Rebirth of the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao doesn't want to be a widow anymore

Chapter 349 Is Zhou Yu ill?

Sun Quan pulled the person into his arms, embracing them tighter and tighter, as if trying to meld them into his very bones. "I'm sorry."

She was once left alone in Wu County, facing pressure from Wu's mother and Qiao's mother. In her weakest moment, she also had to endure the murderous intent and sharp swords from her own family.

They left her alone in Xinye, making her think she had been abandoned and that she would have to rely on herself to survive in the enemy camp.

Finally, Qiao Wei buried her head in his chest, not wanting him to see her in such a disheveled state, but the tears she couldn't stop still soaked his clothes.

A myriad of emotions gallop like wild horses across the desert, raising clouds of sand.

Those warm tears seemed to carry a burning power, scalding his heart with pain.

He gently patted her back, listening to her sobs, which she tried to suppress, and watching as her bravado crumbled.

Until she was willing to reach out and hug him back.
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Sun Quan thought Qiao Wei was exhausted from crying, and the hand holding him remained motionless.

He gently covered her shoulders with the blankets, only then hearing her muffled voice beside him, "But I couldn't win over Mr. Zhuge."

This trip to Deng County had only one purpose, but in the end, it failed to accomplish anything and even landed him in the enemy camp. Now, Jiangdong has gone to great lengths to rescue him.

She felt like she had caused someone a huge problem.

The mix of shame and indignation with self-reproach left her with a profound sense of powerlessness.

Sun Quan was surprised that even though she was so sleepy she could barely keep her eyes open, she still remembered to care about such a small matter.

"The reason why Mr. Zhuge did not want to choose Jiangdong is simply because Jiangdong offered too few bargaining chips. This is not your fault; the only one to blame is that the power of Jiangdong is not strong enough."

In chaotic times, whoever is powerful enough will attract more wise men to join them.

Sun Quan chuckled and ruffled her hair. "Besides, who can say for sure that you didn't manage to recruit Mr. Zhuge?"

Qiao Wei looked up, her face still streaked with tears, her half-open eyes filled with confusion.

Sun Quan did not answer, but gently patted her back to help her fall asleep peacefully.

All of her news in the military camp was relayed to Youxuan by Zhuge Liang through the pharmacy where Huang Yueying got her medicine. Even the news that Cai Mao sent someone to hand over Qiao Wei to Xinye was provided by Zhuge Liang.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have thought of a plan to ambush and kill Cai Mao's troops who were heading to Xinye, and then have the Jiangdong army disguise themselves as Cai Mao's troops to openly and safely snatch Qiao Wei out of Xinye.

When Qiao Wei woke up the next day, she pondered Sun Quan's words carefully and finally understood what he meant when Zhuge Liang told her that he thought Sun Quan would definitely come.

Because Sun Quan really came, and Zhuge Liang had already met with him.

Does this mean that, in the choice between Liu Bei and Jiangdong, Zhuge Liang's heart had already tipped towards Jiangdong?

“It’s not that I’m biased towards Jiangdong, it’s that I’m biased towards you.” Sun Quan gave her a piece of cake and corrected her statement.

Does that mean she successfully turned Zhuge Liang against her?
"Yes, there's a good chance." Sun Quan kissed her hair, giving her his affirmation.

Qiao Wei was actually a little incredulous, "Am I really that good?"

That was the first prime minister of the Three Kingdoms period in history.

“Yes, my wife is that capable.” Sun Quan smiled faintly.

A military report arrived from Changsha, indicating that Sun Quan wanted to hold a meeting in his tent. Yourou's tone did not sound so relaxed.

Qiao Wei's heart clenched. "Is it... not good?" "What could be not good? General Huang is personally overseeing the operation, with Pang Shiyuan and Lu Boyan advising. If they still can't hold the line, they'll have no choice but to offer their heads."

Of course, the best outcome would be to obtain Cai Mao's head.

Sun Quan said in a relaxed tone, "Pang Shiyuan is known as the Phoenix Chick, and Lu Boyan has the Lu family eyeing him covetously behind him."

Therefore, for them, this battle can only be won, not lost.

After Sun Quan left, he recalled Youxuan and Youkui to protect Qiao Wei.

Youxuan knelt before Qiao Wei, and seeing the wounds on Qiao Wei's hands and neck, he lowered his head with shame in his eyes. "I failed to protect you well, Madam, and caused you to be trapped in the enemy camp. Please punish me, Madam."

"What crime are you punishing me for! Get up!"

Qiao Wei helped the man up from the ground. The man had a terrible scar on his face, which ran from his lower left cheek to his forehead, and the new flesh had not yet fully healed.

After Youxuan was sent out of the Xinye military camp, he stayed in the camp until Qiao Wei escorted him out.

He was filled with remorse, and in order to find out about Qiao Wei, he sneaked back into Xinye City. Fearing that he would be recognized, he decided to disfigure his face.

"Your face used to be quite handsome, but now it's a pity. I wonder if your wife will feel sorry for you when you go back home."

Qiao Wei comforted him, "If you hadn't sent the message to Lord Junhou, I'm afraid I would already be dead. In a way, I should thank you!"

Youxuan knelt down again with a thud. "Madam, you are too kind to say that. If you ever have to risk your life again, please allow me to protect you. Even if I die, I will die before you. I have no reason to live on."

The lady sent him out, but he refused to live on and failed to protect her safety, which was his dereliction of duty.

He had considered it all. If he couldn't rescue his wife, the ruler would be worried and the minister would be exhausted; the ruler would be disgraced and the minister would die.

Qiao Wei helped him up again. "Fortunately, you weren't in the Xinye military camp, so I had nothing to worry about, and Liu Bei naturally couldn't control me. But I don't want this to happen again."

Even though Youxuan has made some mistakes, the battlefield is inherently dangerous, and no one can guarantee 100% safety.

He originally held the military rank of a general with a miscellaneous title, but now he has been demoted to centurion.

Sun Quan has already demoted him; if one person plays the good cop, someone else has to play the bad cop.

Youxuan spoke urgently, "Don't worry, Madam, it will never happen again."

Qiao Wei believed in his ability and loyalty. "I happen to have something I wanted to ask you. I heard that the Commander of the Central Guard was ill and Doctor Hua was invited to treat him. Is he feeling better now?"

Youxuan shook his head. "The Central Protector General is seriously ill this time. I am not entirely clear about the specifics. If you would like to know, Madam, I will go and inquire immediately."

Zhou Yu was stationed in Wancheng, and was considered a key figure in the army. Naturally, he kept his illness a closely guarded secret, and outsiders were not allowed to easily inquire or speculate about it.

But the fact that Liu Bei was able to obtain such confidential information suggests either that there was a spy in the army who was close to Zhou Yu's servants, or that the information was deliberately leaked by the army.

Qiao Wei didn't believe it at first, but You Xuan also said that Zhou Yu was sick, which shows that the matter was no longer a secret in the army.

"I want to visit him in person, will you come with me?"

Youxuan asked in a low voice, "Madam, should we write a letter to Youhui about this?"

The implication was whether or not to inform Qiao Rong.