Heroic Lust (1)
At that moment, in a manor in Heodo, a man dressed in fine silk robes was lost in deep thought. With his notably large ears, he paced through the small garden within the manor, immersed in contemplation.
"What troubles you so?"
"My lady."
The man, Liu Bei, stretched out both arms toward the woman. But she merely approached his side, leaving Liu Bei scratching his head in awkwardness.
"Others are watching. You're an imperial uncle now—mind your conduct."
"Ahem. Can't I even embrace my own wife?"
"I just said others are watching."
"What about in our chambers?"
"That's the same."
The woman, Lady Gan, gestured with her eyes toward the servants scattered throughout the manor.
"Cao Cao's eyes are everywhere. How could we let them see such a sight carelessly?"
"It's just a husband and wife showing affection."
"Even so."
"My lady, are you actually sulking right now?"
Lady Gan's smile twisted at Liu Bei's sly grin.
"What did you say?"
"Lady Mi's been around lately, so is that why...?"
"Hmph. Yes, the second wife comes in, and the first one gets jealous."
Liu Bei had no retort to Lady Gan's blunt words. With her ironclad stance, he—as a man—had no choice but to seek out his wife, and his second wife, Lady Mi, occasionally attended to him as well. Still, it hadn't soured their relationship. Lady Gan simply felt out of place in this grand manor in Heodo.
"It felt easier when you were magistrate of Pingyuan, or even serving as deputy under Gongson Zan in Beiping."
"...That bad?"
"Yes. I can endure my own discomfort, but..."
Lady Gan drew close, straightening the stiffly formal robes that seemed to choke Liu Bei.
"...You're the one feeling stifled now."
"...True enough. It's driving me mad."
"But you won't give up, will you?"
"Of course not. The title of Left General isn't some dog's name."
Liu Bei placed a hand on Lady Gan's shoulder.
"Just being called Imperial Uncle Liu isn't enough. Even if it's an honorary post, I need that clear rank of Left General to wield real military authority."
"How about living as an imperial uncle of Han?"
"Not bad. In fact, it's what I've always wanted. But..."
Liu Bei pulled Lady Gan into his arms.
"I'm afraid. I never know when Cao Cao might kill us."
"My lord."
"I'm scared. Like how Emperor Gaozu discarded Han Xin once he was done with him, I fear Cao Cao will have me executed when I've outlived my usefulness. No, if only it were just me. What worries me is you all dying too."
"But she spared Lü Bu's wife and daughter."
"Would you choose death?"
Lady Gan smiled faintly at Liu Bei's words.
"A man who can't live without me would follow me in death. How could I let that happen?"
"If you die, I'll die too."
"That's why I'm saying this. It wouldn't end with just me. If I go, you'd follow, and Yun Chang and Yi De would too."
"True. You swore brotherhood at the Peach Garden."
Liu Bei buried his face in Lady Gan's shoulder, trembling.
"...My lady, I beg you. Even if I go first, live on until your own time comes."
"Live every day with my heart torn apart?"
"No, never."
Liu Bei met Lady Gan's eyes.
"Don't live dwelling on the dead. The living must live. No one knows what fate holds, so please—whatever happens to me, you must survive."
"You won't die, my lord. Never."
"Tianxia's future is uncertain. I could fall on the battlefield one day, or be killed when my value runs out, just as I said. I'm recognized as an imperial uncle now, but that's all it is."
Liu Bei's fingertips began to tremble.
"Even an emperor drank poisoned wine at Dong Zhuo's hands in this Han realm."
"Aren't you working tirelessly day and night to set that Han right again?"
Lady Gan patted Liu Bei's back.
"If it's hard, come to my arms anytime. What's a wife's role? When her husband suffers, isn't it her duty to ease his body and soul?"
"...I'm struggling a bit right now."
"......Sigh."
Lady Gan narrowed her eyes at Liu Bei for a moment, then pulled away and pointed toward the inner quarters.
"...Since you can't manage alone, go to your little sister-wife."
"I love you, my lady."
"Yes, I love you too."
Liu Bei headed to the inner quarters with Lady Gan. Watching the couple from afar, two men wore heavy expressions, deep in worry.
"I never knew Brother was suffering this much."
"Indeed. He wasn't like this even in Xiaopei."
"Assassins could come anytime. Tsk."
"Just assassins? Cao Cao might try to win over our eldest brother, and who knows if she'll try the same with us."
Guan Yu's mouth fell open at Zhang Fei's sarcastic remark.
"You... you're saying that?"
"What? What'd I say?"
"General Zhang?"
A young woman approached from afar, calling out to Zhang Fei. He grinned broadly and waved at her.
"Hui, what's up?"
"I was passing by and heard your angry voice, so I stopped in. Is something wrong?"
"Wrong? My voice is naturally booming and loud! Haha."
"I see. Good, then. I thought you were mad."
"Me, mad? What's there to be mad about? Living comfy in a palace like this."
"Are you? That's a relief. Oh, right."
The woman smiled and took Zhang Fei's hand. Though his palm was twice the size of hers, she grasped it without hesitation.
"Uncle said he wants to see you once. About that talk over drinks last time."
"...That Xiahou Yuan wants another spar with me?"
"Yes. He was fired up, saying he'll win this time."
"Kahaha! Even if Xiahou Yuan's a tiger of a general, he can't beat Mount Tai's king! Hui, bet on me again. I'll bring you victory. Hahaha!"
"Heehee, got it. I'll tell him. Excuse me."
The woman bowed politely and left. Zhang Fei saw her off until she passed through the main gate, his ear-to-ear grin refusing to fade.
"Heh, cute kid."
"...Do you know what a honey trap is?"
"Honey trap? What nonsense? You think that pure girl is laying one on me?"
"Then what?"
"Kahaha!!"
Zhang Fei slapped his chest, laughing heartily.
"Think about the age gap! Even if she's almost grown, how old am I to fall for that?"
"Since you're unmarried, it's plenty possible."
"Whoa, Brother. That's dangerous talk. If word got out I took a girl like that as a wife, I'd get beaten to death."
"Someone to beat you?"
"...No one's that crazy, but it'd make me look like a weirdo."
Zhang Fei pondered seriously, then snorted and nudged Guan Yu with his elbow.
"Hmph. Brother, you watch out for honey traps. Didn't you just meet that ex-Lü Bu warrior?"
"Wen Yuan's a man."
"I heard a real beauty showed up there?"
"I met Lü Bu's wife and daughter. His daughter's got that fierce warrior blood."
"Nah, not them."
Guan Yu turned away at Zhang Fei's sly grin.
"Was it Lady Wu? Or Lady Du?"
"No idea."
"She's a widow, so no harm, right?"
"Not a widow."
Guan Yu smacked his lips in regret.
"Not... a widow..."
"Brother, have you lost it? Touching a married woman goes against propriety."
"It's... complicated. And her husband broke propriety first."
Guan Yu growled like a beast.
"With a living wife, he took a concubine without permission. Got her pregnant, even. Now he sends Lady Du to Heodo while he stays in Xuzhou."
"...Damn. End of days. With two wives, shouldn't the man take responsibility?"
"Exactly."
Guan Yu let out a groan.
"Marriage is a great human rite. If he can't shoulder it, he shouldn't have taken one or two."
"If he can, he can take more?"
"...!!"
They whipped around at the presence behind them.
"L-Little sister-in-law."
"When did you arrive?"
"Just now. Coming back from meeting someone Big Brother sent from Xuzhou."
The petite woman, Lady Mi, returned to the manor carrying a small box.
"Yun Chang, you have a wife and child, don't you?"
"...Yes."
Guan Yu had Lady Hu.
"Then, if you took that Lady Du as a concubine, how would Lady Hu feel?"
"...She couldn't speak against her husband's decision, but she'd accept it."
"Right? But."
Lady Mi turned toward the inner quarters where Liu Bei and Lady Gan had gone.
"If a man has the ability, taking multiple wives isn't a flaw, is it?"
"...It's even seen as a virtue."
"Yes, a virtue."
Lady Mi smiled faintly and asked them.
"Our lord isn't the type who lacks the ability to handle two wives. Right?"
"Of course. Brother can—"
"Handle two wives just fine."
Lady Mi laughed and headed inside. Her steps trembled slightly but carried undeniable poise.
"......."
"W-Well, Brother. I think you're a hero too."
Zhang Fei clenched his fist.
"A hero?"
"...A lecher."
In the end, both were men.