Three Kingdoms: Ten Times Speed, Diao Chan Says I'm Too Fast

"what's your name?"

Duan Yu turned his gaze away from the clamor outside the window and onto Gan Mei, who stood to the side with her head bowed. His tone was calm, as if the bustling voices and hurried footsteps outside were separated from him by an invisible barrier, unable to stir up the slightest ripple.

He leaned against a table by the window on the second floor of the restaurant, dressed in a black brocade robe with dark gold cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, and a jade belt around his waist, which accentuated his tall and straight figure. The sunlight from outside filtered through the carved wooden window lattice, casting soft shadows on his angular profile, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient well, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

When Gan Mei was swept by that gaze, her body trembled almost imperceptibly. Her hands, which were already tightly clasped together, clenched even tighter, her knuckles turning white, and her shoulders even shrugged slightly.

She wore a faded coarse cloth dress with two patches on the hem. Her hair was tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair hung down at her temples, making her small face look even paler.

“I am Gan, a woman from the common people…”

Her voice was barely audible, tinged with timidity. Her head was lowered even further, almost buried in her collar, as if afraid that her gaze would collide with the distinguished gentleman before her.

Gan's?

Upon hearing this, Duan Yu's fingers holding the teacup paused slightly, his eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Pei County, Gan family.

This woman...

Could this woman be the concubine of Liu Bei, known as "Jade Beauty" in historical records?

She was the birth mother of Liu Shan, the famous last emperor of Shu Han.

A series of long-forgotten historical facts surged in my mind—historical records state that when Liu Bei was the governor of Yu Province and stationed at Xiaopei, he took Lady Gan as a concubine.

The Book of Lost Tales vividly describes how Lady Gan came from a humble background. When she was young, a fortune teller passed by in the village and, upon seeing her face, exclaimed, "This girl will surely become very noble in the future, and may even be able to live in the palace!"

As Madam Gan grew older, her appearance and figure became even more extraordinary.

At eighteen, her skin was as white as jade, her figure was slender, and her eyes and brows exuded a natural charm. Her beauty was so striking that it made people forget the mundane world.

Even more remarkably, Liu Bei once summoned her into the inner chamber of a gauze curtain. Looking out the window, the woman in plain clothes resembled frost and snow under the bright moonlight, clear and translucent, making it impossible to tell whether it was her snow-white skin or the shimmering moonlight.

Duan Yu pondered to himself that in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, it was common for women to get married at the age of thirteen or fourteen. Women like Lady Gan, who were still unmarried at the age of eighteen, were extremely rare.

He vaguely remembered that, according to historical records, there were only two women of this special character at the end of the Han Dynasty – one was the Lady Gan who was now in front of him, and the other was the later Empress Guo of Cao Wei.

To confirm his suspicions, Duan Yu put down his teacup, raised his chin, and beckoned to Gan Mei, his tone still calm: "Come closer."

Upon hearing this, Gan Mei dared not refuse in the slightest. She took a deep breath, her fingertips trembling slightly, and with her head down, she moved step by step, her skirt brushing against the ground, making a soft rustling sound.

Seeing this, Duan Liuqing couldn't help but chuckle. Dressed in a close-fitting outfit with a curved sword at her waist, she had lively eyes and a mischievous smile on her lips: "You said they came to cause trouble, but Your Majesty's appearance clearly shows that you are not being honest."

Her voice was clear and bright, with a touch of coquettishness, making her stand out in the somewhat dull second floor.

In this day and age, there are very few people in the world who dare to speak to Duan Yu like this.

Duan Yu, however, did not care at all. Hearing this, he simply smiled faintly, a hint of amusement that others could not understand flashing in his eyes.

How could Duan Liuqing possibly understand the joy in his heart?

Transmigrating to another world, to the chaotic era of the late Eastern Han Dynasty, to vie for supremacy, to dominate the world, and to wield supreme power—this is the dream buried deep in the hearts of every transmigrator.

In the midst of this turbulent torrent of heroes and war, besides having to contend with contemporary heroes like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan, what man wouldn't want to meet the peerless beauties who have left their mark on history?

Diao Chan's unparalleled beauty, Cai Wenji's exceptional talent, Zhen Mi's goddess-like grace, and the gentle elegance of Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao...

The heroes of this era are as numerous as the stars, and the beauties of this era are also rare to find throughout history.

The "Jade Beauty" Madam Gan before us is undoubtedly one of the most legendary figures among them.

As Gan Mei approached, Duan Yu could see her more clearly.

Her hands were rough, with calluses on her palms, likely the result of years of housework and tireless labor.

But the exposed skin of her neck at the slightly open collar was truly as white as jade, gleaming faintly in the sunlight, so delicate that it seemed as if water could be squeezed out with a touch.

Duan Yu wondered to himself if it was true, as recorded in history books, that at night, this skin could emit a faint white light, as if enveloped by moonlight.

"Has your family always lived in Pei County?" Duan Yu's gaze fell on the top of her head, and his voice softened.

Gan Mei nodded slightly, the plain hairpin in her hair swaying gently with her movement: "Yes."

"So your family background was poor from a young age?" Duan Yu asked again.

This time, Gan Mei's lowered eyes trembled slightly, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath them. She seemed to recall some unbearable past, her eyes quickly welling up with tears, which she stubbornly refused to let fall. After a long while, she finally let out a soft "Mmm," as if in response.

"So, from childhood to adulthood, has anyone ever said anything to you? For example, what will your life be like in the future?" Duan Yu's voice remained calm, yet it carried a power that compelled people to tell the truth.

Upon hearing this, Gan Mei, who had been keeping her head down, suddenly raised her head. Her pale face was filled with disbelief, and her clear eyes widened in shock and confusion, as if Duan Yu's words had revealed a secret she had kept hidden in her heart for many years.

Her appearance even piqued the curiosity of Duan Liuqing, who was playing with the curved sword at his waist. He turned his head, his bright eyes darting back and forth between Duan Yu and Gan Mei, his brows and eyes full of inquiry.

"I...I...it is true that someone said..." Gan Mei's voice trembled slightly, and there was a hint of disbelief in it. She opened her mouth, hesitated for a long time, and then whispered, "When I was little, before I could remember anything, my mother said that we met an old man with white hair and a youthful face in the suburbs of Pei County. That man looked at my face and said...said...said that I might live in the palace in the future."

"The Imperial Palace?!"

Upon hearing this, Duan Liuqing's mouth immediately opened into a round "O" shape in surprise, and her eyes widened, clearly shocked by what she heard.

Yes.

A knowing smile slowly crept onto Duan Yu's lips, and the amusement in his eyes deepened.

The woman before me, named Gan Mei, must be the Lady Gan recorded in history books—Liu Bei's Jade Beauty and the birth mother of Liu Shan, the last emperor of Shu Han.

If it were an ordinary woman, given Duan Yu's current status and his high standards, having seen countless beauties, she would naturally not take him seriously.

But the woman before him, a "jade beauty" with a legendary aura, piqued his curiosity.

"You'll stay by my side for a while." Duan Yu turned to look at Duan Liuqing, who was still in shock, with a smile on his lips. "Teach her some rules and etiquette."

Duan Liuqing immediately snapped out of her daze, a radiant smile instantly spreading across her face. Her bright, lively eyes shone with an astonishing light. She nodded vigorously, her voice brimming with joy: "I know! Your Majesty, don't worry. I'll make sure this beauty is well-nourished, fair-skinned, and beautiful, and then I'll send her to Your Majesty's bed!"

If these words had been spoken before Duan Yu's transmigration, he would have felt extremely uncomfortable.

But now, after years of navigating this era, he has grown accustomed to the hierarchical order of this chaotic world and has fully integrated into this era where the strong are respected.

With his current status and position, as the supreme ruler, what kind of woman hasn't he seen?

What kind of beauty couldn't be included in his harem? Ordinary women simply wouldn't catch his eye.

To have a complete stranger by your side is an immense honor and an ultimate expression of trust.

Moreover, given Duan Yu's status, how many people in the world would dare to speak and act like Duan Liuqing?

Her audacity, her charm, her uniqueness—all stemmed from the fact that their relationship was far beyond that of an ordinary ruler and his subject.

That bond was forged in the midst of bloodshed and battle, and forged in the chaos of war; it transcended ordinary boundaries.

Duan Yu had hinted to Duan Liuqing more than once that if she wished, she could stay in the palace and no longer have to travel with the army or put herself in danger. She could live a life of luxury and comfort.

But Duan Liuqing clearly refused.

She knew all too well that her past experiences and the ruthless aura she possessed made her unsuitable for being confined within the four walls of the palace, a caged canary.

She understood even more clearly that staying by Duan Yu's side, managing military affairs for him, clearing obstacles for him, accompanying him on his campaigns, and offering him advice was the life she wanted.

This relationship, somewhere between a younger sister and a confidante, is unique to Duan Yu and irreplaceable.

Just as Duan Yu and Duan Liuqing were talking, the noise outside the restaurant suddenly increased several times, and could be faintly mixed with the crisp sound of clashing weapons and the panicked shouts of the people.

Duan Yu glanced sideways and looked out through the carved wooden window—the diners on the first floor of the restaurant had already fled in terror, scrambling out and crowding under the eaves across the street, craning their necks to look in this direction, their faces full of fear and curiosity.

At the end of the street, amidst billowing dust, Zhao Huai, the magistrate of Pei County, rode a tall horse, followed by a dense swarm of county soldiers, numbering in the dozens. The spears and halberds in their hands gleamed coldly in the sunlight, completely surrounding the entire eatery.

Upon receiving the news, Zhang the Philanthropist, accompanied by more than a dozen robust servants from his mansion, hurriedly arrived downstairs at the restaurant. He was dressed in fine silk and satin, his obese body swaying with each step, his face filled with a gloomy rage.

Among the crowd, the burly man whose leg had been broken by the guards of the Military Affairs Bureau was being carried by two servants. He was pointing at Duan Yu's carriage parked downstairs and shouting at the top of his lungs.

"That's right! Master! It's this carriage! It's these people!" The burly man grimaced in pain, his face deathly pale, but he still pointed towards the second floor, his voice shrill, "My leg was broken by these bandits! And more than a dozen of my brothers were seriously injured by them!"

Following the direction he pointed, Zhang the philanthropist looked up and his gaze fell on the understated yet luxurious carriage. A glint of greed flashed in his eyes. He then quickly walked to Magistrate Zhao Huai's side, whispered a few words in his ear, and pointed at the carriage again, as if to confirm something.

Zhao Huai sat on horseback, his brows furrowed, his gaze darting back and forth between the carriage and the second floor of the restaurant.

He knew in his heart that anyone who could afford such a carriage and be accompanied by such elite guards was no ordinary person.

He was afraid that he might offend a powerful family in Xuzhou or a relative of a general, so he acted with extreme caution.

He reined in his horse and examined the carriage again and again—there were no banners of any aristocratic families on the carriage, nor any marks that could indicate their identity.

After confirming several times, Zhao Huai's heart eased slightly. He then cleared his throat, straightened his back, pointed his sword forward, and shouted loudly towards the second floor:

"I am Zhao Huai, the magistrate of Pei County! The people of the county have accused you of conspiring with thieves and injuring more than a dozen of their servants! Now, I order you to come downstairs immediately and surrender!"

The voice echoed through the empty street, carrying a hint of official authority, but also a lack of confidence beneath the surface.