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

As dusk settled, dim lanterns lit up the courtyard behind the Peixian County government building, casting flickering light on the blue brick floor.

Duan Yu's residence was arranged in the main house at the deepest part of the courtyard. Black-armored soldiers stood guard inside and outside the courtyard, and even the sound of the wind blowing through the branches and leaves was exceptionally clear.

Gan Mei carried the warm food box, her steps as light as a feather. By the time she reached the door of the main room, her palms were already damp with sweat.

The shock of the name "King Liang" from the daytime had not yet dissipated, and now that she had to serve this legendary figure alone, her heart was about to leap out of her chest.

"Come in." Duan Yu's calm voice came from inside the room, without the slightest ripple.

Gan Mei took a deep breath and gently pushed open the door. The room was simply furnished, with a pear wood table by the window. Duan Yu was sitting at the table, flipping through a scroll of bamboo slips. The hem of his black brocade robe hung down to his feet, making his aura even more aloof.

She didn't dare to look too much, and with her head down, she placed the food box on the table and carefully took out a few side dishes from inside—a plate of braised beef, a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a bowl of warm corn soup.

She prepared all of these according to the instructions of the kitchen manager; they were simple yet exquisite.

"Put it down." Duan Yu didn't look up; his gaze remained fixed on the bamboo slips.

"Yes," Gan Mei replied softly. After putting down her chopsticks, she stood awkwardly to the side, her hands nervously clutching the hem of her clothes.

She could feel Duan Yu's gaze occasionally shifting from the bamboo slips to her, and when it fell on her, it carried a sharp, all-seeing quality that made her feel extremely uncomfortable.

Duan Yu ate slowly and deliberately, his movements elegant and composed, without making a sound.

The room was eerily quiet, with only the occasional rustling of him turning the bamboo slips and the soft clinking of bowls and chopsticks.

Gan Mei lowered her head, her gaze falling on her rough fingertips. The words Duan Liuqing had said during the day resurfaced in her mind, and her cheeks flushed and then turned pale.

A moment later, Duan Yu put down his bowl and chopsticks. Gan Mei immediately stepped forward and quickly tidied up the tableware. Just as she was about to turn around and leave, she heard Duan Yu say, "Prepare water for a bath."

"Yes." Her voice trembled slightly as she answered and quickly left the room, heading towards the bathroom in the backyard.

The servants in the kitchen had already prepared hot water; all she had to do was pour the hot water into the bathtub and sprinkle in some calming herbs.

Once everything was ready, she returned to the main room and whispered, "Your Majesty, the bathing water is ready."

Duan Yu closed the bamboo scroll, got up, and walked towards the bathhouse.

Gan Mei followed behind him, her heart pounding with increasing panic. She knew what she had to do next.

On the way to the county government, Duan Liuqing had already subtly reminded her that as someone who had been "accepted," serving her master during bathing and bedchambering was her duty.

The bathroom was filled with steam, and the warm steam blurred the view.

Duan Yu removed his brocade robe, revealing a back with smooth lines but covered in scars. Those scars, of varying depths, were marks left from battles, making Gan Mei's heart tremble.

She quickly lowered her head and stepped forward to wipe his body, but Duan Yu stopped her with a raised hand.

"Go outside and wait there."

Gan Mei was taken aback for a moment, then quickly replied, "Yes."

She left the bathhouse as if granted a pardon, leaning against a pillar outside the door, panting heavily.

The warm steam seemed to linger on her nose, mixed with the faint scent of ink and herbs emanating from Duan Yu, causing her heart to race uncontrollably once again.

She didn't know how long she had been standing in the corridor until the bathroom door was pushed open and Duan Yu came out wearing a plain-colored undergarment, his long hair wet and hanging over his shoulders, with a rare air of languor.

"Serve him until he/she goes to bed." Duan Yu's voice remained calm.

Gan Mei's heart leaped into her throat. She followed Duan Yu back to the main room and saw him lying on the brocade-covered bed. She felt all the blood rushing to her head.

She stood by the bed, at a loss, her mind blank.

Duan Liuqing's words echoed in his ears again, and the fear and inferiority he had felt during the day transformed into a do-or-die courage.

She knew that she was of lowly status, and that being accepted by the Prince of Liang was already an incredible stroke of luck. If she didn't know how to seize the opportunity, she might not even be able to keep this brief "opportunity".

She bit her lower lip, turned, and walked behind a screen in the corner of the room. Clean hot water and towels were already prepared there. She quickly washed her body and changed into a thin, plain-colored undergarment. This undergarment had been sent by Duan Liuqing; the material was soft and smooth, a fine thing she had never worn before.

After cleaning herself, she took a deep breath and, with trembling steps, walked to the bedside. Duan Yu lay on the bed with his eyes closed, seemingly asleep, his long eyelashes casting a shadow in the lamplight.

Gan Mei held her breath and carefully climbed onto the bed. Just as she was about to get close to Duan Yu, she felt a warm hand pressing on her shoulder. The force was not strong, but it carried an irresistible authority.

Duan Yu opened his eyes, his gaze clear, without a trace of sleepiness.

He looked at the girl in front of him, her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with panic, his brows furrowing slightly. His voice remained calm, yet carried a hint of barely perceptible aloofness: "Get down."

Gan Mei's body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water, feeling chilled from head to toe.

She stared blankly at Duan Yu, her courage vanishing instantly, replaced by deep embarrassment and awkwardness. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but couldn't utter a single word. With red eyes, she scrambled off the bed, lowered her head, and quickly retreated to the soft couch in the corner of the room, curling up and not daring to make a sound.

Duan Yu didn't look at her again, closed his eyes again, and the room fell silent once more, with only the sound of their even breathing remaining.

Gan Mei leaned against the soft couch, her cheeks still burning, her heart filled with mixed emotions. The embarrassment of being rejected, the relief of letting out a sigh of relief, and a trace of inexplicable disappointment intertwined, making it difficult for her to sleep.

..................

Meanwhile, in Xiapi, Zhuge Gui's residence was brightly lit.

Zhuge Gui held the letter Zhao Huai had sent in his hand, his fingers turning white from the pressure, his face so grave it seemed to drip water. Sitting opposite him, Sima Fang also had a livid face, his hand gripping the teacup so tightly that tea spilled out and soaked his robes, but he seemed oblivious.

"Duan Yu... has already reached Pei County!" Sima Fang's voice was filled with barely suppressed shock and a hint of panic. "A few days ago, our scouts reported that his army was still regrouping in Guanzhong. How could he have arrived so quickly? Could it be that our scouts made a mistake?"

Zhuge Gui slowly put down the letter, his brows furrowed: "The spies wouldn't be wrong. It's probably a smokescreen deliberately released by Duan Yu to confuse us all. He's using a feint!"

"A feint attack?" Sima Fang suddenly stood up and paced back and forth. "We originally thought he would send troops from Guanzhong to attack Pengcheng, so we deployed our main forces along the Pengcheng line to guard against his advance from the east. But now he has suddenly appeared in Pei County. This... this defense of Pengcheng has become a mere decoration?"

Zhuge Gui nodded, his expression growing increasingly grim: "Pei County is adjacent to Pengcheng, and only a few hundred miles from Xiapi. Duan Yu's army is incredibly elite. If he were to launch an attack from Pei County and advance eastward, Xiapi would be in grave danger!"

"What should we do now?" Sima Fang stopped and looked at Zhuge Gui, his eyes filled with urgency. "Should we immediately mobilize the troops from Pengcheng to defend Xiapi?"

"Absolutely not!" Zhuge Gui immediately objected. "If we mobilize the troops from Pengcheng to defend it, Duan Yu might take advantage of the situation and capture Pengcheng directly. At that point, we'll be caught in a dilemma."

He pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "The most urgent task is to have Xu Rong and Taishi Ci of Pengcheng immediately send troops to Xiaopei! Xiaopei is the only way from Pei County to Pengcheng, and its terrain is treacherous. As long as they can stop Duan Yu's troops in Xiaopei, we will have enough time to adjust our deployment."

Sima Fang's eyes lit up and he nodded quickly: "That's right! Xiaopei is easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as Xu Rong and Taishi Ci can hold Xiaopei, we still have a chance!"

"There's no time to lose!" Zhuge Gui immediately stood up and shouted towards the door, "Someone come here!"

Two servants immediately rushed in, bowed, and asked, "What are your orders, sir?"

"Prepare the horses immediately!" Zhuge Gui picked up the pen and ink on the table, quickly wrote two messenger letters, stamped them with his seal, and handed them to his attendants. "You must set off immediately, traveling day and night, and deliver these two letters to General Xu Rong and General Taishi Ci in Pengcheng respectively. Tell them to send troops to reinforce Xiaopei immediately! Tell them that they must stop the Liang King's army at all costs, and any mishap will be punished according to military law!"

"Yes!" The two servants took the letter and, without the slightest delay, quickly ran out.

Watching the attendants' departing figures, Sima Fang's expression remained grave: "Hopefully Xu Rong and Taishi Ci can arrive in time. Duan Yu's iron cavalry is not easy to deal with."

Zhuge Gui walked to the window, looked at the dark night sky outside, and slowly said, "Duan Yu, you truly live up to your reputation. This feint caught us completely off guard. Now, it depends on whether Xu Rong and Taishi Ci can hold Xiaopei. If they can't, the land of Xuzhou will probably change hands."

The flickering lights inside cast long shadows of the two men, and a tense atmosphere filled the air. They both knew that a fierce battle was inevitable.