The Highest Person in the World
The Highest Person in the World
The day after spending the night at Lü Boshe's house.
Since it hadn't been a deep wound to begin with and I had mostly recovered, I departed at once.
I'd lost about a day, but stopping Cao Cao's rampage and getting my hands on Chen Gong in the process made it more than worth it.
"Will you come with us too?"
"No. Honestly, I'd like to, but if I go now that scary old woman probably won't leave me alone."
"Ah..."
It was true the injury ended up being minor, but if Dong Zhuo learned she'd put a knife into me, the odds she'd leave Cao Cao alone were low.
Well... nothing too serious would happen as long as I was around, but an uncomfortable atmosphere was inevitable.
And more importantly, even aside from Dong Zhuo, the current Cao Cao had something else she had to do, based on the Original Timeline.
"Besides, you said yesterday, right? That you'd form a coalition under the Emperor's command. We need every head we can muster, so I can't exactly sit around idle."
"Then?"
"You know, right? My family's loaded. I'll head home right away and raise soldiers. I can bring at least five thousand."
"I'd be grateful if you would. In that case, I'll meet you before Sishui Pass at the agreed time."
"Heh, yes. See you then. I'll be expecting good news."
"Huh?... Ah... yes."
Cao Cao departed with that meaningful smile.
Since I'd see her again soon enough, I didn't worry much. Having parted ways with her like that, I returned to our lines.
*
After the commotion at Zhongmu County ended, the Yuan Shu party headed back toward Ji Province.
With the distance not being short and the number of soldiers large, the pace itself wasn't especially fast.
Even so, those accustomed to marching like this had no trouble...
but some people in this party were not.
"Sis, I'm bored."
"And what am I supposed to do about it."
"Hyang-i says she's bored too. Do something funny."
"Waaah!"
"... Hah."
As the march dragged on for days, Sun Quan and Sun Shangxiang grew increasingly whiny.
Their older brother Sun Ce, acting as temporary guardian in place of their busy mother, let out a deep sigh.
'Going from Ji Province to Luoyang back then was a lot faster than this...'
At the time, they'd been so rushed because every moment counted that there'd been no time to feel bored.
And above all, she'd been quite excited about the fact she was going to see the Imperial Capital of Luoyang, which she'd only ever heard about, for the very first time.
But now, with no need to hurry, the Yuan Shu army was moving at a very relaxed pace.
With no way of knowing these circumstances, Sun Ce could only feel frustrated.
"I'm bored~ play with me~"
"Waaah~~"
"Look... you say play with you, but what is there to play with in this empty field...?"
That instant, something suddenly flickered in Sun Ce's mind.
It was true the area was just an empty field and the army tents set up for camp...
but among them, there was one thing that could catch the attention of young boys and girls.
"Hey, little sister, in that case, shall we go see that person?"
"That person? What person? Is there someone interesting?"
"Waah?"
"Hmm... should I say interesting? They're definitely a remarkable person."
"Ooh... a remarkable person? Who is that?"
Sun Quan began to show curiosity, and,
though it was unclear if she understood the words, baby Sun Shangxiang's eyes lit up for now.
Watching them, Sun Ce smiled with his own curiosity-filled grin.
*
The Yuan Shu army escorting the Emperor held no gaps.
A camp hosting a great army reaching fifty thousand.
Situated at the very center, external infiltration without a battle was impossible from the start.
On top of that, Yuan Shu's most elite soldiers were deployed around the Emperor's quarters,
and it was arranged so that at least one named general rotated on guard at the entrance.
Ji Ling, Xu Rong, Sun Jian, Hua Xiong. With generals you'd recognize from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms standing watch, it was a place that literally boasted ironclad security.
And today, one person who wasn't yet as renowned as them but had taken on guard duty on Sun Jian's recommendation was protecting that place.
"I will not let anyone dozing or looking away off easy. This is the place where Her Majesty the Emperor resides. Do not let your guard down for a single moment!"
"Understood, Colonel Huang!"
Huang Gai, known as the strongest among Sun Jian's subordinates.
He was a figure approaching his late thirties, much older than Sun Jian, yet still serving Sun Jian as his superior. He displayed his characteristic strictness as she finished the security inspection.
Right after Huang Gai passed by, the soldiers became even more sharply on edge.
But at this moment.
This impenetrable security,
a boy on the verge of puberty,
a girl whose wits were sharper than her age suggested,
and a baby who had just learned to toddle unsteadily—three green-haired little kids were strolling through it as if it were nothing.
A great army of fifty thousand? Hardly anyone among them didn't know Sun Jian's three children.
Even if they made eye contact while passing by, people would just wave lightly; there was no one to restrain them.
They arrived before the Emperor's tent as naturally as could be,
and those guarding it were Yuan Shu's most elite soldiers...
but thirty percent of them were troops under Sun Jian, and upon seeing their direct superior's children, their first instinct was to greet them.
And on top of that...
"We came to see Uncle Huang Gai!"
"Oh, is that so? She's inside, so go on in."
"Yes, thank you."
The three little kids bowed their heads.
Though a warning had been issued earlier, it was strictly limited to suspicious people,
and these three children never fell into the category of suspicious in the first place.
After all, though the location was different, the kids came looking for Huang Gai often.
And ultimately...
considering the personality of the person in overall charge here...
"Oh my, what brings our young ladies here?"
"Yes! Uncle!"
"Here, we brought these oil-and-honey pastries as a gift."
"Waaah~"
"Oh my, all this... haha."
Huang Gai patted the back of Sun Quan, who had come into his arms.
The sternness from moments ago had completely vanished, and she now wore a face that was melting away, even using baby talk.
Whatever she might be like with others, toward her superior's children, Sun Jian's children whom she'd watched since the moment they were born, she absolutely could not be severe.
"All right, the march is quite boring for you, isn't it? Please hold on just a wiiittle longer. There's not much left now until we reach Ji Province."
"Yes, we will."
"Yeah, I'll hold on a bit more. But Uncle, what are you doing here? There are a lot of people just in this one spot."
"Ah... about that. In truth, inside here is the Empe...!... hmm..."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
"Bwuh?"
At Sun Quan's question, Huang Gai had no choice but to clamp his mouth shut, thinking oh no.
Although they had nearly reached the vicinity of Ji Province, the fact the Emperor was here was an absolute secret.
As time had passed, word was spreading by whispers within the camp, but even so, it was strictly confidential military intelligence, so speaking of it carelessly was forbidden.
Especially if the other party was children who didn't even know the meaning of keeping a secret, all the more so.
"Hmm... I... I'm sorry. It is a secret, so I cannot tell you."
"Aww... don't be like that, please tell us."
"Tell us, Uncle."
"Awaaan~~"
"Uuuu..."
The three children applied an irrepressible pressure, even on Huang Gai, who hadn't flinched before thousands of Yellow Turbans.
Beads of cold sweat trickling down, Huang Gai felt his insides burning up as he agonized over how to get through this.
Just then.
"Uuuu..."
"Ah."
"Oh no..."
"!"
"Waaaaah~~!"
The next moment, Sun Shangxiang abruptly burst into a deafening wail.
Huang Gai's face went pale, and he began floundering, not knowing what to do.
"Ah... no... wh... why all of a sudden... ah... young lady? Fi... first calm down... th... this is a place where making loud noise recklessly is not permitted..."
"Waaaaaah~~!"
Knowing children well and actual childcare being entirely separate issues, Huang Gai was at a complete loss.
Observing that scene, Sun Ce and Sun Quan exchanged a secret, triumphant smile.
Just then.
"What is this commotion?"
"Hk!"
"!"
At the sudden voice, the four turned their gazes toward the inner entrance.
There,
flanked by maidservants to her left and right, a girl was standing.
A girl with black hair and red eyes,
adorned in a splendid red dress matching those eyes.
She looked a little younger than himself and a bit older than his little sister Sun Quan, yet as Sun Ce looked at her, exuding an air that was far from ordinary,
Sun Ce knew it instinctively.
This person was exactly the purpose of them coming all this way,
the very person she had wanted to see at least once, even to the point of purposely causing a ruckus.
The one said to be the highest person in this world...
the Emperor.
"Y-Your Majesty."
"We greet Your Majesty."
"Ah... um... gre... greet?"
"Gweetin'..."
Huang Gai led by kneeling, and the children behind him mimicked the motions, roughly showing respect.
Watching this, the Emperor spoke,
in a calm voice that was hard to believe belonged to a young girl.
"Who are you? You are permitted to state your names."
"Hmm... Your Majesty, these children are..."
Huang Gai hesitated, trying to answer for them.
Just then.
"I am Sun Ce, son of General Sun Jian. And this is my younger sister..."
"Hi there, my name is Sun Quan... ack! Oww, why'd you hit me?"
"Respectful speech."
"... Hmm... I am Sun Quan, Your Majesty."
"Awahyang."
"Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and... Awahyang?"
"Sun Shangxiang, Your Majesty."
"I see..."
The Emperor gazed at Sun Shangxiang, who was curled up like a little ball, and nodded slowly.
Right after that brief introduction, Huang Gai cautiously scrutinized the Emperor's mood and spoke in a careful voice.
"Hmm... Your Majesty. If we have displeased you, I will apologize. I'll take the children who caused the commotion outside, so please, be merciful..."
"Bring them inside."
"P... pardon?"
"It is an Imperial Decree. Bring these children inside."
"Ah... n... yes, I understand, Your Majesty."
It was no simple instruction, but an Imperial Decree from the Emperor's own lips.
Though a sense of foreboding struck him, Huang Gai had no choice but to bring the children inside without another word.
In the end, the three green-haired little kids went inside together with the Emperor.
Right after, Huang Gai urgently summoned a soldier outside the tent and gave an order.
"Th... this is urgent. Bring General Sun Jian here right this instant!"
"Ah... understood, Colonel!"
Until now, the Emperor had been remarkably quiet without any particular incidents.
But perhaps because of that, the Emperor's sudden and unexpected action made Huang Gai feel an even deeper bewilderment.
Nothing truly terrible was likely to happen, yet her anxiety was an unavoidable fact.
Feeling that deep concern, Huang Gai could only wait with an anxious heart, hoping Sun Jian would come as quickly as possible.
*
"Whoa..."
"Waah..."
"Hmm..."
The three entered the inner part of the tent as the Emperor commanded.
Immediately, Sun Quan's and Sun Shangxiang's eyes began sparkling.
This space was several times larger than the other tents and felt lavish at a glance.
About three or four maidservants stood around them,
and splendid furniture and decorations, sourced from who knew where, were placed everywhere.
In a place that felt wondrous in many ways, the two children simply radiated curiosity without a single thought.
However, unlike his younger siblings, Sun Ce was taking the current situation somewhat gravely.
She'd caused this merely out of a desire to see the Emperor's face,
but the atmosphere that followed was far from ordinary.
Beginning to worry belatedly that he might end up in trouble because of pointless curiosity, Sun Ce slowly gauged the Emperor's mood.
Just then.
"You three."
"Y... yes? Ah... yes."
The Emperor sat on a chair at a table and looked their way.
Then, she gestured lightly toward Sun Ce and his siblings and said,
"Come closer."
"!"