VOLUME 4 EXTRA STORY PART 4: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE EXTRA STORY OF VOLUME 4“Well then miss, what sort of clothing would you like?” The shopkeeper asked as we entered and began to pick out some rolls of fabric to show us.
“Ah… I don’t really know…” Feng Xian frowned and began to feel the rolls of fabric on the table, “But I could like some clothing that would be easy to move about in.”
“Eh?” The shopkeeper thought for a bit after he heard what Feng Xian said and had a difficult expression as he replied, “Nice clothes tend to be more fitting so big movements will be a little…”
This Feng Xian… She is definitely thinking about clothes from the perspective of a warrior again.
“Feng Xian, don’t think about such things,” I shook my head as I turned to the shopkeeper, “Don’t worry about that and pick something that would look good on her please.”
“Alright, well please wait here for a bit then, Lord Liu Bei.” The shopkeeper nodded and brought Feng Xian to the back.
“But… Un…” Feng Xian seemed a little hesitant and looked at me for a while before heading to the back.
It’s a little weird to say this now, but it feels like Feng Xian was brought up as a boy as she seems to be much less delicate and sensitive than other girls.
I don’t know if this is good or bad, but it is a little sad for her. Even though she does have a prodigious proficiency in martial arts.
But leaving that aside, I finally have a good look at how textile shops look like in the Eastern Han era. Though it looks a little simple, it does seem to have a complete selection of fabrics. From coa.r.s.e cloth to fine silk, every imaginable fabric seems to be available.
“Un…” I felt a roll of cloth as I thought so. It was very smooth and felt like my hands would slip off if I just lay them on top of the cloth. Naturally, there were no cloths made of mixed fibres in this era.
“That’s silk made in our area, the quality is pretty good.”
“Ah, no. I was just taking a look…” I hurriedly withdrew my hand when I heard someone speak, afraid that I would be scolded. I put on a smile as I looked toward the person and got a shock when I saw her.
She had short, slightly yellow hair that was messy and covered her eyes. When one looks more closely, the eyes behind her hair gleamed like those of a hungry wolf.
“Sun Ce?!” I exclaimed out loud, “Why are you here?”
“Shh!” She hurriedly covered my mouth when she heard me exclaim her name out.
“Don’t yell, I snuck out.”
Eh? Snuck out?
“Un, I should be in Jianye rushing through 2 days and 2 nights’ worth of doc.u.ments at this time.” She seemed to have seen my questioning look and answered.
“I was able to unify Jiangdong but the amount of work is so much I want to puke just thinking about it.” She slowly said as she released the hand on my mouth.
I feel a sense of camaraderie with Sun Ce on this point. Except that her territories are much more expansive than mine.
“*Ke* *Ke*, so that’s it,” I coughed as I smiled helplessly as Sun Ce’s strength was a little too much, “Then is there no one in charge now on your side?”
“Don’t worry~” Sun Ce said with a relaxed expression, “My little sister is very useful at times like these. I’m afraid Gong Jin and Zi Jing are making life difficult for her now~~~ Hahaha~”
This person… Really isn’t the deskbound type huh.
But was the little sister she mentioned before Sun Quan? So Sun Quan is also a girl here huh…
“But isn’t here a little too far for a getaway?”
Sun Ce smiled and pointed south, “Not really. It’s only half a day’s journey from Jianye by boat. I also came here to see old man Tao.”
“Eh? Does Sun Ce know Lord Tao Qian?”
“Un, my father was an old friend of his, and I often came along with my father when he came to visit.”
Eh~~ I never knew. So Sun Jian and Tao Qian were close friends huh. By the way, Tao Qian’s grave in the southern part of Xu state city.
I looked at Sun Ce, and it felt like she seemed exhausted after the month or so since we last met. “Sun Ce, have you been fatigued lately?”
“Un? You can tell?” She said as she rubbed her eyes, “It’s been a little messy at Jiangdong lately and it’s getting difficult to figure out who is loyal and who is treacherous.”
Sun Ce smiled bitterly as she said so and sized me up as she placed her hands on her hips, “Xuan De, on the other hand, seems to be the same as before.”
“What kind of change could happen to me…” I looked about as I said so, “Eh? Then why have you come here?”
Sun Ce scratched her head as she smiled, “There are some tailors from Jiangdong here, and I’ve always gotten them to make my clothes.”
“Hou~~~”
“What? Can’t I wear nice clothes like other girls?” She shot a sharp glance at me to which I hurriedly shook my head.
What she said was on mark though.
Eh? Now that I think about it, the feel I get from Sun Ce and Feng Xian is about the same. Even though they are both warriors through and through, Sun Ce seems a lot more flexible.
“Speaking of which, you don’t have a very wide social circle right, Sun Ce?”
“Eh?” Sun Ce was speaking with a tailor and sank into thought at my question, “That is correct now that you mention it. Apart from a few people close to me, most don’t even dare to look at me.”
The way Sun Ce said it was if it wasn’t about herself.
“…”
“Don’t be silent and make it like it’s so serious. Even I feel awkward now.” Sun Ce said and parted her fringe to reveal her eyes, “I know what you mean but I can’t do anything about my eyes.”
Indeed, those eyes made it difficult for people to approach her. Even someone like me who knows Sun Ce will still involuntarily tremble at the sight of these eyes.
“But I’ve gotten past all of that,” Sun Ce smiled, her cheeks slightly reddened for some reason, “You did say my eyes were beautiful before, no?”
Wu… Sun Ce had a very cute smile on as she held back her fringe. And this smile made me feel a little shy. I have always felt that even hardened warriors like her are just ordinary people inside.
“Xuan De…”
Un?
I turned back, and saw Feng Xian in a beautiful red, silk dress with an accessory on her head. Feng Xian was beautiful to begin with, but seeing her in such clothing was inexplicably refreshing.
If her expression would soften, Feng Xian would probably look every inch an elegant beautiful lady.
Come to think of it, Feng Xian should have met Sun Ce before right. “Umm, Feng Xian, this person is…”
“Ha!” Just as I was about to introduce her, Feng Xian suddenly lunged at Sun Ce and tried to land a punch on her!
Sun Ce was shocked but she still dodged it instinctively by stepping back and hurriedly exited the shop.
“Feng Xian, what are you doing!”
“Don’t be afraid, Xuan De. I will protect you even if I’m unarmed.” Feng Xian said as she stood in front of me and pointed at Sun Ce, “Look at that person’s eyes, Xuan De. Thos are the same bloodthirsty eyes of a warrior like mine. She’s definitely an enemy!”
Eh? Didn’t Feng Xian see Sun Ce before? Why…
I looked at Sun Ce and found my answer. Sun Ce currently had her fringe up and with her eyes in full view, seemed like a completely different person.
“Feng Xian, it’s a misunderstanding! That person is…”
“Xuan De!” Just as I was about to explain, Sun Ce stopped me and shook her head with a smile.
Eh? What does that mean?!