Vol 10 Chapter 50 (1/2)
Chapter 50
VOLUME 10 CHAPTER 50: DON’T TELL ME THIS IS A MEETING WITH XU SHU (2)
Meng De POV
“May I ask if Teacher Xu Shu’s sugar water is exceptionally good?”
“Not at all.” Xu Shu replied as she capped the gourd, “I’m just an amateur.”
“Hahaha, you’re being too humble.” I said as I wiped my mouth, “If possible, I would really like to try it.”
“Stop joking.” Xu Shu said as she kept her gourd instead of bringing it to me. Even though our exchange seemed to calm, it would be rather discomforting to an onlooker. From my perspective however, I am actually rather amused.
“Teacher Xu Shu, I have already submitted an appeal for a position in Imperial Court for you. When the letter of appointment arrives, you can a.s.sume your position immediately.” I said and squinted at Xu Shu’s stony face, “Why? Are you unhappy?”
“Why do you ask that?”
“I heard from your mother that being an Imperial Court official has been your ambition. Now that it has come to fruition, why don’t you seem happy at all?”
When I finished, Xu Shu finally looked at me in the eye for the first time.
“My mother is already old yet you brought her here all the way from Xiliang. There is no doubt that she suffered from the long and arduous journey. Imperial Chancellor does not know about my mother and her habits either and when I saw her yesterday, she was indeed ill and exhausted. I am going to have to care for her for a while yet. This is number 1. You forced me to abandon Xinye and come up north using my mother. You might aim to recruit me or a.s.sa.s.sinate me and I have no idea which is it and will have to live in fear. This is number 2. Now that Xinye lacks a lead strategist and the first point of a.s.sault for your southern campaign will be Xinye, my leaving Xinye is a dishonourable and disloyal act. Should I not be worried and resentful?”
Xu Shu sighed when she finished and shook her head at me, “And so, the only good news is that mother and daughter have reunited at the capital. How am I supposed to be happy with this?”
After that long speech, there is no one who would doubt Xu Shu’s capabilities. And as expected, her heart lies in Xinye and there is no way she will devote herself to my cause just from such small favours.
“But from my perspective, you should be elated. I heard that Teacher Xu Shu ran away after committing a crime when she was young and her family and friends were forced to move to labour camps in the frontier as penance. This was most certainly an unfilial act. Now that you have reunited with your mother, you have the opportunity to fulfill your filial duties. This is the first thing you should be thankful for. I am the Imperial Chancellor of the Great Han and am recruiting talented individuals all over the world to work for the Great Han. Teacher Xu Shu has received my favour to work for the Imperial Court and is able to be of service to the Great Han and be a truly loyal individual. This is the second thing you should be thankful for. Now that Teacher Xu Shu is able to be both loyal and filial, what reason is there to be unhappy?”
I did my best to make my speech as harsh as possible and stared intensely at Xu Shu as I delivered my reply. If it were anyone else, they would have been sweating and feeling uneasy or perhaps be angered. But Xu Shu waited quietly and calmly for me to finish before she countered.
“My mother is honourable and benevolent and loves her children. I too have been sending money and other goods regularly and have bade my brothers to take good care of her. None of my family members have ever called me unfilial so I don’t know wh
ere you got that idea from. I, Xu Shu, may be a common ruffian but I do know things about the Great Han. As for whether working for the present Imperial Court is equivalent to working for the Great Han, I’m sure you’re clearer on that than I am.”
“Oh?” My eyebrows jumped and I ignored her sarcasm, “By that, can I a.s.sume you to imply that working for Xinye is working for the Great Han?”
“…”
When she heard my question, Xu Shu seemed to waver slightly as I could see her fists clenched together. Seeing this also made me nervous.
“Imperial Chancellor, what do you mean by this?”
“It’s very simple, isn’t it? Now that Liu Bei is dead, I cannot fathom what kind of link his faction has with the Great Han.” I said as I suppressed the irritation and nervousness I felt.
So, could it be…
“My lord.”
Ah… Just as the nervous atmosphere was becoming unbearable, the voice form outside the room made me take a deep breath involuntarily. I looked outside and saw Li Dian Li Man Cheng standing outside and saluting and bowing to me.
“There were some issues back at the encampment which hampered me from coming here on time. Please do forgive me.”
“That’s fine.” I said and gestured for her to come in, “Come in and have seat.”
“Yes!.”
I was finally able to put a smile on my face again. Back when we were discussing Liu Bei, I doubt I was able to keep it on. Now that Man Cheng is here, my feelings are still a mess but it’s still better than before.
As she entered, she looked at me and removed her hat before bowing and saluting again.
“Sit.” I said and gestured to her.
She nodded and sat down beside me and opposite of Xu Shu.
“Lord Xu Shu, to think we would meet like this.”
“…”