Vol 8 Chapter 93 (1/2)

VOLUME 8 CHAPTER 93: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS THE FAREWELL BANQUET (7)

Liu Bei POV

“Elder brother… This is…” I couldn’t believe what I saw and my arm which was patting Liu Biao instinctively stopped as well.

From what little I know about human biology, blood is supposed to be red and not black. There is, however, one possible reason why one would vomit black blood out.

“Elder brother… Have you been poisoned?”

“…”

After I spoke, I stared at Liu Biao who was almost curled up into a ball. However, Liu Biao didn’t speak as he was trying to catch his breath.

After he seemed better, he removed his hand from his mouth and brought it to his eyes. To my surprise, he only chuckled when he saw his palm.

“Ah… I didn’t think it would be this serious already.”

“Eh?”

I was shocked and thought that Liu Biao lost his wits so I hurriedly knelt down beside him. What I saw though was a man who looked profoundly lonely and calm.

Any other person would have panicked or be shocked but all I saw was calm. As though Liu Biao already knew this was coming.

Did he… Know that he was being poisoned?

“Elder brother, be honest with me.” I couldn’t take it any longer and looked at Liu Biao with resolute eyes, “Your present condition cannot be because of some minor health issue. Elder brother should know this! You’re being poisoned!”

“Yes, I am indeed being poisoned. And it’s a slow-acting poison.”

… Eh? I was even more shocked. Liu Biao did indeed know that he was being poisoned, which explained his previous actions. But if he knows that he is being poisoned, why didn’t he say anything?

And what does the second half of what he just said means? How does Liu Biao know that it’s a slow-acting poison?

“Elder brother, what do you mean by this? You know you’re being poisoned but you’re not doing anything about it?”

“Un… To put it simple, yes.” I can’t believe Liu Biao actually honestly acknowledged that.

“What’s the difference between this and killing yourself?” I don’t know why but I got enraged from hearing Liu Biao admit to it, “Elder brother, tell me now. Who is the one poisoning you? Is it an a.s.sa.s.sin from another faction? Or is it an insider job?!”

The more I went on, the more angry I got. Liu Biao, on the other hand, was calm and peaceful as he patted my shoulders with his clean sleeve and shook his head, “a.s.sa.s.sins can never make it inside here. Though my retainers and officials are not die hard loyals, they are prudent and steadfast and would never do such a thing.”

“That’s…”

When he saw me at a loss, Liu Biao opened his mouth and closed it before finally asking me, “… Must you know?”

When I saw Liu Biao’s watery eyes, I felt compelled to know, “If I can save elder brother, yes.”

“I don’t need saving…” Liu Biao gave a relieved smile and paused for a long while while I only waited quietly for Liu Biao to continue.

The answer that came, however, was something completely unexpected.

“… Your sister-in-law did it.”

“What?!”

Lady Cai did it?!

“Umm, elder brother…” I went up to Liu Biao and repeated his words in an exasperated voice, “You said… That it was Lady Cai who poisoned you?”

Liu Biao gave a long sigh and vigorously nodded. He then held up a bowl and shook it in front of my eyes, “Twice a week, twice per day. It’s probably been about 3-4 months since she first started it.”

Eh? Isn’t that before we came to Jing state? And how does he know such details. But– Why?

Many questions and thoughts floated up in my head but at the end of the day, they could be summed up in one simple sentence,

“Elder brother, I don’t understand.”

Yes, I don’t understand. And I don’t understand anything at all.

I lowered my head as I wasn’t sure how I could face Liu Biao. At the very least, I do know that I shouldn’t look at him with a strange look.

“Hai… At the very end, I still told you everything huh?”

Compared to me, Liu Biao didn’t seem emotional about it at all and only seemed a little regretful about telling me about it. After he spoke, he reached out for the win in front of him.

As I looked at the wine in the jar, a thought came to mind.

“Elder brother! Don’t…” I yelled out and s.n.a.t.c.hed the jar away, spilling some wine on our clothes.

“Oi, oi…” Liu Biao looked like he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and frowned as he said, “Umm, that wine isn’t poisoned. And didn’t you just drink from it as well?”

Ah… Now that he said it…