Chapter 15

Gong’an was turned upside down.

After the incident with Chang-ran, Lady Son, who had been relatively quiet, caused a major uproar.

Despite the lax security, it was not due to negligence. Zhao Yun was guarding Gong’an, and Zhuge Liang was directly overseeing the administration of Gong’an City.

Even with Liu Bei’s best administrator and bodyguard, Lady Son successfully kidnapped Yu Xian.

The inevitable manpower gap due to the invasion. Lady Son, with her innate intuition, seized the moment when security was weak.

Armed maids and her status as Liu Bei’s wife allowed Lady Son to secure Yu Xian and head to the prepared boat.

But waiting for her there were not her brother Sun Quan’s subordinates.

“You’re late, Lady.”

A girl, presumably a sailor, tied up and spoke to her.

The girl, now grown, waited with a group of soldiers.

“Chang-ran…”

Lady Son called the girl’s name in a low voice.

Displeasure and shame colored Lady Son’s face.

“Farewells are necessary. But you must leave the person you’re holding.”

“Hmph, farewell? Planning to bow again? You don’t seem to have ambushed soldiers, just ten men to stop me?”

Chang-ran’s soldiers were few. Her move wasn’t an officially sanctioned military operation.

Even though the soldiers under each general were close to private troops, moving over a hundred armed soldiers to Gong’an was problematic.

The ten soldiers following Chang-ran were loyal, risking punishment to follow her.

But Chang-ran calmly replied.

“Those who understand the situation will send pursuers. Time is on our side. Send Adu here. Then I’ll let you pass.”

“Let’s see how long that lasts.”

Lady Son, now Sun Lin, drew her sword. The well-maintained blade reflected the sunlight.

As the maids drew their swords, Chang-ran and her soldiers gripped their weapons.

Outnumbered ten to one, Chang-ran and her soldiers showed no fear.

They were men, larger in stature, with their backs to the river and comrades by their side, only needing to block the enemy in front.

Just hold on. Neither side intended to retreat, so a clash was inevitable.

“Attack!”

§

My opponent was Lady Son. Two years ago, when I was not even ten, I sent Chuk-baek, thinking I couldn’t match her. But now, Lady Son seriously guarded against me, closing the distance.

Naturally. The difference between then and now was unbelievable.

The average height of adult men in this era was about 150 cm. Even with a high estimate, it wouldn’t exceed 160 cm. Women, genetically smaller and in harsh times, wouldn’t grow much taller. Lady Son, with Sun Jian’s genes and good nutrition, was about 160 cm.

At eleven, I was nearly 150 cm, a growth spurt unheard of in this era.

But good genes weren’t exclusive to me.

Clang!

“Ugh!”

“Ah!”

As our swords clashed, both Lady Son and I thought the same.

‘Why is she so strong!’

To Lady Son, I was an eleven-year-old brat. To me, Lady Son was a pure 3rd-century woman.

Both confident in victory, the unexpected strength of the other caused mutual confusion. But I broke free first.

Unlike Lady Son, who only sparred with maids, I trained daily with Zhang Fei, a monster.

Clang!

Swordsmanship isn’t just clashing swords. Blocking with a sword is a last resort. Without knowing how to counter, you’ll get hit.

But Lady Son, no mere soldier, quickly parried my strikes.

She seemed slightly stronger, or perhaps it was adrenaline.

‘Almost even.’

I checked the battle situation.

The soldiers were holding off the maids. Neither side could openly kill, so the flow favored us.

Both sides knew casualties would escalate the situation. But Lady Son, anxious, shouted.

“Kill them! Open the way!”

Lady Son, crossing the line, exuded killing intent.

“Don’t hold back! Stop them at all costs!”

I gritted my teeth. I couldn’t lose any of my men. Precious bonds, following me despite my father’s strictness. Too valuable to lose here.

This time, I attacked first. Time was on my side, but only if no one died. Losing my men would be a heavy loss.

‘Absolutely won’t let them die.’

Lady Son remained calm under the sudden attack. The tension between us was taut. The first to break it would falter.

Swords clashed, sometimes slipping, evading, exchanging blows.

When the strength contest resumed, Lady Son skillfully changed her blade’s direction.

A flexible attack, defying expectations of a strength-based move.

Though she said to kill, Lady Son couldn’t bring herself to kill me, aiming for my shoulder instead.

Her desperate move, reminiscent of my younger self.

‘Too bad, that was a mistake.’

Clang!

Lady Son’s blade didn’t reach my shoulder. The extended crossguard of my longsword blocked her strike.

My sword, tailored for longsword techniques, had an extended crossguard, an advantage in this era.

Seizing the opportunity, I grabbed her wrist, twisted, and placed my blade at her neck.

“Everyone, stop!!”

My booming voice, inherited from Zhang Fei, echoed. The maids, seeing Lady Son subdued, dropped their swords.

Their loyalty to Lady Son outweighed their mission. With her life at stake, further combat was impossible.

“Drop your swords and step aside.”

The maids hesitated, eyeing each other. The tension rose again as they seemed to prioritize orders over Lady Son’s life.

A simple command from Lady Son would suffice, but she, knowing I wouldn’t kill her, kept her mouth shut.

A tense standoff. The maids, watching us, slowly inched forward.

Thud, thud, thud!

“They’re here.”

The sound of hooves, signaling the end and our victory.

Hearing the hooves, Lady Son, realizing the futility, slumped.

“It’s too late, drop your swords.”

The maids, one by one, dropped their weapons.

Clang, clang, clang.

I retrieved Lady Son’s sword and released her, though two soldiers stayed by her side.

Handing Lady Son to the soldiers, I walked past the disarmed maids to the small boy they had taken hostage.

Yu Xian, six years younger, was small for his age. The little prince stood bravely, unafraid.

‘Incompetent, but royal blood is royal blood.’

Even those unfamiliar with the Romance of the Three Kingdoms know Yu Xian’s incompetence. His nickname, Adu, became synonymous with foolishness.

But the Yu Xian before me, with his bright eyes, seemed different.

“Prince Yu.”

Kneeling to his eye level, I called him. Yu Xian’s mouth opened wide.

“Pretty lady…”

His murmur made my expression falter.

“Pfft.”

Someone laughed. Following the sound, I saw Zhang San, who knew I disliked being called a lady, hastily turning his head.

I’ll deal with you later. Zhang San, oblivious to his fate, watched us like an intrigued auntie.

But things didn’t go as he hoped.

A booming voice from the arriving pursuit force.

“Lady Son, stop!!”

A general, rivaling my father in height and presence, on a white horse. Zhao Yun had arrived.

Despite the dramatic entrance, his task was simple. The situation was over; all that remained was taking Yu Xian back.

Zhao Yun first checked Yu Xian’s safety before turning to me.

“And who might you be, young lady?”

It had been two, almost three years, but this was my first time meeting Zhao Yun.

Though faintly remembered, Zhao Yun didn’t recognize me, showing how much I’d grown.

I’ll reflect later. I bowed and answered.

“I am Chang-ran, eldest daughter of General Zhang.”

“Chang-ran? General Zhang’s daughter? My, how you’ve grown. I didn’t recognize you. My apologies.”

“No need. Much time has passed. But first, we should tidy up here.”

“Right. We’ll talk more on the way back.”

Zhao Yun ordered his soldiers to collect the maids’ weapons and then addressed Lady Son.

Despite the gravity of her actions, Zhao Yun treated Lady Son with utmost respect, though his tone was firm.

“This action crossed the line.”

“Hmph! So you’ll arrest me?”

“Return. And convey this: this incident went too far.”

“…How dare you threaten our Sun family!”

Lady Son, furious, gritted her teeth. Despite Zhao Yun’s respectful words, the underlying anger was palpable. But Lady Son was Lady Son.

Yet, a leopard’s rage doesn’t scare a tiger. Zhao Yun stepped closer, his tone unwavering.

“Convey it clearly.”

“……”

Lady Son, losing the battle of wills, turned away and scolded her maids.

“What are you doing! Untie them and board the ship!”

The maids quickly freed the sailors I had captured and prepared to board. With numbers on their side, the cleanup was swift. Before boarding, Lady Son shot me a look.

Her once somewhat friendly gaze was now purely venomous.

“You cooked Chuk-baek well.”

The maid I won in a bet, but her true purpose was to spy on me and my father.

“You knew it wouldn’t work, Lady.”

“Without you, I wouldn’t have failed.”

I remained silent. In truth, we barely managed to stop her, even with Zhang Fei’s help.

But the fact that Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun’s first line of defense was breached lent credibility to her words.

Thus, Lady Son’s words only highlighted my achievement in thwarting her well-prepared plan.

Arguing out of emotion would only diminish my accomplishment. I accepted her words without denial.

“Perhaps.”

Lady Son, knowing further excuses were futile, silently boarded the ship. The sails unfurled, the anchor raised, and the ship slowly moved away.

The pursuit force, still on their horses, watched the ship depart.

A final courtesy to one who was once their master’s wife. With Yu Xian safely rescued, it was a possible gesture.

As the ship grew distant, Zhao Yun spoke.

“Prepare to return.”

His command was swiftly followed by the well-trained elite soldiers.

“Ran, what will you do? It’s best to return with me.”

Given the gravity of the situation, even with my merits, I should be taken for questioning. Zhao Yun’s suggestion was a courtesy.

“I’ll accompany you.”

“Good. There’s a spare horse; you can use it.”

They had brought extra horses to switch and continue pursuit without rest. Naturally, with only ten of us, there were horses to spare.

“Thank you. But my soldiers don’t know how to ride and might fall behind. May I lead them slowly?”

“Do so. I’ll go ahead and inform the military.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

I distributed the horses to my soldiers.

They had chosen the gentlest horses, so even first-time riders managed to mount.

As I prepared to mount, a commotion arose behind me. What now, after all this?

“No!”

“Prince, it’s time to return.”

“No!”

Yu Xian, now a tantrum-throwing child, and Zhao Yun, at a loss.

Despite carrying Yu Xian through peril at Changban Slope, Zhao Yun’s pleas fell on deaf ears.

“If you wish to play in the water, I’ll request it from the military upon return…”

“That’s not it!”

I stifled a laugh. This was Yu Xian. Though brave and articulate for a five-year-old, he was still a child.

But still, Yu Xian, who usually obeyed his ministers, would eventually comply. Just as I thought, Yu Xian’s clear voice struck my eardrums.

“I want to go with the pretty lady!”

“Huh?”