Chapter 4

It was a day like any other, finishing training. Dragging my tired body into the barracks I shared with Zhang Fei, he called out to me as I entered.

Sitting across from him, Zhang Fei asked, “So, how’s training these days?”

“It’s good. I’ve gotten closer with the soldiers too.”

“Hmm, getting close with the soldiers is good, but make sure to keep your boundaries.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The term ‘boundaries’ likely stemmed from his disdain for petty people, but it carried more weight because I was a woman. Sharing the barracks with Zhang Fei was also for this reason. Though he said there was no special treatment, he clearly drew lines in certain aspects, perhaps because I, his daughter, stood out.

“And tomorrow, come out with me.”

“Will you be personally overseeing me?”

My voice rose slightly with anticipation. Zhang Fei had said he would personally oversee me, but he wasn’t the type to have enough leisure to focus solely on me. With the ongoing struggle for Jing Province among the three powers, Zhang Fei was busier than ever.

Thus, the few days he personally taught me martial arts were the only ones. Of course, he would teach me theoretical knowledge after finishing our daily tasks, but it was a world apart from actual physical training.

However, my anticipation was in vain as Zhang Fei firmly shook his head.

“Then…”

“Big brother wants to see you.”

“Big brother, you mean…”

Liu Bei! And Guan Yu!

The main characters of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and the protagonists of the novel, the three brothers, all in one place. Even though I was more into Western history than the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, my heart was pounding with excitement!

“Haha, you’re eager to see your uncles too? Your eyes shine brighter than when you asked me to teach you.”

“I-I’m just nervous.”

“Good. You should be nervous.”

Wait, what’s with the sudden drop in tone? Zhang Fei suddenly lowered his voice and said, “Even though I’ve acknowledged you, if big brother refuses, I have no choice but to follow his will. This isn’t just a military matter. You are betrothed to Adou, big brother’s son. This meeting will also address that.”

If I can’t show potential, not only will I not be accepted into the military, but I’ll also face the predetermined ending of becoming Empress Zhang.

Isn’t this too harsh for a nine-year-old? I haven’t even received my courtesy name yet.

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Don’t worry too much. I’ll help you. And big brothers will consider your young age.”

“Yes, father.”

Lying on the bed after father’s words, I reflected on what I knew about Liu Bei and Guan Yu.

According to later evaluations, Liu Bei had a dual nature. He was praised as a benevolent ruler who understood righteousness and was generous and merciful, but also criticized as a hypocrite who hid his true intentions behind a facade of righteousness.

On the other hand, Guan Yu’s evaluations were consistent. His pride was excessive due to his outstanding abilities, but he knew how to show tolerance to the weak, such as soldiers and commoners. His personality was the opposite of Zhang Fei, who respected gentlemen and despised petty people.

However, there was one fact that applied to both. They deeply cherished their brothers.

Liu Bei abandoned everything he had achieved to wage war after the deaths of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, and Guan Yu, despite his arrogant nature, regarded Zhang Fei as his equal and sometimes even praised him as superior.

Hoping that their brotherly love would extend to their children, I closed my eyes.

The next morning, I woke up feeling unusually refreshed and happily did my morning stretches. In my previous life, I only occasionally watched videos on stretching, exercise, or yoga, and only did a bit when learning longsword techniques. But since becoming Chang-ran, I’ve been making time for it whenever I can.

With a flexible young body that stretched and moved as I thought, stretching became incredibly fun.

“You’re quick to prepare in the morning.”

Zhang Fei, who woke up a bit later, patted my head as if proud of me. I hadn’t even combed my hair after waking up, but it felt oddly like I had truly become a child.

Anyway, after having breakfast with Zhang Fei, which was different from usual, I followed him to the main camp.

With each step, I could feel my heart pounding.

There, not far ahead, Liu Bei and Guan Yu were waiting for me. The protagonists of an epic spanning thousands of years, the heroes who had written their names large in history, were waiting for me.

Is this how fans feel just before meeting their idols? I tried to calm my pounding heart, filled with tension, anticipation, and excitement, as I followed Zhang Fei to the large tent in the center.

Inside this tent were Liu Bei and Guan Yu. Maybe even Zhuge Liang was there. Or perhaps Zhao Yun too?

The reason I was so excited wasn’t just because they were historical figures. The three kingdoms of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Wei, Shu, and Wu. Naturally, fans of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms were divided into three fandoms, and I belonged to those who loved Shu, the Shu fans.

The end of tuning is purity. After reading the novel, I became a Shu fan, then went through a Cao Cao phase as a Wei fan, and after experiencing the Hong Kong disease as a Wu fan, I returned to being a Shu fan.

Of course, this was during my middle and high school days when I was obsessed with Three Kingdoms games and novels, but as I grew older, I chose the path of Western history.

“Hoo…”

“Nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. Privately, we are uncle and niece. Even if the two big brothers don’t welcome you, I’ll be on your side.”

Oh… Zhang Fei seems so different now. Zhang Fei showed great respect to those he acknowledged. It seems I was within that category.

I had complained inwardly that he didn’t teach me properly, but from now on, I’ll trust and follow you, father.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

With a swish, Zhang Fei boldly opened the tent’s entrance. The eyes of those already gathered inside instantly turned to us.

Following Zhang Fei inside, I quickly scanned the faces.

The person seated in the center was Liu Bei. He indeed looked benevolent. His ears were large, and his arms were long. He wasn’t tall, but he didn’t feel short either, of average height.

And the men guarding his sides were a head taller than Liu Bei. The man in armor had a large, sturdy build, while the man in white scholar’s robes looked somewhat frail. Guan Yu was more intimidating than I had imagined, and Zhuge Liang was so handsome that I wondered if he was really from this era.

There were only these three in the tent. No sign of Zhao Yun, Jin Dou, or other generals. It was probably a small meeting for light tasks rather than a major council to decide the direction of the forces.

It would be ridiculous to gather all the key figures during a war just to discuss my treatment. Guan Yu probably wouldn’t have come if it weren’t for his niece.

“You’ve come.”

At Liu Bei’s gentle voice, Zhang Fei and I bowed to him. Liu Bei lightly accepted the greeting and then began to look at me.

It wasn’t just an observation; it truly felt like an uncle affectionately gazing at his niece.

“It’s been a long time. I saw you when you were young, but I wonder if you remember.”

This line seems universal, regardless of nationality or era.

“Yes, I vaguely remember. Have you been well, uncles?”

“The world is still chaotic, so my mind and body are weary, but seeing you grow so beautifully is a comfort. Yi De praised your hair so much, but it’s a bit disappointing.”

“Big brother!”

Who else but Liu Bei could tease Zhang Fei like this? Guan Yu probably wouldn’t use such a sly and friendly tone, so it must be only Liu Bei.

Seeing Zhang Fei’s troubled expression, Liu Bei chuckled lightly and then spoke to me again.

“So, you want to join the military?”

Finally, the main topic.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Can you tell me why?”

I was about to say without hesitation that I wanted to contribute to the restoration of the Han dynasty, but I stopped abruptly.

Would they really accept me if I said that?

Honestly, I had no determination to follow Liu Bei’s cause. I liked Shu Han, and as Zhang Fei’s daughter, I naturally thought I should be active in Shu Han, but the restoration of the Han dynasty and the destruction of the traitorous Cao family didn’t resonate with me.

Would Liu Bei not know that?

With his discerning eye, said to surpass even Zhuge Liang, could I really deceive him?

I bit my lip. I needed to get a grip. What I needed to say wasn’t some grand, hollow cause. I just needed to be sincere.

Feeling the slight tear in my lip and the tangy taste of blood, I steadied my mind and slowly opened my mouth.

“Because I am the daughter of Zhang Yi De.”

“Oh?”

For a brief moment, I clearly saw Liu Bei’s eyebrow twitch. I also sensed a change in the atmosphere around me.

Just like when I first approached Zhang Fei, Guan Yu, who had been looking at me like a cute niece, now listened more seriously, and even Zhuge Liang stopped swaying his feather fan.

Now was the time for me to speak.

“My father will surely leave his name in history as a hero of his time. Not just my father. You, uncles, as my father’s brothers, will achieve even greater fame. But I am different.”

“Different?”

“Yes. I will also be recorded in history. Zhang Yi De had two daughters. The eldest daughter married Liu Bei’s son. If the Han dynasty is restored and Liu Bei ascends to a higher position, she will be called Lady Zhang. But that would be a sad thing for me and my father.”

“Why is that?”

“Originally, children are said to carry on their father’s legacy. Just as Liu Bei adopted a son before having Adou, all fathers wish to pass on their legacy to their children. My father is a general. Guo Jia, who followed Cao Cao, along with you, uncle, called my father a man of ten thousand talents, and Zhou Yu, who followed Sun Quan, admired your majestic presence. But while you, uncle, have Guan Ping to inherit your military legacy, my two brothers cannot inherit my father’s military legacy. Isn’t it a pity that the martial arts of Zhang Yi De, a man of ten thousand talents, would end with him? I wish to be remembered not as Lady Zhang, but as Chang-ran. Not as someone’s wife, but as a name worthy of being Zhang Yi De’s daughter, to make a name for myself.”

In other words, Guan Yu has Guan Ping as a successor, but Zhang Fei doesn’t, so push me forward. I also want to make a name for myself. Zhang Fei is truly a tiger-like general, and even his daughter should be recorded in history as a tiger’s daughter!

The grand cause of restoring the Han dynasty, the righteousness of ending the chaotic times—none of that. Just personal ambition and a child’s filial piety to follow their father.

But this too is a kind of righteousness.

Loyalty and filial piety. Among the two highest values of Confucianism that dominated the era, this era valued filial piety more.

Xu Shu surrendered to Wei for his mother and was not criticized, but Jiang Wei, who prioritized loyalty over filial piety, was criticized.

Therefore, my claim to take up arms and go to the battlefield as a woman to continue my father’s legacy had its own logic.

“Admirable.”

Liu Bei smiled benevolently and stroked my head. Why does everyone keep stroking my head? Is my hair really that good-looking, as Zhang Fei said?

With the relief of having said my piece and Liu Bei’s positive reaction, I relaxed, but his next words tightened the tension again.

“Your thoughts for your youngest are commendable, but the battlefield is not a place where you can achieve merit and make a name for yourself just with heart. So, I will test you. To see if you are truly fit to stand on the battlefield as a woman. If not, out of my affection for my niece, I will send you back.”

I had expected this. No matter how moving my words were, war is much heavier than that.

“I will follow.”

“Good spirit. Then, Yun Chang.”

“Yes, big brother. It’s ready.”

It was already set up. But if I hadn’t answered properly, I wouldn’t have even reached this stage and would have been sent back home immediately.

Following Guan Yu, who led the way, we came to a place where a man was waiting to test my skills. Watching the man bow to Liu Bei, I muttered softly.

“Indeed…”

A face from Chang-ran’s memories. His name was Guan Ping.