Original Timeline Cause of Death: The Backstabbed Duo Who Held Imperial Titles
Original Timeline Cause of Death: The Backstabbed Duo Who Held Imperial Titles
"Sister, let your little sister pour you a cup. Here."
"Ah, thank you."
"Hahaha! Here~! Eldest Sister, take my cup too!"
Liu Bei downed the cups her sisters handed her without a moment's hesitation.
Watching her, deep smiles settled on the faces of both Zhang Fei and Guan Yu.
They were the ones who had led the Battle of Sishui Pass to a perfect victory.
Every time Guan Yu swung her Green Dragon Crescent Blade, the enemy fell like grain being sliced from the stalk, and every time Zhang Fei thrust her Eight-Zhang Serpent Spear, enemy commanders screamed and tumbled from their horses like autumn leaves swept by the wind.
What decided the battle, above all, was Liu Bei's feat of defeating the enemy commander Zhang Liao and capturing her alive.
That made pride in their eldest sister swell and bloom fiercely in the hearts of both younger sisters.
"Sisters, did you see the lords' faces earlier? Just yesterday they looked like they'd bitten into dung whenever they saw us, but after the fighting ended they were glancing away, all furtive, like they'd spotted a monster. Hah! Lords or whatever, they really aren't all that."
"Don't be too hard on them. Learning to see people clearly is never easy."
"Eldest Sister is right. Truth be told, we too have a habit of dismissing people we've just met lightly, so we can understand if the lords do something similar. The real problem would be anyone who, even after we've shown them our ability, still lets arrogance blind them and keeps looking down on us."
"Yeah! If a bastard like that turns up, I sure won't let it slide! Oh, speaking of which—Sisters, do you mind if I ask a favor?"
"What is it?"
Zhang Fei's eyes suddenly started sparkling.
The two sisters looked at her with obvious curiosity, and at that, the "cute youngest" of the Three Sisters spoke in a voice full of anticipation.
"I hear that at Hulao Pass next, we'll be fighting that one called Lü Bu or whatever. Think I could take her on?"
"Lü Bu? The Unmatched Under Heaven?"
"... I'm not sure that's a good idea. To be frank, the skill of that Zhang Liao I captured was far from ordinary, and if Lü Bu possesses strength enough to overshadow even Zhang Liao's name..."
Liu Bei showed a trace of worry at Zhang Fei's words.
But Zhang Fei simply beat her chest and answered.
"Hah! Don't worry! I'm not quite as strong as Eldest Sister, but everyone here knows what I can do. Since you've already earned your laurels, give me a shot too while we're at it!"
"Hmm..."
"Eldest Sister, she's speaking up this strongly—why not grant her request? If anything happens, I'll step in to help."
"Second Sister, it seems you've been nursing a bit of ambition yourself."
"Ahem... I'd be lying if I said otherwise."
"Haha. It's fine. Being born a hero in this chaotic age, that much ambition is only natural."
Her sisters might be a notch below her, but they still possessed martial power worthy of being called matchless warriors.
Alone, it might be questionable—but with two of them, she thought, even Lü Bu might be beaten.
"Still, even so, whether the chance will come at all is another matter. Even if I allow it, in the end it's General Yuan Shu who decides the battle."
"Tch... Yeah, there is that."
"Indeed... In the end, such things are settled by someone in high command."
At Liu Bei's words, Zhang Fei clicked her tongue in disappointment.
It was then...
"Magistrate Liu! Are you here?"
"Hm?"
"That voice is unmistakably..."
A vigorous voice they'd heard a few times before.
The Three Sisters paused their drinking and stepped out of the tent.
What greeted them were several carts, and the people who had brought them...
"Colonel Ji Ling! Colonel Xu Rong, and General Sun Jian too? What brings you here..."
They were figures collectively known as the Sword of Yuan Shu—women who served as the coalition army's core commanders.
As their representative, Ji Ling let out a hearty laugh and gestured toward the carts behind her.
"What brings us? We've brought gifts from our lord, General Yuan Shu. The thousand gold pieces and two hundred warhorses we discussed earlier, plus meat and wine to boot."
"Ooh! Wine! Meat!"
"And by our lord's orders, five thousand soldiers are to be placed under Magistrate Liu's command shortly. Tomorrow, come to receive the letter of appointment and the troops."
"Soldiers as well... As expected... He truly is a man of his word, as befits a scion of such a renowned family."
Guan Yu nodded with a pleased expression at Xu Rong's words.
In times like these, there was no shortage of petty men who, blinded by personal gain, let far greater things slip through their fingers.
Broken promises and outright backstabbing were everyday occurrences.
In that light, Yuan Shu's conduct—keeping his word to the letter and even offering more besides—was nothing short of exemplary.
"To receive such lavish gifts for modest merit—we are truly grateful for this kindness. Please convey our thanks to General Yuan as well."
"What modest merit? Are not all of you the heroes who subjugated Sishui Pass? We'll be counting on your continued great deeds."
"Right, right, as Sun Jian says, this level of hospitality is only fitting. Anyway..."
Ji Ling spoke with a bright smile.
Right after, she stole a glance at her companions and, swallowing hard, added:
"For the record, this is a famous wine I brought back from Ji Province. Since we're here anyway, would it be all right if I poured a cup for the Three Sisters to toast the victory?"
"Hmm... Colonel Ji Ling..."
"Why not? Our lord did say we should get along with these people. And for getting friendly, isn't this the best way?"
"Hah..."
"Haha..."
Ji Ling waggled her fingers at her lips.
At that, Xu Rong let out a long sigh, and Sun Jian gave a wry laugh.
"If you're all willing to join us, we'd be nothing but grateful."
"Come on, get inside! I've heard you can really hold your drink too, Sis. Let's get properly sloshed for the first time in a while!"
"Haha, good! Then let's see who really drinks who under the table!"
Zhang Fei beamed and welcomed them with a laugh, and Ji Ling answered with a genuine grin of her own before heading straight into the Three Sisters' tent with both of her comrades.
*
"Gulp! Gulp! Kyaah—wonderful! This is it—drinking together without a care in the world is the best!"
"Whoa—this wine really is amazing. The way it goes down with that warm kick—absolute perfection."
"Right? It's made by the most famous craftsman in Ji Province. This stuff sells for a hundred pieces per jar."
"Ohh... No wonder it clings to the tongue so nicely. Expensive stuff really does live up to its price. Here, here, Sister Ji Ling, another one for you—glug~"
"Alright, alright, little sister Zhang Fei, you knock one back too—gluug~"
Despite this being basically the first time they'd actually sat down face-to-face, Ji Ling and Zhang Fei had grown instantly chummy once the drinking began.
Maybe it was their similar personalities; they passed cups back and forth like real sisters, pouring out merry laughter.
"Eldest Sister... That Zhang Fei. I'm worried she'll cause an incident at this rate."
"Hmm... My apologies. Our Colonel Ji Ling can't seem to keep her wits about her whenever drink is involved..."
"Is it not a pleasant sight? The Colonel Ji Ling looks to be enjoying herself."
"Here, here—since things have turned out this way, Magistrate Liu, won't you have a cup as well? Given the occasion, surely we ought to enjoy ourselves a little too."
"Haha. Yes, then."
Guan Yu and Xu Rong watched the two heavy-drinking, habitually reckless women with a mixture of anxiety and resignation.
Liu Bei, wearing a light smile, accepted the cup Sun Jian poured for her.
And by this point, Ji Ling and Zhang Fei had already thrown their arms around each other's shoulders, pouring and downing drinks like there was no tomorrow.
Just as the oddly compatible people were chatting away and a fairly congenial atmosphere had settled over them...
"Ah... That reminds me, Sister Ji Ling. Hic! Do you know about her? That... Lü Bu one."
"Lü Bu, eh? Ah... That filthy traitor... No... That's not it... Uh... What was it... The Unmatched Under Whatever, that runty little flat one? The hell about her?"
"So... um... Hic! Say... Would it be okay if I had a proper—wham!—go at her?"
"Hmm... Lü Bu-u-u..."
Under the influence, Zhang Fei blurted out exactly what she'd been wanting to say with zero restraint.
Ji Ling, her expression a little drunk and bleary, started to give it some thought.
"Please~ I want to earn a bunch of laurels and make a name for myself just as Eldest Sister did~ If you help me out with this one, I'll treat you like my lifelong benefactoooor~ Hic!"
With those words, Zhang Fei filled Ji Ling's cup to the brim.
Ji Ling took it, drained it without pause, and answered in a voice burning with enthusiasm.
"Haha! Sure~ What's so hard about something like that! I'll put in a word with our lord, so go ahead and have a proper, full-on go at her!"
"Ooooh! Thank you, Sister Ji Ling. Here, here, have another."
"Kyaah—so good! Now you take one too, little sister!"
And so, in an exchange that felt like they were each putting on a show for the other, the two of them went right back to pouring and drinking.
Watching them, Guan Yu could only bow her head awkwardly to Xu Rong beside her.
"Forgive me... My little sister, with the drink..."
"Hmm... No. I'm the one who..."
Both of them made a mental note that once tomorrow came and everyone sobered up, they'd have firm words for their respective "little sister" and "senior."
Meanwhile, amid the clamor of all kinds, Liu Bei and Sun Jian were carrying on their own conversation with the tranquil calm of a temple standing in a storm.
"So that's how it is... A disciple of General Lu Zhi..."
"Yes, it was thanks to his teachings that I learned letters and martial arts. And at the time, I'd also struck up quite the close acquaintance with the White Horse General Gongsun Zan. Though by now, that person has become a traitor to the realm."
"A lamentable matter. And he was once a hero who ranged the battlefields for the sake of the nation and its people..."
"Desire sometimes blinds a person's eyes. Though he was a senior I held in esteem, now that he has cast aside the Han Imperial House and sided with traitors, turning back will be difficult."
Sun Jian slowly nodded at Liu Bei's words.
Through that measured conversation, she could begin to understand, at least a little, just what sort of person this woman Liu Bei was.
Someone with a deep loyalty to the nation, and at the same time a person whose own convictions stood crystal clear.
No matter how deep the personal bond, she could draw a sharp line the moment someone strayed from the righteous path, yet if their purpose aligned with hers, she possessed the magnanimity to embrace you even if you'd crossed swords with her just yesterday.
As she closely observed this vessel as large as the woman's own chest, Sun Jian began to feel a spark of caution—and, at the same time, a strange sense of anticipation.
A being who held clear convictions and overwhelming martial power, and who under certain circumstances could become a perilous blade even to their own side.
And...
As someone her own lord, Yuan Shu, wished to bring under his command.
Sun Jian could intuit that the process would be far from easy, but even so, she harbored faith that her master could manage it. After all, was he not the Yuan Shu who had captured her own heart—a heart that had once resolved never to bow its head in earnest to anyone, no matter how much luck had favored the outcome?
Holding a quiet curiosity as to how exactly that lord of hers would bring this large-eared woman into the fold, Sun Jian slowly drained her cup, a smile upon her face.