Chapter 39: Lady Zou: This humble woman is willing to serve you, young master! Someone's face is swollen!

I must say, the way Tiger-Fool’s mind works is truly peculiar, and his bloodlust is a bit too heavy—he’s ready to kill at the slightest disagreement. Even if I hadn’t taken a fancy to the girl, I could have just let her go. What kind of logic is it to simply behead her?

Before Xiao Fang could speak, the bride in the tent was already frightened out of her wits.

"Young Master, mercy!"

"This humble woman is willing to serve you. Please, show mercy and take me in..."

The beauty began to weep, her face deathly pale, and she prostrated herself at Xiao Fang’s feet, begging for her life.

"Zhongkang, look how you’ve frightened the girl. Put your sword away!" Xiao Fang said with a helpless sigh.

Xu Chu finally sheathed his blade. Xiao Fang turned and helped the woman up, comforting her in a soft voice, "Do not be afraid. He was only trying to scare you. Stand up first."

The woman stood up tremulously. Though she breathed a slight sigh of relief, she cast a furtive glance at Xu Chu, her beautiful eyes still filled with terror.

"My name is Xiao Fang, a strategist under General Liu Xuande. May I ask your name?" Xiao Fang helped her to a seat and poured a cup of tea to calm her nerves.

Upon hearing that he was Liu Xuande’s strategist, the woman’s delicate hand trembled, spilling a third of the tea from the cup. It was clear that this identity only deepened her fear.

"This humble woman is... Zhou Wan. I had no connection to the Xiliang Army. It was a subordinate of Zhang Ji who threatened and coerced my father into sending me to Wancheng to be married."

"I was forced into this situation. I beg Strategist Xiao for mercy..."

Zou Wan did not dare to reveal her true identity. As she spoke, she knelt again to plead with Xiao Fang. It was common knowledge in Wancheng that Liu Bei and Zhang Ji were locked in a war as mortal enemies. She was naturally terrified that if Xiao Fang, as Liu Bei’s strategist, learned she was headed to Wancheng to marry Zhang Ji, he would deal with her harshly.

Although she had been forced and was intercepted midway before the wedding could take place, she was, after all, a woman alone. Overwhelmed by fear and unwilling to take any risks, she chose the safest path and kept her true identity hidden.

"Zhou Wan—a fine name." Xiao Fang nodded slightly, not suspecting anything. Ever since the Xiliang Army entered Nanyang, they had been plundering and harassing the people; it was common for Xiliang officers to take a fancy to a beauty like Zhou Wan and force her into concubinage.

"What should I do with you..." Xiao Fang poured himself a cup of tea, lost in thought.

Sending her away was certainly not an option. Putting aside the fact that this was a gesture of goodwill from Wei Yan, to simply cast her aside would be to slight his intentions. Moreover, the world outside was in chaos; a beauty like this, once sent away, would likely be snatched up by someone else, and her fate would surely be even more miserable.

Furthermore, with such a beauty right before his eyes, it would be hypocritical to say that, as a young man of red-blooded vigor, he felt no stirrings at all. However, Xiao Fang’s nature was different from that of martial men like Wei Yan or Zhang Fei. While he certainly appreciated beauty, taking it by force was not his style. A twisted melon is never sweet, as they say.

Besides, he would at least need to notify Liu Bei, and he would need to discuss it with his wife, Zhuge Lan, to show her the proper respect—she was, after all, his lawful spouse.

"I have heard that Liu Xuande is a benevolent lord, and Strategist Xiao must surely be a kind and upright gentleman."

"I am truly willing to serve you, Strategist. Please, do not despise me."

"Wan’er implores you, Strategist..."

Seeing Xiao Fang’s hesitation, Zou Wan panicked and knelt again, weeping pitifully. As a young lady from a good family, she had some worldly wisdom. Staying to serve Xiao Fang might cost her the status of a high-born lady, but it would at least ensure her survival. In these chaotic times, survival was the first priority. Moreover, this young gentleman was a strategist for Liu Xuande, possessed a handsome appearance, and carried himself with refined elegance. Even if she had to become a concubine, it was far better than being the wife of that over-forty Xiliang brute, Zhang Ji.

Zou Wan weighed the pros and cons clearly. Xiao Fang could see what she was thinking, but since she had pleaded so earnestly, to remain overly cautious would seem ungenerous.

"Very well, very well. Stop crying. I promise you; you may stay." Xiao Fang finally nodded and helped her up.

A great weight lifted from Zou Wan’s heart, and she burst into a relieved smile. Her panicked emotions began to settle. It was then that she noticed Xiao Fang’s steady hands were still supporting her arms. Her face flushed with color, and the fear in her eyes softened into a hint of shyness.

"Young Master, the tea has gone cold. Let me get you a fresh cup."

"Are you hungry, Young Master? I shall go and prepare some food."

"It is cold outside; let me drape this fox-fur cloak over you..."

Grateful for his protection and eager to show her worth to win his favor, Zou Wan quickly stepped into her role. Xiao Fang felt slightly unaccustomed to such sudden, intimate care from a woman he had just met, yet he gradually found that the feeling was not entirely unpleasant.

"Oh well," he thought, "I might as well accept it with grace..."

***

In the prefectural office at Xinye, Liu Biao and Kuai Yue were playing a game of Go, while Cai Mao watched from the side.

"Yidu, I hear Zhang Ji has sent his nephew, Zhang Xiu, with eight thousand elite troops toward Biyang."

"In this battle, who do you think will prevail?" Liu Biao’s gaze was on the board, but his mind was on Biyang, hundreds of miles away.

"Though Zhang Ji is the commander of the Zhang family army, Zhang Xiu is their finest warrior. If Liu Bei is wise, he will choose to hold Biyang and avoid a direct engagement, using delaying tactics to exhaust Zhang Xiu’s supplies."

"With limited provisions, Zhang Xiu will be desperate for a quick victory and will throw everything he has into an all-out assault on Biyang."

"I predict they will fight a fierce and bloody battle at Biyang, with neither side able to gain the upper hand for some time," Kuai Yue said, holding a black stone as he analyzed the situation with the calm confidence of a master strategist.

"Yidu speaks the truth. Liu Bei would never dare to clash head-on with Zhang Xiu."

"When they are locked in a stalemate, my lord can launch a northern expedition. With Wancheng left unguarded, you can capture it in one stroke."

"Then, you can sweep eastward. With Zhang Xiu and Liu Bei both battered and exhausted, they will be easily defeated!" Cai Mao, not wanting to be left out, chimed in to paint a picture of victory for Liu Biao.

Hearing the analysis of his two right-hand men, Liu Biao smiled, his lips curling upward as he placed a white stone.

Kuai Yue’s eyes widened. After a long, careful look at the board, a bitter smile appeared on his face, and he tossed his stone down in surrender.

"My lord’s skill has reached the level of a national master. You have quietly trapped my main formation. Such foresight—calculating ten moves ahead—is something I cannot hope to match."

Liu Biao laughed heartily. Full of spirit, he began to clear the board for another game.

"Since you have such high spirits, my lord, then I shall not be overconfident and will play until the end!" Kuai Yue steeled himself and began clearing the board.

The board was empty. Just as Liu Biao picked up a stone, hesitated for a moment, and prepared to play, footsteps echoed. Cai Zhong entered the hall in a rush and knelt.

"Reporting to my lord, urgent news from Biyang!"

"Liu Bei has crushed the Xiliang army at Biyang. Zhang Xiu’s forces were almost entirely wiped out, and he has fled back to Wancheng."

"Liu Bei is pursuing the victory, and his vanguard is already pressing upon Wancheng!"

*Clatter.*

The stone in Liu Biao’s hand fell onto the board.