Vol 8 Chapter 51 (2/2)

“In any case, uncle shouldn’t think too much about it,” Liu Qi said to rea.s.sure me, “After you go in, uncle just needs to remember not to say too much as anything might be used against you in future.”

“Un, I understand.”

When she saw me nodding, Liu Qi nodded as well, and we both continued walking and entered the main hall.

Ah, I’m starting to feel hungry after smelling the sumptuous food.

“Blood brother! You’re finally here~~” Just as I entered, Liu Biao came running from the main seat and swept me into his arms as he patted my back.

“Ah, elder brother, I’m late.” I don’t really like this sort of skins.h.i.+p, especially when the other party is a man but since he’s like this, I have no choice but to oblige and so I patted his back as I said so.

“Come, have a seat.” He said as he let go and gestured me to sit at the second seat on the left aisle.

“I wanted to invite you to sit beside me but that isn’t proper so I’ll have to make you sit here.”

“It’s fine, elder brother thinks too highly of me.” I said as I made my way to my seat and bowed before sitting down.

“Alright!” Liu Qi clapped when she saw me take my seat, “Music! Dance!”

Following closely after Liu Qi’s instructions was a chorus from an ensemble that used traditional Sizhu instruments behind a curtain. It was standard traditional Chinese music but it seemed a little different from what I’d heard before.

Next, dancers began streaming in from another door. Like the soldiers, there were both male and female dancers. I suppose that makes sense since almost half of the generals present were women so it would be a little weird or boring for them to watch women dancing.

When I lowered my head, I found that there were many sumptuous and exquisite dishes displayed that were clearly hard to come by in this era. When I raised my head again, I saw that everyone had begun eating so I too picked up my chopsticks and began to eat. Hmmm, the taste is rather good.

As I continued eating, I spied at the other guests.

Just as with our welcoming contingent, there were some here I didn’t recognise. Sitting opposite me was Liu Qi who was her usual self. Beside her was a rather shy young girl who should be Liu Cong if I’m not mistaken.

In the row behind them was Cai Mao, with Yi Ji and Wen Ping sitting down the same aisle.

On my row, the Kuai sisters were sitting here as well. Just as I sat down, before I could even eat more than a few mouthfuls, they’d begun to speak to me softly with very conflicting expressions.

“Is Imperial Uncle well after this expedition?”

“Hmph, I can’t believe a loser has the cheek to come to the table.”

These 2 were like yin and yang, and delivered me both subtle and open blows with their words. I looked at Liu Qi but she only gave me a look that said ‘don’t even think about switching seats with me’.

Ah… Why does this… But at least Cai Mao is behind Liu Qi and not beside me or G.o.d knows what she would say to me.

Un? Just as I was dealing with these emotions, I noticed that Liu Cong was fidgeting about at her seat and kept stealing glances at Liu Qi.

Somehow it feels like she’s a 1st grader who just entered school and wanted to make friends but didn’t have the courage to speak to anyone. And Liu Qi is the sort of tough, quiet character with an aura that screams ‘don’t come near’, complete with a set of cold eyes.

Based on what Liu Qi said, Liu Cong should be a very devious person, the sort who will smile as she plots to kill you. But from what I can see now, it doesn’t appear to be that way at all.

Or is she too good at hiding it? If that’s the case, then I’m truly impressed.

I tried the wine as I ate and found that though it was strong, it wasn’t as strong as Xuchang’s wine so it was easier to swallow.

There are times when I really want the servants to take away my wine and serve me fruit juice instead. Or, to use this era’s language, agar. But when I thought about it more, I realised that fruit juice or this era’s equivalent is probably more expensive than wine so I gave up.

“Ah, right. Blood brother~”

“Ah, un?”

All of a sudden, Liu Biao suddenly called out to me. When I turned to look at him, I found that he was looking at me with gleaming eyes.

“Just today, your second contingent has returned from the military exercise.” With no warning at all, he began to raise the topic of my generals and the military exercise.

I looked at Liu Qi and saw that she wasn’t nervous in the least. Looks like this topic isn’t so sensitive after all.

“Ah, un. I too learned of this not too long ago.” I gave a vague reply and tried to broach the topic on win or lose.

This was something embarra.s.sing for the other side after all.

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