You have a truly wonderful wife
Ji Ling.
Her historical counterpart was known as Yuan Shu's closest confidant and finest commander, while for me, she was the most trustworthy subordinate I could always rely on.
Unlike Yuan Shao and Cao Cao, who were friendly older sisters but compelled me to maintain an edge of caution outside of personal matters,
unlike Dong Zhuo, who could become a bomb ready to detonate at any moment if not handled with care.
Ji Ling was someone I could trust completely, without a shred of doubt or worry.
And now.
This action she had just taken toward me.
She had stolen my lips and told me she wanted me.
It began to sink me into deep bewilderment as I belatedly grasped the situation.
'Wh... what... wait a moment... what did you say? Ji... Ji Ling... wants me?'
This was clearly no jesting prank as usual.
In the first place, there was no way she'd waste her first kiss just for a joke,
and above all, the very fact that she was wearing such a serious expression was proof that this situation was absolutely not a joke.
'But why...? There hasn't exactly been any sign of that so far... ah.'
Only now did the memories of everything up to this moment surface.
Her loyalty, always laughing heartily yet absolutely following my words,
and the way she would often trail off awkwardly whenever the topic of romance came up.
Thinking about it now, there were many things that seemed excessive if viewed simply as loyalty born of a lord-vassal relationship.
If beneath that foundation lay feelings for me...
romantic affection, then the situation certainly made sense.
Immediately after sorting out the situation.
My gaze turned toward her, looking up at me with a somewhat demure air.
Toward Ji Ling.
"Uh... I'm a married man, you know?"
"I don't care. That kind of thing... whether you have one wife or ten, as long as you're fine with it, I don't mind!"
"There must be plenty of men better than someone like me..."
"Th-there's no such man! A man better than you, my lord... d-doesn't exist in this world! Mmmph..."
Ji Ling bit her lower lip, her expression flushing as if embarrassed by her own words.
Faced with a familiar person making an unfamiliar expression,
I realized I had to give her an answer to her request.
She had confessed her feelings to me.
So, what did I think of her?
That answer had been decided long ago.
Though it was clear that this feeling differed somewhat from what I felt for Dong Zhuo.
Love for a lover and affection for a friend are fundamentally different things.
But in a situation like this, what mattered more than my own heart was hers.
As I said before, she was the closest woman who had devoted herself to me until now.
The person I had trusted more than anyone, and still trust now.
Rejecting the feelings she had mustered the courage to convey was unthinkable for me.
Besides, setting aside the fact that we were close friends, the woman Ji Ling before my eyes also undeniably possessed an intense charm.
And so, while I looked at her, briefly stepping outside the frame of 'friendship,'
I began to act as my heart led me.
-Sweep
"M-My lord?"
A hand carefully stroked her head.
As I slowly caressed her hair, soft as silk despite her ranging across rough battlefields, a quiet smile began to spread across my lips.
"If you want it. I'll do that for you."
"! R... really? You'll really do that for me?"
"I told you. Whatever I can grant you, I'll grant it. Have I ever said empty words to you until now?"
"No... you haven't."
Ji Ling answered my words in a dazed voice.
Then she maintained silence for a moment before covering her face with both hands.
"Sniff... ah... damn... I honestly thought crying at a time like this was really uncool..."
Ji Ling grumbled as she wiped the tears forming at the corners of her eyes.
Even so, the flawless smile on her lips was an expression so typical of her.
"In return, give me a little time before that. Like I said, I'm a man who already has a wife, and it hasn't even been half a year since the marriage."
"I know. Honestly, something like marriage isn't simple and I'm not really hoping for that either. Just being your woman is enough for me. If a child comes along... well... I can just raise it myself."
"Mmm..."
She was saying something far more intense than I'd imagined, as casually as if it were nothing.
I appreciate the mindset of not wanting to be a burden, but the world calls that adultery... or illicit intercourse, in more refined terms?
No matter what, I had no intention of turning a perfectly fine person into an adulteress.
Whatever her own intentions were, laying hands on an innocent maiden and then pretending not to know, an act worse than a beast... the so-called pump-and-dump, was something I could never permit myself.
For her sake.
And for the sake of a second generation that might be born.
Watching her say such shockingly scary things with such an innocent face, I made a firm resolution within my heart.
That even if it meant being beaten to death by my wife, I had to somehow get her permission.
It was all well and good that I'd made such a determined resolution...
"If it is General Ji Ling, she is welcome at any time. No... if you are going to do this, rather than make her a concubine or something ambiguous, why not take her as a principal wife second only to myself?"
"... Pardon?"
A statement I had made steeling myself to be enthusiastically beaten by my wife of half a year, or at the very least to get a load of curses dumped on me.
As I requested permission to take Ji Ling as a concubine, I felt sorry toward the wife before my eyes, while simultaneously strengthening my resolve that I could not give this up regardless.
But my wife spoke as if she welcomed it.
Listening to Dong Zhuo's words, I was seized with momentary bewilderment.
"N-No, I'm grateful you're allowing it, but principal wife... you say. Is that truly acceptable? Honestly, thinking of you..."
"For my sake too — no, for the sake of our household and for you, my husband, this is the better course."
"What...?"
Dong Zhuo was saying something I couldn't understand.
When I made a confused? expression, she spoke with a calm smile.
"Of course, it is not as if I am without a desire to monopolize you, my husband. I am a woman too, so how could I not feel that way?"
"Mmm..."
Lady Dong delivered this line with an expression that heavily broadcast, 'my smile isn't really a smile.'
But soon she erased that hint and revealed an odd talent — her expression itself didn't change, yet it felt exactly like a midwinter air conditioner's breeze switching to warm air — and continued speaking.
"However, what is most important in a chaotic age like the present is, ultimately, power and people. For this, you need to keep those you can trust as close as possible. In particular, General Ji Ling is a famed commander known to all the world and your right arm. It is necessary to give her proper treatment."
"Well, that's true, but... still, wouldn't the position of principal wife be a bit burdensome? A concubine position I could understand, but..."
Since I had only a vague grasp of such concepts, granting the position of Principal Wife seemed fine to me. But from Dong Zhuo's perspective, she couldn't possibly be pleased about adding a woman with equal authority, even if that woman stood below her in rank.
Despite that, her insistence on giving away the principal wife's seat was still something I could not comprehend.
At this, Dong Zhuo calmly took a sip from her teacup before continuing.
"I am truly gladdened by your consideration. However, my husband, although I am your wife, I cannot compare to General Ji Ling in either the time we have shared or the effort she has devoted at your side. If I continue to receive nobler treatment than her, how would Ji Ling feel? It may be fine for now, but resentment could certainly arise later."
"Mmm... I suppose that's possible..."
"In general, people are beings who cannot help but expect recompense matching their efforts. No matter how outstanding General Ji Ling's loyalty is, leaving behind the seeds of discord is not good. Above all, she is your right arm in name and reality, and the commander who leads the direct military corps under your command. The higher you esteem her, the higher their loyalty will also climb, so there is a need to completely capture her heart through this matter."
"... Hearing it like that, you're right."
"Furthermore, these are feelings she has nurtured while gazing at her lord for a time approaching a full ten years. To give a reward befitting those feelings, must you not properly offer an unblemished position?"
In order to permanently fix Ji Ling's loyalty at its maximum, and to perfectly solidify the support of the soldiers as well.
And simultaneously, to reliably repay the feelings of adoration she had harbored all this time.
Dong Zhuo laid out for me the necessity of taking Ji Ling as a principal wife,
from such practical angles, and also from the moral duty of a man.
As it was certainly perfectly sound reasoning down to the last detail, I could only nod my head at this.
At the same time, I was deeply impressed once more by the consideration and thoughtfulness my wife showed me to this extent.
"Thank you. For telling me even this much. Honestly, it couldn't have been an easy decision..."
"All of it is for you, my husband. In return, please do not lose your regard for me."
"How could I ever? This Yuan Shu will never, ever forget this kindness from you, my wife."
Dong Zhuo smiled quietly at my sincere words.
And so, thinking anew what a truly good wife I had married, a deep smile settled upon my lips.
*
Yuan Shu expressed his sincere gratitude
for his wife's 'kind consideration.'
Meanwhile,
she, watching her husband like this,
Dong Zhuo felt a deep sense of relief.
'What a relief... now I can have a little room to breathe...'