Lü Bu Subjugation War (9): "I Don't Wanna Get Marriedddddd -_-!!!"
The woman let out a piercing scream and threw a full-blown tantrum. Dressed like a man despite being a woman, she acted as if she truly believed herself a warrior, ripping the skirt placed before her to shreds with her bare hands.
"I'm not getting married! Well, I will someday, but not to Yuan Shu's son!!"
Her fury was so intense that the household servants had already backed away, leaving armored generals to gather and try calming her down.
"Miss, please calm down! We're begging you!"
"That's right. We've talked about this before, haven't we?"
"This is the only way to save Lord Lü Bu...!"
"Tsk, tsk.... So you're saying I have to die to save Dad...?"
The woman trembled with rage, her face twisted in a scowl.
"Yuan Shu's son is ugly as sin!"
"W-what? How exactly is he ugly...?"
"I heard! They say he's a total troll! The marriage talks started over a year ago—do you think I wouldn't have checked out the guy that much?!"
Ah, this was the kind of woman they called a hellion. Lü Bu's daughter, Ye Ling, seemed utterly immune to persuasion by words.
"I'm gonna marry a hot guy! So why the hell do I have to marry some ugly bastard like Yuan Shu's son? Am I merchandise? Why do I have to get sold off like this?!"
"Because it's the only way we survive."
Chen Gong stepped forward from the crowd and stood before Ye Ling.
"Please comply for the greater good."
"Why should I?"
"Because it's the only way we survive."
"And if I say no?"
"Please comply for the greater good."
"You're just repeating yourself!!"
Even as Ye Ling raised her fist in anger, Chen Gong remained unflappable.
"Only if you become the crown princess can Lord Lü Bu and the rest of us survive. You've always wanted to be a crown princess, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I wanted that! But I never said I wanted to be Yuan Shu's crown princess! You know how fucked up that guy's face is!"
"Looks don't matter. What matters is that he's the legitimate heir of the Yuan clan and carries the blood of the Zhong empire's imperial house."
Chen Gong pressed on with ironclad logic.
"Since you were born as Lord Lü Bu's daughter, you must act for his sake."
"Ha, as if Mom even gave a damn...."
Ye Ling ground her teeth in frustration.
"Did Dad ever even glance at Mom? I've put up with it ever since he started messing around with Diaochan in Chang'an. He had a proper wife alive and well, and that's what caused all the chaos."
"Miss!"
"I don't wanna hear it! If you're gonna talk about saving Dad through some bullshit marriage, then let me head to the battlefield instead!"
At Ye Ling's words, Chen Gong squeezed her eyes shut.
"Do you think Lord Lü Bu would allow that? Or even Lady Lü before him?"
"We're all about to get slaughtered by Cao Cao anyway—does that even matter?!"
"Do you know what happens if you're captured as a hostage by Cao Cao's army?"
"Then I just won't get captured! Out of everyone here, the only one who could beat me one-on-one is Uncle Liao!"
Lü Bu's daughter was a female Lü Bu. Though she had only one father for now—and someday a husband might give her another—she wielded more than enough martial talent from the half of her blood that was pure Lü Bu. The only reason she hadn't seen frontline action was simply because she was Lü Bu's daughter. She was still young, and above all—
"Do you know the Thirty-Six Stratagems?"
"No clue! I just hack down every enemy in sight!"
"...Sigh. Miss, battles aren't won on spirit alone. If you want to be a general, you need leadership to command soldiers. And besides, you won't get the chance anyway."
Chen Gong pointed behind her. There sat a flower-decked palanquin ready to carry Ye Ling away.
"Get in. You're not Lord Lü Bu's daughter right now—you're to become the crown princess."
"Y-you...! Have you heard a word I've said?!"
"Not a one. You must become the crown princess for us to survive. It's the only way Lü Bu's army keeps its morale and lives to fight another day against Cao Cao."
"I don't care! Figure it out yourselves!"
"Fine."
Ye Ling froze at the voice from outside.
"Are you trying to sabotage the marriage with Yuan Shu...?"
Outside the door stood Lü Bu, his face flushed beet red with fury.
"Yeah! Fine, I'll handle it myself like you said. Husoeng! Songheon! Bind the crown princess! That's an order!"
"Y-yes, sir...."
"Sorry, miss."
The two generals approached Ye Ling and bound her arms with rope.
"Let go! Don't touch me! Who the hell do you think you are touching?! You couldn't even beat me one-on-one...!!"
Ye Ling thrashed to shake them off, but Lü Bu himself grabbed her, pinning her in place.
"Y-you...!"
"You're my daughter. So you live for me."
"Go find another one!"
Lü Bu's eyes wavered at her words, but he quickly regained his composure and pressed hard on her shoulders.
"You're the only marriageable girl who can ally us with the Yuan clan. It has to be Lü Bu's daughter or it's meaningless."
"Tsk, tsk.... Why do I have to get married.... I wanna go fight like you, Dad. Okay?"
"No."
As Lü Bu held her down, they finally succeeded in tying her up. He hoisted his daughter over his shoulder and shoved her bodily into the palanquin.
"Mmph, mmph...!!"
"Gah?!"
Ye Ling sank her teeth into Lü Bu's nape. Startled, he flung her to the ground and snatched a spear from a nearby general, his face twisted in rage.
"How dare you...!!"
"Lord Lü Bu."
"........."
A beauty who looked ready to collapse at any moment appeared before Lü Bu.
"Xian'a...!"
"How can you act so brutally?"
The woman, fragile as a lotus petal that might crumble at a touch, blocked Lü Bu's path and shook her head firmly.
"She's your daughter, my lord. You mustn't treat her so roughly."
"But..."
"And it's disappointing. Were you truly planning to send the girl off to Yuan Shu?"
"W-what?"
Before Lü Bu could react, Chen Gong stepped forward.
"Don't spout nonsense to mislead Lord Lü Bu."
"It's no deception. I'm trying to save you and the girl from the clutches of a wicked schemer who would lead you into ruin."
"...Calling me wicked?"
Chen Gong raised both hands in disbelief.
"Ha! Since when did you start calling a strategist who gives heartfelt counsel a 'wicked woman'?"
"Ever since you approached the general in Puyang. He's suffered nothing but hardship since."
"W-what...?"
"Don't listen to her, my lord. Aren't schemers like her the exact kind you despise?"
Diaochan nestled into Lü Bu's arms.
"Please hear me out. This isn't a good path."
"Is that so? Teacher Chen, let's find another way."
"Sigh...."
Chen Gong glared at Diaochan with eyes full of irritation.
"What exactly is your angle...?"
"No angle at all. I just pity the girl being sold off for politics—and even more that she's the daughter of the man I love."
"Xian'a...! You're not even her mother, yet how kind you are!"
Lü Bu pulled Diaochan into a tight embrace. She patted his back, eyes closed, as her gaze briefly met Chen Gong's.
"Why are you so desperate to send the miss away? What if Cao Cao's forces grab her as a hostage?"
"I'm not sending her to be captured...!"
"It's suspicious. If you're so eager, why not go yourself? Why hold back?"
"Because...!"
Chen Gong was a brilliant strategist. But she was no great warrior. Lü Bu's Eight Champions showed her respect as an advisor for her intellect, not as a fighter.
"You always talk from the back lines and only ride alongside when fleeing. Anyone can talk big. Fight at the front with the general? In your dreams."
Diaochan's words were devilishly cunning.
"The moment the general's gone, you'll open the gates and surrender to Cao Cao."
"Absurd! It's slander, my lord!"
"X-Xian'a. Teacher Chen has helped us. She's uncomfortable to deal with sometimes, but..."
Lü Bu suddenly found himself glancing nervously between Chen Gong and Diaochan. Ye Ling, watching from behind, did the same.
"...Chen Gong, return to headquarters for now. We'll discuss the rest later."
"Hah, haha...!"
Chen Gong clutched her official seal and hurled it to the ground.
"Lord Lü Bu! Do you think I'm acting out of petty jealousy as a woman?! Far from it! I'm heartbroken! Listen to me, and you could capture Cao Cao, enthrone the emperor, and rule the realm as a grand general!!"
"When has listening ever led to success?"
"You little...!!"
Chen Gong's hands shook with fury. The reason her plans failed? Seven times out of ten, it was Lü Bu—hesitating, dithering, botching things, or acting only after disaster struck.
"Hoo, fine. I'll head to headquarters. But know this: surrender is our only path to survival!"
Chen Gong stormed off without retrieving her seal. Lü Bu clicked his tongue at her retreating back, while Diaochan buried her face in his chest and bowed her head.
"My lord, I'm scared. Scared you'll change."
"Me? Nonsense. Xian'a, from the moment I saw you, I haven't changed a bit. Feel how my heart still races for you?"
"Then why send your daughter to a marriage she doesn't want just to save yourself?"
"Th-that's... Xian, I..."
"You raged when Dong Zhuo forced me away, yet now you're imitating his exact actions...?"
"......!!"
Lü Bu froze, face stricken. Staggering to the carriage, he personally untied the ropes binding Ye Ling.
"...Hmph, don't expect thanks."
Ye Ling rubbed her wrists and walked away. The ropes had bitten deep into her porcelain skin, leaving angry red welts. Lü Bu watched his departing daughter for a long moment before finally speaking.
"Mi, mi.... Ahem."
He scratched his head and fell silent. Ye Ling left, and Lü Bu tilted his head to the sky with a heavy sigh.
She smirked. Diaochan simply smiled.
"Don't trust Teacher Chen. She's a sly fox."
"But Xian'a, to survive we need..."
"I trust you, my lord... you."
Diaochan caressed Lü Bu's face and pressed her body to his.
"You're the world's greatest, Lü Fengxian."
"...Right. I am the greatest."
Lü Bu embraced her and nodded.
"We don't need Yuan Shu's reinforcements. I'm Lü Bu."
A day later, Cao Cao's army fully encircled Lü Bu's stronghold from all four directions.