Commotion

While schemes and suspicions about the Northern Expedition were sprouting in Wu, Han was not entirely peaceful either.

If anything, it was even worse.

Though it might sound like an exaggeration of self-importance, perhaps because I was involved, this marriage proposal snowballed and grew to an uncontrollable, enormous scale.

Nevertheless, in Wu, the main focus was not me but Lu Xun. While my marriage was part of it, the focus was on verifying the accusations of Lu Xun’s defection.

But Han was the opposite.

Whether Lu Xun would become independent or surrender due to this marriage was merely secondary to most people.

Not just ordinary people, but even those in official positions were purely focused on my marriage proposal itself.

It was a daily occurrence for everyone who saw me to ask if I was really getting married, and many even came looking for me with no other business just to ask about it.

‘But isn’t it too much to come all the way to Chengdu just to ask about that?’

It’s not like they’re scholars coming to the capital for the imperial examinations. If I had really done something wrong and they were coming to submit a memorial of impeachment, I could understand, but for mere marriage talks…

‘Honestly, that’s a bit much.’

Given the things I’ve said before. It’s all karma, just karma.

Having refused even Liu Bei’s offer to become the crown princess, now that rumors were circulating about me marrying Lu Xun’s son, it was enough to bring out overzealous loyalists who might accuse me of treason.

Still, perhaps because of the merits and reputation I had built up so far, no one like that appeared. I should be grateful that they stopped at just verbally asking questions and following my movements.

But because of that, not just the General of the Guards’ Office but even the front of the Zhang family estate was so crowded with people that it was impossible to come and go.

It was on a different level from when I used to give character assessments. And back then, it was possible to seek help from lieutenants like Jiang Wei and Bu Zhan and the soldiers, but now it’s just changing from third parties to my subordinates.

“So you came here?”

It was a question that felt like déjà vu. Zhuge Liang asking incredulously to me who had come to take refuge in the Chancellor’s Office.

Having come this far, there was nothing more to hide. I had already shown quite an unsightly appearance in front of Zhuge Liang to act like a perfect superhuman.

“Since it was your strategy, Chancellor, you should take responsibility for the aftermath.”

In other words, I’m asking for after-care.

Currently, in my opinion, there were only two safe havens in Chengdu.

The imperial palace where Liu Bei is, and the Chancellor’s Office where Zhuge Liang is.

Even if I went to the imperial palace, Liu Bei probably wouldn’t scold me much and would accept me. He also knows the inside story of this commotion. But I felt somewhat guilty and wanted to avoid it if possible.

Excluding the imperial palace, only the Chancellor’s Office remained. Normally, it would be hard to imagine visiting Zhuge Liang so abruptly like this.

But isn’t Zhuge Liang the true starting point of this incident!

‘I have nothing to be ashamed of. Yep. Nothing to be hesitant about.’

I held my head high with an air of having nothing to be embarrassed about, asserting my justification.

“Mingjing, what about your mother?”

“If you mean my mother, I escorted her to the Crown Princess.”

“Do your adjutants know you came here?”

“If they did, would there be any reason for me to come seek refuge, I mean, visit you, Chancellor?”

At my words, I saw Zhuge Liang let out a small sigh. Worried that he might issue an order to drive me out, I slightly lowered my voice and said:

“They probably won’t stay all day, so I’ll just stay for a moment and leave.”

“…Huu, alright. I do bear some responsibility for this incident, so leave with me when I finish work.”

Though I received Zhuge Liang’s permission, there was still an uneasy feeling. Just before he said those words, I heard a slightly different sound.

‘It sounded like he clicked his tongue.’

It was a very small, unconscious sound, but my sharp senses, honed to the extreme, had reached a level where they didn’t miss even such small noises.

In any case, having received permission, I planted my bottom in a corner of Zhuge Liang’s office.

It’s strange about this era, they use beds but their lifestyle is still floor-sitting. Chairs were only things like thrones for emperors or kings to sit on.

It wasn’t my first time in Zhuge Liang’s office, but it was the first time I was just watching from the side while Zhuge Liang worked.

Not having a conversation or meeting, but just sitting quietly and looking around the Chancellor’s office, I felt like I should do something.

Even without that, there were various types of documents piled up around – bamboo slips, silk, paper, and so on. I could see them just by turning my head slightly, without even needing to ask Zhuge Liang.

In the office filled with the strong scent of ink, only the soft sound of Zhuge Liang’s brush moving resonated faintly. It was the kind of sound that induces studying or work, like what people in modern times seek out as white noise or ASMR.

Unable to bear the atmosphere, I rolled my eyes to the side. I glanced at Zhuge Liang, then tried to peek at the contents of the documents placed beside him.

“Curious?”

“Pardon?”

“You look bored too. Since it’s come to this, why don’t you work with me, Mingjing?”

Saying this, Zhuge Liang placed a bundle of documents on the table in front of me along with spare writing tools. He even stood up to do it himself.

It was work pressure that made it impossible to refuse.

‘Uh… I hope I haven’t entered a tiger’s den while trying to avoid a wolf?’

Come to think of it, when was Zhuge Liang’s quitting time again…

“I noticed last time that you’re quick with calculations. It’s work related to military supplies, so it shouldn’t be a big problem to entrust it to you. Wasn’t the position of General of the Guards originally meant to assist the imperial palace and the emperor? If it weren’t for these chaotic times, this would have been your job originally.”

Perhaps to prevent me from refusing, considering my usual attitude of not wanting to get involved in civil official work, Zhuge Liang explained the justification for entrusting this work to me.

‘You don’t need to explain the reason so thoroughly, I would do it anyway. Math calculations aren’t difficult.’

If it had been work related to systems or personnel, I would have waved it off even if Zhuge Liang handed it to me directly.

It’s not an exaggeration, I really don’t know much about it. I’ve acquired the common knowledge of this era fairly well, but my knowledge of the classics is woefully inadequate compared to civil officials.

Even if it’s a good system in later eras, it might be taboo or difficult to apply in the current era. And in the case of personnel, while I can know their talents from the evaluations recorded in the original history, I don’t know whether that talent has blossomed now, or if there are any other problems around them.

Of course, Zhuge Liang must have entrusted me with this calculation-related work considering all of that.

“Ah, Chancellor. By the way, I thought of a tool to make calculations easier.”

“A tool to make calculations easier? Don’t we already have counting rods?”

Counting rods, also called sanchi, were tools used for calculations like an abacus. You might be more familiar with santong even if counting rods sound unfamiliar. Santong was the container for storing these counting rods.

Before the appearance of the abacus, calculations were mostly done using these counting rods. Later, as the abacus came into use, they gradually disappeared and were only used in Korea.

“You were knowledgeable enough about numbers to perform complex calculations without using counting rods. I’m looking forward to it. Have you already made it?”

“Not yet… but since I thought of it, I’ll make it now and bring it.”

“No need. Didn’t you come here because it’s noisy outside? Make that later and focus on the present for now.”

He’s leaving me speechless.

I had no choice but to act as Zhuge Liang’s calculator.

It wasn’t particularly difficult. Basic arithmetic isn’t that hard. And despite appearances, I’ve been formally in military service for almost 10 years now. When it comes to military affairs, I can hold my own anywhere now.

The work Zhuge Liang gave me was about the central army of the newly reorganized military, especially the central army directly under the emperor.

This is the kind of thing that would normally be entrusted to those managing the central army, like the Zhongduhu, Yulinguan, Huboguang, and so on. Because supply and salary issues are also internal affairs.

Moreover, Zhuge Liang is a perfectionist who doesn’t feel at ease unless he handles everything himself, so I should just accept it.

‘It’s verification rather than planning anyway’

In any case, while I was in the middle of working with Zhuge Liang, voices were heard from outside.

“Chancellor, someone from the General of the Guards’ Office has come.”

Ugh. They came quickly.

Zhuge Liang continued moving his brush as he spoke.

“Who did they say it was?”

“They said it was Jiang Wei, the Vice General of the Guards.”

“Boyue!”

“That’s right. Tell him to come in.”

Only when he heard the name of the person who came looking for me did Zhuge Liang put down his brush.

After entering, Jiang Wei first paid his respects to Zhuge Liang in the seat of honor before turning his gaze to me.

“I’ve come to escort you.”

“Has the situation outside calmed down a bit?”

“Yes. It’s also getting towards evening, and the other staff of the General of the Guards’ Office besides me came out to disperse the crowd.”

It was good that the situation was resolved, but I couldn’t just leave like this. When I looked at Zhuge Liang, he nodded and said:

“You may go. And when you come next time, bring that tool you mentioned.”

“I will do so.”

Having received Zhuge Liang’s permission to leave, I left the Chancellor’s Office with Jiang Wei. Still, just in case, I maintained the same disguised appearance as when I came to the Chancellor’s Office.

But it was unnecessary. Such is the power of properly exercised public authority. Even when passing by the General of the Guards’ Office which had been full of people, crowds no longer gathered.

On the way to the Zhang family estate after passing the General of the Guards’ Office, I asked Jiang Wei:

“How did you know? I came out in disguise so no one would know. Did you happen to see me leaving?”

“Was that so? I didn’t see you separately. But I thought you’d want to avoid the commotion, so only two or three places came to mind where you might go.”

Well, that’s understandable.

No matter how different people’s range of thoughts might be, people’s thoughts are often similar. Moreover, if given conditions where one can use rational methods like process of elimination, most answers will come out similarly.

But even so, there should have been more options like the imperial palace, the Chancellor’s Office, outside Chengdu, or even ignoring it inside the Zhang family estate.

To my doubt, Jiang Wei answered with a faint smile:

“I just felt you would be here.”