"I...I'm pregnant." I picked up my bowl to show him. With this bizarre line, the blanket slipped to the floor again...
Xiang Yu looked at me and laughed a few times, saying, "You've suffered, Duke of Pei." He then took the gold-threaded bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
I collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted. Xiang Yu asked in surprise, "Lord Pei, what's wrong? Huh, your face..." He paused, as if he'd been hit on the head with a small hammer. The next second, staring at my face, he involuntarily said, "Xiao Qiang?"
I laughed weakly and cursed, "Damn, I didn't expect it to be this easy."
Xiang Yu stared at me blankly, seemingly unaware of where he was. I saw a change in his eyes; they became calm, mature, and—melancholy.
After a long while, Xiang Yu looked around the tent and asked me, "Where are we?"
That one word, "we," warmed my heart for a long time. I smiled and said, "We've been apart for a long time. The question now is, where are you?"
Xiang Yu stared blankly at the surrounding furnishings and said, "I... I think I was just giving them a strategic plan, could it be that I..."
I said, "Yes, you've returned to where you were before. This is your central command tent."
Xiang Yu stared at me, then suddenly turned his face outward and shouted sharply, "Black Tiger!"
A fierce general in black armor rushed in from outside the tent with a whoosh, knelt on one knee, and clasped his hands in greeting: "Your subordinate is here!"
I was startled: What are they trying to do?
Xiang Yu glanced at him, patted him on the shoulder and said, "Go, tell those men who were with Liu Bang earlier not to talk nonsense."
Black Tiger gave a meticulous reply, then got up and left, not even letting him glance at me after I had returned to my original form. This is definitely a die-hard loyalist to Xiang Yu.
After seeing Black Tiger, Xiang Yu no longer had any doubts. He grabbed my shoulder and pulled me closer, saying, "Xiao Qiang, my brother, you're back."
I bounced back a few times—his armor was pressing against my most sensitive spot. I chuckled, "No, it's not me, it's you who's back... Um, if you don't mind, Brother Yu, could you find me some clothes?"
Xiang Yu burst into laughter and said loudly, "Men, bring me the best set of armor immediately!"
Before long, I was dressed in my underwear, outer garments, and armor. Of course, I learned the correct way to wear some of the clothes under Xiang Yu's personal guidance, and I humbly asked him for advice. I couldn't afford to embarrass myself again.
This armor suggests a high status. It's not something you can just wear randomly. The two ferocious tiger heads on the shoulder armor are exceptionally cool. I stood in front of a yellowish thing wearing it for ages, and every step I took made a whooshing sound. Even our little Qiang looks a bit tough in this, huh?
Xiang Yu smiled at me and said, "This is Xiang Zhuang's armor; it fits you perfectly."
I put my hands behind my back and nodded to him formally.
Xiang Yu couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Damn it, they're really putting up a good fight."
I lay down on the ground, resting my head on my arm, and said, "Brother Yu, why don't you ask me anything?"
Xiang Yu asked in surprise, "By the way, how did I get back?"
...I briefly explained to him the Human Realm Axis and how I got lost on my way to the Qin Dynasty to rescue the fat man. Xiang Yu frowned and kept saying, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is. I've already died twice... So how can I help you?"
“There’s nothing you can do to help right now. Ying Ge and Ke Zi have been dead for years, haven’t they? I’ll stay here for three days, then go back to get my medicine and go find them. Hopefully, there’ll be enough time.”
Xiang Yu asked helplessly, "Then what should I do?"
I scratched my head, looking troubled, and said, "Just do what you did before."
Xiang Yu grumbled along with me for a while, then suddenly said, "Hehe, actually I have no choice but to do it. Next, we need to fight Zhang Han. If we don't subdue him, we won't be able to do anything else. Then, haha, then we'll have to settle things with Liu Bang. This kid probably doesn't even know us yet, right? This time, I won't let him off easily."
My mind was a complete mess. I only told him that I was going to save Fatty and Ersha from killing each other, but I didn't tell him why I was doing it. If things continued like this, even if Xiang Yu still didn't kill Liu Bang at the Feast at Hongmen, would things continue as they were before? I don't believe that Xiang Yu would sit idly by and wait for death knowing he would be defeated at Gaixia, especially since he also lost Yu Ji.
Thinking of Yu Ji, a sudden thought struck me: She should still be alive, right? Judging by the furnishings, this tent is probably her and Xiang Yu's bedroom—
I cautiously asked, "Brother Yu, let's talk about these things later. Now, can I meet Sister-in-law Yu Ji?"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Yu was first taken aback, then his expression changed drastically, and his body began to tremble violently as if he were having a seizure. He stared blankly at the ground and stammered, "How could I not have thought of that? I... I've gotten used to life without A Yu, and I've almost forgotten that she... is still alive."
I was terrified by his tone and eyes, goosebumps suddenly rising on my skin. I whispered, "Yes, my sister-in-law is still alive."
Suddenly, Xiang Yu roared, "Xiao Huan!"
Having witnessed my erotic scenes, the little maid hurriedly ran in, bowing her head and saying, "General."
Xiang Yu stammered, as if all his strength had left him, "A-Yu...where...is she?" I knew he had lost not strength, but courage. Just like when he first had to go on a date with Zhang Bing, he didn't know how to face Yu Ji anymore.
Xiao Huan glanced at the absent-minded Xiang Yu, tugged at her sleeve, and whispered, "Doesn't Sister Yu go out for a horse ride around this time every day?"
I pretended to be a kind, strange uncle and said to Xiao Huan, "Little sister, would you like to go and ask your sister Yu to come back?" Xiao Huan looked at Xiang Yu without saying a word, then turned around and ran away.
After Xiao Huan ran out, I jokingly said to Xiang Yu, "Xiao Huan—it's Zhang Bing! Brother Yu, you haven't forgotten your promise to her, have you? You told her you'd repay the favor in the next life."
Let me compose a poem to summarize the relationship between Xiao Huan and Zhang Bing: Xiao Huan came from the south, carrying a five-pound trumpet; Zhang Bing came from the north, carrying two pounds of flounder. Xiao Huan wanted to exchange her trumpet for the flounder in Zhang Bing's hands... Sigh, it's too messy.
Xiang Yu only managed a forced smile at my joke, clearly indicating that Xiao Huan's issue was not currently on his mind. To describe his current state as "utterly confused" would be a blatant attempt to evade the real issue and spout nonsense!
I glanced outside casually and saw Xiao Huan toss aside her small broom, leap onto a tall horse, and gallop off to find Yu Ji. That's incredible! What kind of people does Xiang Yu have under his command?
After a short while, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly rang out. Before the hooves had even stopped, the rider had leaped down, followed by a melodious, bell-like voice that chuckled, "Heh heh, who's so bold as to call me back at this hour?!"
Chapter 83 Follow me, and you'll get to eat meat
As the voice spoke, a young girl entered the tent with her head bowed. She was dressed in a plain red coarse cloth dress, and her smile had not yet faded. She first looked up at me before standing next to Xiang Yu and said, "Your Majesty, who is this?" Judging from her appearance alone, she was Zhang Bing—the reincarnation of Xiao Huan, who was beside her.
I was puzzled. Since Xiang Yu had not yet become the Hegemon-King of Western Chu, why did Yu Ji call him "King"?
Ever since Yu Ji entered, Xiang Yu had been staring at her blankly. Yu Ji, preoccupied with observing him, was completely unaware. Suddenly, Xiang Yu pulled her into his arms, and Yu Ji let out a soft "Ah!" followed by a giggle.
Xiang Yu closed his eyes, as if fully absorbing everything about Yu Ji, and after a long while murmured, "A Yu, it's so good to see you..."
Yu Ji asked curiously, "Your Majesty, didn't we just separate?" She struggled slightly, but seeing Xiang Yu's resolute will, she simply nestled her head on his shoulder. At the same time, her big eyes stared at me, as if she had noticed that Xiang Yu's change was due to my arrival. Her eyes held a playful and curious look, like a kitten seeing a rolling ball of yarn.