To Roy's astonishment, the person entering with the Red Dawn Sword at her waist and numerous subordinates in tow was unmistakably a woman.
His gaze swept over the assembled company before settling on the cheerful, clearly good-natured woman who must be Liu Ji.
'Since when did Emperor Gaozu become a woman?'
Roy was filled with questions, though of course he wouldn't rudely blurt out "Why are you a woman?" Especially since it occurred to him that this was the Type-Moon world - if even King Arthur could be a girl, then the Han Dynasty's founder being female wasn't so strange.
With this realization, Roy took a proper look at the woman before him.
She wore a fiery red robe, tied at the waist with a sash like everyone else in this era. Considering Liu Ji's self-proclaimed title as "Child of the Red Emperor," this distinctly Chu-style attire suited her perfectly.
Her chest was exposed quite a bit, revealing a large expanse of fair skin, and the half-visible curves were no less ample than those of Yu Ji beside him.
Liu Ji's luxurious hair was tied up, with strands of crimson that seemed dyed—though it wasn't artificial but naturally hers. Just her appearance alone was enough to be called divine, and indeed, Liu Ji possessed something extraordinary. Roy sensed with his magic that she actually had a Dragon Factor of 537—she was of the Red Dragon bloodline!
This Founding Emperor wasn't just a woman like King Arthur but also shared the Red Dragon Factor, though one was likely of Western dragon lineage while the other was of Eastern dragon descent.
No wonder she could unify the world and establish the Han Dynasty—she's a true Dragon Emperor.
Roy nodded inwardly. The First Emperor was called the Ancestral Dragon, while this great emperor who founded the Han Dynasty was a Red Dragon.
Observing her features, Liu Ji had delicate and beautiful facial features. At first glance, like Roy, her gender was somewhat ambiguous, yet she was undeniably graceful and striking—a mix of heroic vigor and breathtaking beauty. A perpetually roguish smile lingered at the corners of her lips, her expression warm, benevolent, and approachable, making anyone who saw her instinctively feel goodwill and an urge to trust her.
Historically, she had been able to command the loyalty of many capable ministers and renowned generals. This kindness, born of humble origins yet devoid of any crude demeanor, was perhaps her greatest strength—a presence that commanded respect yet made one feel they could be her friend.
Still, Roy found it odd. Though the people of the Qin Dynasty weren't as bombarded with information as in modern times, they were far from fools. How could they not see that Liu Ji was a woman disguised as a man? Recalling the rumors he'd heard over the past few days, there had been no mention of a female leader among the rebel forces.
Upon closer inspection, he realized the jade pendant hanging at Liu Ji's waist was no ordinary object—it carried an aura of immortal arts. Carved upon it was a mystical array capable of clouding perception. Combined with her true dragon bloodline, these two factors allowed her, as a woman, to lead the rebel army.
Likely, Liu Ji had encountered some extraordinary fortune, much like the protagonists of legends who stumbled upon treasures in hidden realms—perhaps the Red Sky Sword and this jade pendant, most likely left behind in one of the First Emperor's sites dedicated to researching immortality.
However, though the pendant was mystical, it couldn't deceive Roy's eyes. He saw straight through the illusion to Liu Ji's true nature.
Glancing sideways, Roy noticed Yu Ji's expression and knew she, too, could see Liu Ji's real form.
At that moment, Yu Ji happened to turn her head. Her large, expressive eyes shimmered with clarity as she looked at Roy, as if asking—Is this the woman you're interested in?
There was even a hint of inquiry about Roy's relationship with Liu Ji.
Roy pretended not to understand the meaning in Yu Ji's gaze. Recalling the expectations and praise he'd previously voiced about Liu Ji, he felt a pang of frustration—like lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot.
Who would've thought Liu Ji was a woman—and a stunningly beautiful one at that!
In normal history, the Founding Emperor should've been in his fifties by now, but the woman before him looked no older than her early twenties!
While Roy was sizing up Liu Ji, Liu Ji was also sizing him up. However, she quickly lost the battle of gazes—not because she lacked the ability, but because under Roy's suspicious stare, Liu Ji felt as though he had seen through her true identity, making her momentarily uneasy.
Flustered, Liu Ji turned her head away and happened to meet the scrutinizing gaze of Yu Ji. Immediately, her eyes lit up, and she blurted out without thinking, "...Such beauty is truly rare in this world, like a fairy descended from heaven, far more stunning than Widow Wang from the village."
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized her mistake. Why had she fallen back into old habits again? The moment she saw a pretty woman, her mouth ran wild. And worse, the woman she had just flirted with seemed to be either the wife or favored concubine of General Xiang!
Would he think she had designs on his women and, in a fit of rage, drag her out to be chopped up and fed to the dogs?
At this thought, Liu Ji broke into a cold sweat, her heart filled with regret and dread.
She didn't believe General Xiang would be generous enough to say something like, "I feel an instant kinship with you, brother—this beauty shall be yours as a concubine."
Judging others by her own standards, she thought that if she had such a beauty, she would keep her at home to enjoy, never letting anyone else lay a finger on her.
Liu Ji's subordinates, Xiao He and the others, felt their hearts sink. Covering their faces with their hands, they wanted to wail in despair, certain their lives were about to end here.
This Pei Gong had a notorious reputation back in Pei County—there wasn't a widow she hadn't flirted with or didn't know. Spending nights at widows' homes was routine for her. But even if she had a thing for married women and widows, she couldn't go flirting with General Xiang's woman! They were under his roof now!
Ignoring Xiao He and the others' ashen faces, Liu Ji, realizing her blunder, quickly bent forward with an ingratiating smile and said, "...General Xiang, please don't take offense. It's just that your lady's celestial beauty stunned a vulgar man like me, who's never seen the world. You're magnanimous—don't stoop to my level. If you're still upset, why not give me a few lashes and throw me out?"
Her jade-like earlobes flushed faintly red, adding to her striking charm.
Having lived as a man for so long, Liu Ji's speech and behavior were thoroughly masculine. The words of a rogue teasing a woman came to her effortlessly. Combined with her thick skin, she could spout shameless remarks without hesitation. Such a shameless yet capable person was truly the hardest to deal with.
Many novel protagonists were exactly like this!
Moreover, she was clever—she had already admitted guilt and even suggested her own punishment. If Roy actually went through with it, she would suffer nothing worse than a beating and could leave this dangerous place quickly, avoiding further trouble from him.
But if Roy did punish her as she suggested, rumors would inevitably spread that he had caned a rebel who had come to join him—all over a woman. That would be terrible for his reputation.
This woman was truly thick-skinned and ruthless.
Roy stared at her for a long moment, making Liu Ji's heart race with unease. Just as Liu Ji was wondering whether Roy intended to kill her and if she should risk fleeing, Roy finally spoke slowly, "...If anyone else dared to speak to Lady Yu in such a manner, I would make sure they tasted the bitterness of castration. However, since the Duke of Pei has come to pledge allegiance to me, and this was an unintentional remark, I shall let it pass—but let there be no next time!"
If anyone else had dared to flirt with his Yu Ji, Roy would have undoubtedly broken their third leg. But since Liu Ji didn't possess one to begin with, he decided to let it slide.
At the same time, Roy found it rather peculiar. Judging by Liu Ji's behavior, she was likely a "lady-lover." Whether she was interested in men remained unclear for now. If she was, then she truly had an appetite for both!
Liu Ji instinctively reached down to check, and only after confirming the absence of that particular appendage did she breathe a sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, thank goodness—missing that part spared her from unimaginable pain if such a punishment were ever carried out!