A Crane Among Chickens (4)

Cock-a-doodle-doooo! An unidentified cry echoed through the air. Judging by that bold crowing, it had to be the Cai family's rooster next to the academy.

"Ugh…."

Thanks to that damn bird, waking up at dawn had become a habit. I had no intention or desire to rise with the sun, but even so, I couldn't drift back to sleep despite the early hour.

"Awake already?"

"Lady Xun You, when did you get so neatly dressed?"

Xun You sat in the chair looking as prim and proper as when she'd entered my room. I lightly washed my face with the water she'd prepared, freshened up, and sat across from her.

"A fine dawn, isn't it?"

"Indeed. Once autumn passes, the harsh winter will be upon us."

Happy times always feel short, while gloomy ones drag on forever. The bountiful harvest would soon fade from people's minds. The threats surrounding Jingzhou hadn't vanished, and come winter, we'd worry about stored grain rotting or getting gnawed by rats. But for now, at least, we could savor this quiet moment and catch our breath. I inhaled the crisp morning air, shaking off the drowsiness.

"About Sun Uk."

Xun You set down her tea and pointed to the bamboo slips on the desk.

"If you're willing, how about you go to Chenliu yourself and see?"

"Me?"

"Yes. I'm planning to head there anyway."

"......You've made up your mind, then."

Xun You's face was utterly serene. The hesitation she'd shown when she first arrived here was completely gone. Now, only conviction remained.

"Yes. I've decided. I'll follow Cao Cao."

"May I hear the reason?"

"If what you said is true, then at least Cao Cao would forgive a single failure."

Xun You picked up Sun Uk's letter.

"If this letter from Sun Uk was co-written by someone advising her, or if it was censored by Cao Cao's forces as you suspect, that would actually prove Cao Cao's eagerness to use talented people more aggressively."

"Why is that?"

"Because anyone else would have executed her on the spot for a letter like this."

"......She survived because it was Cao Cao?"

Xun You nodded silently.

You must have vaguely realized it yourself by now. Ah, is it okay to keep exchanging these letters? Aren't they starting to contain too many military secrets? I'm sharing Jingzhou's intel in return, so it's not a loss, but what if Sun Uk gets hurt?

"I did have those thoughts. But so far, it's been fine."

"That's exactly why we need to verify any sudden changes. If you go in person instead of Seo Seo, you can see her face-to-face and learn the truth."

Xun You handed me the letter with a sly smile.

"Plus, as you can tell from the letter, her true feelings that can't be hidden."

"...Lady Xun You. I..."

"I know. You have no ambition for office. If someone held a blade to your throat and forced you into service, you'd flee to some safe rearguard post like a county magistrate where your safety was guaranteed."

A sharp assessment, but spot on.

"That's why I'll go in your place. If Cao Cao's been hoping the letter correspondent would join up, recommending me this time should satisfy him, right? Hehe."

"Lady Xun You. Humans are creatures whose greed knows no bounds."

"But Cao Cao's smart. She'll know it's to her benefit to leave you be. I'll make sure of it, and so will Sun Uk."

Xun You took my hand and smiled.

"Sun Uk and I will be your bulwark of protection. That should do it, right?"

"...I'm deeply grateful. I feel like I haven't done much for you and Sun Uk, yet you're looking out for me like this. Thank you so much."

"Haven't done much? You've done... so much, really."

Xun You bowed her head briefly, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠then chuckled softly.

"I could complain that you hold back on what you could do more of, but even this much is truly a lot. Thank you, Wol-yeong."

"I think this is the first time you've called me by name."

"Because you don't like being called Wol-yeong. But since you wish to live a life worthy of your name, we'll honor that."

The moon casts a shadow, clear as day. But everyone gazes at the bright moon in the night sky, overlooking the shadow.

"So come with me to Chenliu."

"...You're not going to threaten me with arrest if I refuse to enlist, are you?"

"That's why I'm going with you—to enlist. To keep you safe."

Xun You unfurled the bamboo slip she'd written as a reply to Sun Uk's letter.

In this way, by "recommending" Xun You via letter, she'd join Cao Cao's forces.

"Thanks for finding me a good job, Wol-yeong."

"...Lady Xun You. Were you waiting for a situation like this?"

"Like what?"

"A time when Cao Cao's army faces its toughest military crunch, when your strategic value would shine brightest."

"......."

Xun You sipped her tea with a smile.

"Less 'waiting for the moment' and more 'couldn't pass up the opportunity that arose.'"

The morning sun illuminating Xun You shone brighter than ever.

"So you're heading to Yeonju for a bit?"

"Yes, Mother."

Before leaving, I'd come to Yangyang to see Cai Xuan. She looked even more beautiful than when we first met, dressed up elegantly to greet me.

"What a shame. I won't see my handsome son's face for a while."

"I'll be back soon. By the way, Mother, where's Father...?"

"Don't even mention that man."

Cai Xuan scowled and shook her head.

"Who knows where he is or what he's doing. Not long ago, he went off to find some man with a scar on his arm and didn't return for three months. Something about avenging a boy's grudge. And lately? Who knows what nonsense he's up to now."

"What did he go off for this time?"

"He packed his bags with money, saying he'd go to Jiangdong and rack up wins against the scholars in a poetry contest. Sigh, the Huang family owes you big time. If not for you, the Cai family would've formally confronted them by now."

"...Well, Father has his own way of living, I suppose."

He's an oddball for a reason.

"Hehe, true. Thanks to him running off, I get this cozy time with my son. So nice..."

Cai Xuan shifted in her seat. Wondering what was up, I tensed as I sensed an approaching presence from afar.

"Sister?"

"Xiangni?"

"Yeah."

The door opened, revealing a woman with a face similar to Cai Xuan's but haughtier and more arrogant.

I rose immediately and bowed to her.

"It's been a while, Lady Cai."

'Lady Cai.' The title Cai Xiang—officially Liu Biao's consort—had earned. No matter that she was my adoptive mother's younger sister in private, I had to show her due respect.

"What brings you here?"

"I have business in Yeonju, so I came to pay my respects to Mother."

"Good boy. Don't end up like your adoptive father, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠alright?"

"Of course. I'll return before the sun sets."

Leaving the academy unattended for long ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't my plan either.

"Good. Winter roads are cold—be careful. Want an escort?"

"I'll gratefully decline. I have companions, so no need to worry."

"Really? Hm... Well, you're you, so you'll manage."

This woman might look arrogant and aloof, but she's kind to her own. As the real power in Jingzhou to come, I needed to stay on her good side.

"By the way, since you're here, let me ask something. Between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan—who do you think will win?"

Sudden, but I got it. Lady Cai shared Liu Biao's bed and could hear his worries firsthand.

"She seemed troubled lately."

If she whispered well to Liu Biao and it came true, even as a consort, her position in Jingzhou would solidify.

"Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan. Right now, Gongsun Zan's stronger. But Yuan Shao's seized Ji Province. His methods might be underhanded, but the real issue is that people still follow him despite it."

"So? Who wins?"

"At least while the alliance holds, we should hope for Yuan Shao. Purely my personal take, but I think he'll win."

"Why?"

"Gut feeling."

Revealing all my cards to Lady Cai would be foolish. "Gut feeling" sufficed for now.

"Really? If you say so, then probably. Yuan Shao victorious."

The problem was, after profiting from my advice last time, she trusted my words quite a bit—not blindly, but substantially.

"Got it. Were you two about to keep talking? I can step out."

"No, Lady Cai. You should stay—I'll take my leave."

"Not that kind of talk? ...Hm, since no one's outside, it's fine."

Lady Cai smiled at the silent Cai Xuan.

"Sister. Don't smear my face?"

"......I won't."

"...Ahem."

"You be careful too."

Lady Cai left me with a warning that wasn't quite a warning.

"But... nephew. Since we're meeting like this, you can't just leave, right? Let's chat more."

"Lady Cai?"

"With Sister bragging about her son so much, how could I not be curious? Hehe. I need to borrow your wisdom."

"My wisdom?"

"Yeah. Hypothetically."

Lady Cai grabbed my wrist with a serious look.

"If I bear Liu Biao a son, could my child succeed him as Governor of Jingzhou?"

"......We need to have a serious talk, then."

I dove into a deep conversation with the two Cai sisters.

One that lasted nearly through the night.

My cousin as Governor of Jingzhou. I can't let that slide.