Vol 6 Chapter 26 (1/2)
VOLUME 6 CHAPTER 26: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A REUNION WITH SUN CE (3)
Liu Bei POV
After we entered the cabin, we followed Bo Fu along the corridors. When I took a closer look, I found that the wooden boards for the floor of the corridors had floral motifs on them. I don’t know what they are but I was impressed by the worksmans.h.i.+p.
The end of the corridors was the bow of the s.h.i.+p with a staircase that led upstairs. As I walked up, I noticed that there were wooden windows at every level. On the first level, there were some attendants and guards. The guards stood stock still and upright in the cabin and seemed unperturbed by the strong winds that blew in. Looks like they are very experienced at being out at sea.
“How long has it been since I last saw Xuan De?” Bo Fu said softly.
Though I think I won’t have a problem walking on my own after boarding, Bo Fu still held me as she did while we were boarding.
“From what I remember, we last met in summer so it should be about half a year.”
“Half a year huh.” Bo Fu gasped as she let go with 1 arm and used it to flatten her fringe, “As the saying goes: Time flows ceaselessly day and night like a river. Seems like an appropriate use of it now.”
(TL: Actual saying: 逝者如斯夫，不舍昼夜.)
“It’s only been half a year, there’s no need to exaggerate so much.” I smiled at the serious Bo Fu.
When she heard my words, she sighed, “A lot has happened to me this last half a year.”
When she finished, Bo Fu pulled down her outer tunic, revealing her bare skin underneath. I wanted to look away but when I saw her bandages about her left shoulder, I got a shock and couldn’t s.h.i.+ft my gaze away.
“This is…”
“I’ve done a lot this past half a year for the sake of my ambitions in Jiangdong. At the same time, I’ve also made a lot of enemies.” Bo Fu smiled, but I couldn’t feel any good feelings behind that smile. What I felt instead was heartfelt melancholy and fatigue.
The unification of Jiangdong huh. It’s been hard on you, Bo Fu.
“Is it serious?”
“… It’s alright.” Bo Fu squeezed these words out after a long while in silence.
I didn’t pursue the matter when she didn’t continue. All I did was silently, apply more strength into my arms and support her as she did for me.
The banquet was held on the 3rd floor of the cabin, and it was surprisingly big, in fact it was wider than most main halls. And because this was the highest level, the ceiling was rather high up, almost 10 meters tall. There were also intricate carvings on the walls and silk carpets as part of the decour. All it needed were some brick red pullars, and it would be of the same level of luxury as the Court hall in Xuchang.
As we entered the main hall, Bo Fu and I naturally sat at the head while the generals sat along either row behind us. On the left was Bo Fu’s side consisting of Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lu Meng, Tais.h.i.+ Ci; on the right was our side consisting of Yun Chang, Yi De, Feng Xian, Zi Long.
As for the others, they were all spread out on the other s.h.i.+ps. This allowed them more freedom, as well as watch over the troops on the other s.h.i.+ps. As for the 4 of them who came with me, I’m actually rather worried.
Firstly, Zi Long. Wen Yuan should have been the 4th but because she couldn’t stand this sort of atmosphere, Zi Long came to make up the numbers instead. Zi Long is the sort who would definitely accept to come along for something like this, and so she did to the woe of me.
From the moment I sat down, Zi Long has been staring at me fixedly. When I took a closer look at her, I saw that she even had a brush in her hands and was ready to take down notes on her palm.
I don’t need to think to know that she plans to write down all my mistakes in this banquet. My sitting position, how I hold the cup, manner of speech etc etc, she would take down everything and give me a sermon later on so I’d better brace myself.
Secondly, Yi De. Yi De was actually named by Bo Fu to join in the banquet. It was clear that Bo Fu’s side did not know about what happened to Yi De so if any incident occurs later on related to the past Yi De, not only will it be awkward, it will also be bad for Yi De herself.
I snuck a peek at Lu Meng, who was the one from Bo Fu’s side who had the strongest connection to the past Yi De, and saw that she was staring at Yi De. I get the feeling that she will do something once the banquet starts.
While I was deep in my thoughts, Bo Fu had already grabbed her wine cup and raised it above her head.
“In the expedition against Yuan Shu, I fought together with Xuan De. Back then, Xuan De had given us extraordinary support which allowed us to prevail against Yuan Shu. Unfortunately, Xuan De was in a rush then and he wasn’t even able to leave a few words of farewell. I, Sun Ce Sun Bo Fu, have always repaid my favours manifold so I decided then that should Xuan De ever have need for help, I will definitely come to his aid.” As she said so, she looked at me and pushed her cup out at which I hurriedly picked up my cup and clinked cups with her, “Everyone, Xuan De is now here to visit Jiangdong under my invitation. I, Sun Ce Sun Bo Fu, am truly excited about this and hope that Xuan De can gain something from this trip.”
As she finished, she tilted her head upwards and downed the wine in the cup in 1 gulp.
“I look to Bo Fu for your understanding should we happen to do anything inappropriate in Jiangdong.” I gave some standard words for courtesy’s sake and raised my cup and downed its contents as well.
“But of course. Xuan De and your people need only bother to enjoy yourselves.”
*Pa*– *Pa*– Bo Fu laughed out loud as she patted my back rather forcefully, making me cough and spew some wine out.
Even though she was injured, her strength was still surprisingly large huh.
After I recovered, I looked down and saw that no one was listening to what Bo Fu and I said at all. Everyone was engrossed in drinking wine and eating meat. Only Tais.h.i.+ Ci and Zi Long were listening, and when I raised my cup, Zi Long followed suit as well and drank along with me.
“Don’t drink so much, Gong Jin. Why are you drinking so much when you know your liver isn’t strong?”
“Geh… Zi Jing! Are you bullying the weak and sick!?”
“No, look at you, you’ve begun to spout nonsense already…”
On the other side, it appears that Zhou Yu who had been drinking non-stop for a while now has gotten drunk and Lu Su has been taking care of her like an attendant, as he helped her wipe her mouth and persuaded her to no avail. Seems like Zhou Yu’s intelligence drops a fair bit once she gets in touch with alcohol.
But from my perspective, it seems like Zhou Yu and Lu Su’s relations.h.i.+p is more than just comrades. I’d never seen it that way before but now that they are both of different s.e.xes, I can’t help but to see it that way. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt weird.