Vol 8 Chapter 92 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 92: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE FAREWELL BANQUET (6)

I smiled stiffly as I said so and took out the invitation from my sleeve. When Liu Biao saw it, he chuckled, “Hahaha, I’m sorry about that. The official who sent you the invitation said that he stopped by the encampment first and only ran over to your residence after he heard that you weren’t there.”

So he ran there first huh, no wonder he came so late.

“I don’t blame elder brother as we hadn’t told you beforehand.” I shrugged, “I was originally planning on informing you through a letter so that elder brother would not need to go to such ceremony.”

“Aiya, blood brother is being too formal.” Liu Biao shook his head and clapped my back, “If it weren’t for Cai Mao who came to tell me about it, I would have only known from your letters. Hahaha.” Liu Biao slapped his thigh and guffawed. I, however, could not laugh when I heard that name.

Eh? So it was Cai Mao who told Liu Biao? But how did she know about our schedule?

The more I thought about it, the more I uneasy I felt. On the other hand, Cai Mao wasn’t here so she couldn’t do anything to me.

I looked at the annex as I thought so. Though I can’t see what’s inside, I get the feeling that Lady Cai is waiting there.

… I’ll wait and see how it goes first. I hope I’m just over thinking things.

“You don’t need to go to such ceremony.” I said as I calmed myself down and downed the contents of my wine cup.

“You may say that but I’m afraid that this will be my last banquet for blood brother so I decided to go all out.” He said as he pa.s.sed me a piece of silk, “Usually, I’ll be the host to banquets. But today’s banquet has special meaning to it so I hope blood brother can a.s.sist me in being the host.”

Eh? Host a banquet?

“I can’t do that,” I hurriedly refused and pushed the piece of silk towards Liu Biao, “I feel that it’s better and more appropriate for elder brother to personally handle such an important duty. I, as the younger sibling, am also an outsider, how can I possibly receive such honour and favour?”

*Ke* *Ke* *Ke*… Liu Bang was about to reply to me when he suddenly went into a coughing fit that was so long and violent that it scared me.

“Umm… Elder brother, are you alright?”

I went up to take a look at him but Liu Biao stopped me with his arm and covered his face with his hand as he said in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“But…” I was still worried but Liu Biao, who couldn’t speak anymore after the coughing fit before, merely pushed the silk towards me.

When I lowered my head and looked at the piece of silk, I saw that it was covered all over in words which I could barely read.

Since young, I’ve never had any experience hosting an event nor have I done emcee duties, much less something with rules and rituals like this.

*Ke* *Ke*… Just as I was still hesitating, Liu Biao went into another coughing fit with each cough seeming more violent than the last until it seemed like he was about to vomit his heart out.

It was clear that Liu Biao wasn’t acting and he was coughing because of an ailment that plagued him. Naturally, he can’t host the banquet anymore.

As I looked at Liu Biao in his current state, I felt a bit sorry for him.

Un… I wanted to leave early but I think I can host it for a short period of time before I leave.

“Then…” I said softly and grasped the piece of silk he pushed over, “Though I’m not very adept, I am willing to take on this important responsibility.”

“Un un, thanks blood brother.” Liu Biao seemed to have recovered somewhat and raised his head as he replied hoa.r.s.ely.

“No, no, elder brother need not be so–” Before I could finish, I was stunned by what I saw.

When Liu Biao removed his sleeve from his mouth, a red filled my eyes, some on the mouth but mostly splattered on his sleeve.

“U… Umm… Elder brother…” I raised my hand and pointed at his mouth in disbelief.

“Un? Ah.” Liu Biao was surprised but he understood soon after lowering his head, “Ah… I really made a mess of myself huh.”

But he didn’t seem to be surprised and only said some self-deprecating words as he took a wet cloth from nearby and wipes his mouth, face and sleeve.

“Elder brother, this is…”

“Ah, it’s nothing much, just some minor health problems.”

Liu Biao smile was weird and his face was stiff. I’m not too knowledgeable on history and medicine but I’m pretty sure that coughing blood signifies something a little more serious and sinister than minor health problems are at hand.

“Elder brother, pardon me for asking, but have you contracted something lately?”