.
“Brother… *hic*, sleep well! Sister-in-law… the food was the best…!”
“Ha, this guy is seriously heavy as hell…”
Fan Kuai, completely drunk, was dragged away by Xiahou Ying, while Xiao He and Cao Shen staggered home on unsteady feet. The courtyard looked like a storm had swept through it. All that remained was silence, the chirping of insects, and… mountains of empty liquor jars and dishes.
“…Sigh.”
I looked at the disastrous state of the wooden platform and let out a deep sigh. My back felt like it was broken. My legs were trembling, and I didn’t have the strength left to lift a single finger.
Liu Bang’s pigsty of a house. The horrifying cleaning labor. And the breathless first interaction with the future founding ministers.
…I’m exhausted.
Both my body and mind were completely drained. From the moment I opened my eyes that morning until now, I hadn’t had a single moment of rest. Cleaning, cooking, entertaining guests, observing, calculating… I had done it all with this frail teenage girl’s body.
“Hey.”
Just then, Liu Bang’s voice called out. He was sprawled out lazily on one end of the platform, staring blankly up at the night sky.
“Thank you.”
“…Pardon?”
“I said thank you. For treating my friends well without complaining.”
Liu Bang wore an unusually serious expression. His slightly intoxicated eyes sparkled as they caught the starlight.
“Those guys are my treasures. I have no money, no position, and the only thing I own is debt. They’re the only assets a guy named Liu Ji has.”
“…”
“So I feel relieved. That you didn’t look down on them and got along with them so well.”
It was an honest and straightforward tone that didn’t sound like Liu Bang at all. I gave a small chuckle as I looked down at him.
“Were you worried? That I might flip the table or something?”
“Yeah. You’re the precious daughter of the Lü family. Even the smartest among us, Xiao He, is just a low-ranking official. There’s no way we’d impress you.”
Liu Bang turned his head to look at me.
“But after seeing you today, I think it’ll be fine. Zhi… you’re a much bigger person than I thought.”
Liu Bang slowly sat up. He placed a rough hand on my shoulder.
“So I’ll be counting on you from now on too. Zhi.”
Those words carried a different weight than the ones he had spoken in the bridal chamber the night before. Not as a simple wife, but as a comrade. I felt just a little bit recognized by him. I gave a small nod.
“Likewise.”
At the same time, a genuinely proud smile slipped out before I could stop it. When Liu Bang saw that smile, he flinched in surprise, then burst into loud, bashful laughter.
“Hahaha! That’s what I’m talking about!”
He gave my shoulder a light pat, then flopped back down onto the platform.
“Ugh, I’m drunk. I’ll sleep right here tonight. You go inside and rest.”
With that, Liu Bang squeezed his eyes shut. A satisfied smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
I gazed down at his incredibly comfortable-looking face for a moment before speaking in a calm voice.
“But who’s going to clean up the dishes?”
“…”
“Lord Liu?”
“I told you. I can’t do that kind of thing.”
Liu Bang laced his hands behind his head and muttered with his eyes still closed.
“Get used to it. That’s what it means to live as Liu Ji’s wife.”
“…Ha.”
At least he wasn’t hateful when he kept his mouth shut. I barely suppressed the urge to kick him in the back and began the final cleaning of the day.