Vol 8 Chapter 17 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 17: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS HUANG ZU

Liu Bei POV

“Eh? Here?” The one who asked this wasn’t me, but Chen Gong, “Shouldn’t we be doing this in Jiangxia city’s official residence?”

I do feel that it’s weird, but I don’t mind it as much as Chen Gong. Perhaps if this were some other normal event, then it should be done in the official residence.

When met with this question, Gan Ning tugged her scarf upwards before she replied, “I may have forgotten to explain this. The Administrator is afraid that the enemy may launch a night raid given that we are at war, and has thus decided to hold it at the command room. I apologise and seek your understanding if our reception is lacking.”

Gan Ning lightly bowed and saluted when she finished. She didn’t bow very deeply but she was clearly sincere with her apology.

“This is– Eh!”

“No no no, we can understand.” Seeing that Chen Gong was getting mad, I hurriedly interjected and defused the situation.

It was rare for someone who was a pure warrior general to be able to respond in such a soft and polite manner. Of the ones I know, only Yun Chang and Tais.h.i.+ Ci can do this. Perhaps Li Dian and Yue Jin can do this as well but they’re a little weird.

Not only could she do that, Gan Ning was even smooth and fluid with her respectful bows and salutes which surprised me.

“Hmph, forget it. It’s fine as long as there’s food.” As for Chen Gong, after a few seconds of internal wrangling, she finally gave in for this. I have to admit it though, the rations we had whilst marching here were terrible. All we had were dry and hard foods like dried meat and biscuits, or porridge.

And so Gan Ning dismounted first followed by us. After pa.s.sing through the fence, we entered the encampment and pa.s.sed through some tents before coming to a larger tent. If it were slightly darker, I doubt anyone would realise that this was the main tent which served as the command room.

“Administrator, Imperial Uncle Liu Bei has arrived.”

“… Please enter at once.” A reply came from inside swiftly after Gan Ning’s holler.

“Well then, let’s enter. The rest should have been waiting for us for while now.”

“Ah, yes.” I nodded as I said so. And Gan Ning lightly parted the curtains and let me enter first. I shook my sleeves and revealed my hands and entered the tent as I saluted.

“Administrator–”

“No need for that, sit.”

When I entered the tent, I kept my head lowered and intended to bow and salute, but she cut me off once more.

“Ah… Yes.” I lightly replied and looked to the side. On this side, Liu Qi had already taken a seat, with Yi Ji and Wen Ping sitting on either side of her.

“Ah, Liu Qi is here already huh.”

“Uncle.” She saluted and bowed as she greeted me.

“No need… Un, I should be sitting there.” Seeing that I went to the wrong side, I turned and headed to the right.

“I don’t mind having uncle sit beside me.”

“I don’t mind sitting at the second seat which Imperial Uncle should be sitting at.”

What’s this got to do with you, Chen Gong…

“No, no need for that. I’ll go sit where I’m supposed to.”

The food was already served, so apart from Liu Qi who was talking to me, Aen Ping and Yi Ji had begun eating already. I can’t possibly make Yi Ji move when she’s already begun eating. Seating arrangements are also part of etiquette and I have to abide by them.

“Un, alright then.” She said and lightly nodded before contuing with raised eyebrows, “We’ll speak at night when we get back.”

“Ah, un.” I nodded back as well, with the knowledge that what was to be discussed later would be far more important than what was to be discussed here.

As I thought so, I made my way to my seat and sat down. The other 3 were already sitting down by now and had begun eating. It’s a good that that Chen Gong and Chen Dao are using their chopsticks so I don’t feel particularly embarra.s.sed,

Then, Gan Ning sat down at the tail end.

“Well then, everyone’s finally here.” Huang Zu looked at our side, and at Liu Qi’s side and breathed once before she continued, “We are now in precarious times so I don’t have any special delicacies to offer. All there is are just some meats and vegetables to fill everyone’s stomachs. Please don’t hold back and eat your fill.”

Huang Zu didn’t give any pompous speech nor did she give Liu Qi any special mention or treatment. She just saluted her and picked up her chopsticks and began eating. By the way, all of us had changed out into casual cloth clothing. Only Huang Zu was still in her armour, and it didn’t seem like she had any intention of taking them off. Every time she reached out to grab a bit of a dish, her armour would clink audibly.

As for the rest, especially someone like Zhou Cang, they didn’t even bother listening to Huang Zu’s speech and continued eating with big mouthfuls, completely ignoring the image they projected. What a waste of her natural beauty.

I was sitting opposite Liu Qi and neither of us picked up our chopsticks. She looked at me and I looked at her, and we both looked at Huang Zu, making it feel very awkward. I was very hungry but before eating, I had a lot of things I wanted to ask Huang Zu. But without a way to start the conversation on the right note, it’s difficult to ask what I wanted to ask.

Oh right, I remember that Huang Zu likes to drink. Why not start with a toast?

As I thought so, I raised my cup, “Well then, I would like to propose a toast to General Huang Zu–”

“Thanks. But apart from before and after a battle, I don’t drink at all.” She gave me a sound rejection. When I looked over, I saw that she had a small pot behind her with a gourd on top of it. She scooped out some liquid from the pot with the gourd and gulped it down. When she finished, she raised the gourd at me.

“I’ll subst.i.tute water for wine.”

A pot of water huh… Could it be that she intends to finish that whole pot tonight?