Volume 2 Chapter 16: Dont tell me that the discussion of heroes over wine is the last chapter of volume2

TL: Last chapter of the main story for volume 2! Next is a 5-10 part extra story for volume 2. As Ive said before, this is genuinely a plot driven story. Up till now it has really just been a prologue and things will start heating up and the later we go, there will be more differences from the original. From now on, Ill also translate some author Q&As.

Reader: I really hope that Xuan De and Meng De end up together in the end.

Author: I hope so too but who knows (Shrugs)

Hu, I finally made it out.

But! I didnt agree to what they wanted to do!! Assassinating Meng De! How can I do such a thing?

Un Should I tell Meng De?

But if I do that, then those people will I dont know how Meng De will deal with them.

Such a pain! If I knew it would be like this, I wouldnt have gone, or maybe let Yun Chang come along No that might be even worse.

But leaving that aside, from what Ive seen in Xuchang so far, I feel that this does seem like an appropriate place to be the new capital.

People are leading safe and prosperous lives, business is thriving, though I dont know if there are thieves about but I havent met with any yet.

Ive had to go to Court early in the morning after shortly arriving here. After that, before I could even rest in the inn, I got called to meet the State Uncle by that signaller and had to listen to that bullshit. As I looked up to the sky, I saw that it was already noon now.

Hai, Im starting to realise that I havent been able to have breakfast lately, and even lunch has been becoming a sporadic affair as well.

Un? Wait I happen to have some free time now, and Yun Chang and the rest should be out for lunch too, so now should be the perfect time for me to try out the local cuisines alone. I happen to have some money in my purse too.

As I thought so, I went to feel for my purse.

Eh? Wheres my purse? Damn it!! Ive been robbed!! And I was just praising this place.

Hai~ No choice but to return to the inn first. I sighed as I accepted my fate and headed in the direction for the inn. Looks like Im going to be scolded by Mi Zhu again.

(TL: He really is a kept man Being given an allowance lol.)

Yo, Xuan De, whyre you here?

Un? I looked tiredly over and got a shock.

Meng De?! As I turned around, I saw the very person we had been talking about. This isnt good.

Xuan De, you havent been back to the inn? Un Ah, you came out to have lunch right? Meng De nodded.

Ah, ah, Yes. Thats it.

Un? Whats wrong, why are you so nervous?

Am I?

Im suffering from a guilty conscience of being witness, though not accomplice, to and being included in the Cao Cao Assassination Group. I cannot even look Meng De in the eye now.

Maa, not that it matters.

Hu~ I heaved a sigh of relief as Meng De did not pursue the matter.

Lets go.

Ah? Where to?

Isnt it obvious? Meng said as she pointed to a row of shops. Lunch, my treat.

(TL: MC just makes girls want to take care of him and feed him lol.)

I followed Meng De into a restaurant and couldnt help but to say the matter I was met with earlier. Not the matter with State Uncle, but the one where I was robbed.

Is that so, so Xuan De was robbed huh. Meng De laughed after hearing my grievances. But that thief really has a good eye huh, to be able to tell in an instant that youre like a block of wood.

Im human okay?

Hai~ I was already down to begin with and was hoping to get a good meal and lighten up but who knew that Id lost my money.

As I looked at Meng De, my mood continued to get worse.

Ah, Meng De, I think Ill go back first, I feel bad about having you splurge on me.

If you have free time to eat with me, why not solve the crime issue here. And moreover, having a girl treat me is

Aiya, dont be so reserved. Meng De waved at the me who was getting up and bade me to sit down, No matter what, Im an Imperial Chancellor already.

Honestly, I have some words that I really cant say.

Un? Could you be thinking To think an Imperial Chancellor would be eating lunch at a third rate street restaurant, or something like that.

I frantically shook my head.

Pu, looking at your reaction, youre definitely thinking something like that. Meng De broke out in laughter as she looked at me.

I didnt think that my expression would be read do easily.

I have a reason for eating here. Meng De said as she pointed at the restaurants sign that said Bronze Cauldron.

What does it mean?

Ah, its served. Meng De said, her tone filled with elation.

Ah Isnt this What was served was not just a bronze cauldron, but a heap of fresh ingredients and 2 plates of some kind of sauce.

Im guessing youve never eaten this before. I chanced upon this stall and was pleasantly surprised by how it tasted. Meng De said as she took a piece of vegetable and stirred it in the bronze cauldron before taking it out and dipping it sauce, and finally putting it in her mouth gently. Un!~~~ This is it! Xuan De, you should try it too.

Ah, ah. I nodded.

Isnt this just shabu-shabu!!

(TL: I have no idea what the English name is for shabu-shabu. Its not hotpot, thats a general term.)

I wanted to throw a tsukkomi but I remembered the era I was in and held it back. But that wasnt all, I had to act like Ive never eaten or seen this before too.

Meng De, do you see this dish often around here?

No, this should be the only one in all of Central Plains. Meng De said as she ate, Thinking about it another way, perhaps the people arent used to eating like this. I like it though. And since the weather has begun to become colder, we should eat something hot. Look, theres even heat rising from the fire below.

Indeed, if theres no heat, it wouldnt be called hotpot.

(TL: Raw Theres even a fire below (with no reference to steam). The wordplay was in the term which is hotpot in Mandarin.)

I gave a helpless smile as I started picking up food and stirring it in the cauldron. As I ate, I couldnt help but be amazed at the long history of Chinese cuisine.

I really didnt think that there were hotpots in this era. I guess this can be considered a blessing.

Boss, warm a flask wine for us!

Pu! I couldnt help but laugh when I saw Meng Des expression.

Ah? Whats the matter? Meng De frantically wiped her mouth when she saw me laughing at her and asked. Do I have some sauce on my face?

No no no, I was just laughing at how you spoke and ate just now. You look just like Yi De when I first met her.

Back then, Yi De was also shouting like that and then I was pulled onto the tracks of the true history.

True Haha, is this really true though? I wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of my thoughts.

Hou hou~~~ Lord Zhang Fei is it? Looks like you all have quite a good relationship huh.

Of course, shes my little sister after all. I looked at Meng De as I ate, Ah, speaking of which Meng De

Ah? What is it this time?

You have sauce on your nose.

Eh!! Meng De hurriedly turned around and wiped her nose with her clothes, not caring if they got stained.

Haha, Meng De has a cute side to her huh.

The wine for you 2 has been warmed. The xiaoer brought over 2 bowls of wine on a wooden tray and set them on the table.

I hope Meng De has a good drinking capacity.

Meng De sip her wine refinedly, without a ha~~ or good after she swallowed.

Looks like shes okay or maybe the alcohol isnt too much. Let me try

*Shiku*~

So strong! *Ke* *Ke* *Ke*

I grabbed my throat with both arms and stuck my tongue out like a puppy.

Un? Xuan De hasnt drank the wine in Xuchang yet? The wine here is famous for its strength. Meng De drank her wine nonchalantly as she looked at me.

Meng Des drinking capacity is not just good, its seriously good. She probably trained it up from her long time in the Central Plains. As expected, hard liquor is a bit too much for me.

Right, Meng De spoke after her second cup of wine, Xuan De, who do you think is able to prop upthe Han?

All of a sudden, Meng De who was just drinking a moment ago threw out a curveball at me.

Eh? Prop up the Han? Ah

Isnt that you?

Though I wanted to reply her with that, I should probably abide by social niceties and suggest someone else.

Ah What about Yuan Shao in the north? She has a high official rank, a strong army and rich lands. If she wants to prop up the Han, Im sure she can do it.

Of course, that is if she wants to.

Ben Chu huh Indeed, with her power, propping up the Han shouldnt be an issue. Meng De said as she took a bite of vegetables, But Ill eventually consume all the power she has so she doesnt count.

You actually said such aggressive words in a direct manner. Its almost as if she is waiting for me to say Its you Meng De.

Then the only one left is you, Meng De. I submitted my answer script, without any inhibitions.

Honestly, there really isnt much point to that question. Who else could there be besides Meng De?

Un Meng De nodded slowly then shook her head and said, No, there is one other person.

Ah? Who? I said as I took more vegetables and stirred them in the cauldron, not really paying attention.

That person, Though it could be me thinking too much, but it really seemed like Meng De was looking at me with a look at admiration as she said so, Is you.

Ah?

I Hot!!!! I placed the vegetable in my mouth and got a shock from it being too hot and dropped the vegetable as well as the chopsticks.

Id forgotten while talking with Meng De that Im bad with hot food.

Xiaoer, get me a new pair of chopsticks. I hollered toward the inside of the stall as I picked up the chopsticks from the floor and turned to Meng De and said, You think that the other person who can prop up the Han is me?

Meng De nodded.

Maa, that is indeed true since I am Liu Bei after all, though I myself do not have such lofty ambitions.

Un, since you said it, then I guess Im good as well.

Oi, what kind of reply is that, youre clearly patronising me. Meng De said unhappily.

No, I mean what I said. I didnt have any mood to argue and so I just gave a reply so she wouldnt think that way.

In that case, youre my rival then. Meng De probably has some hidden meaning behind those words.

But I cant read them of course.

After Meng De said that, I could only ask, So?

So, Meng De said, and walked right up to my side before continuing, Why not come and work for me.

Eh!?

She suddenly came up close and whispered in my ear, so I heard her loud and clear but at the same time I could feel my face getting red hot. as I got so nervous that the chopsticks I had just picked up fell to the ground once more.

Where did that invitation come from.

Though I hoped very much that Meng De was just joking, I could tell from her expression that she was dead serious.

Wh, when did you

Ive wanted you as a subordinate for a while now. Meng De smiled as she interrupted the flustered me. For some reason, the smile this time seemed especially captivating. I have political reasons, and personal reasons, for doing so.

But, even if Meng De says that

Its nothing, no need to rush. Think it over think it over. Meng De returned to her seat after she was finished and then resumed eating.

Though my chopsticks were moving, I wasnt thinking about eating at all and was considering 2 matters.

One was the edict in the sleeve, another was what Meng De just told me.

As I continued to think, I could no longer taste anything I ate from the hotpot but still continued eating anyway to stave off hunger.

How was it? Not only was this meal delicious, its also inexpensive.

Un, indeed.

All things considered, being able to have a nice hotpot in the era of the Three Kingdoms is very wonderful indeed.

And its about time I made a decision about what Meng De said. This is, after all, my own path.

While Im still in this era, as long as I have not returned to the future, Im Liu Bei.

Un.

Meng De.

After we finished eating, I stopped Meng De just as she was about to leave.

Un?

Though I feel bad about it, I wont be joining you as your subordinate. I said with all seriousness.

Is that so. I thought so too.

Eh? You thought so too?

Thats right. I felt that you wouldnt join me but I just asked anyway. Meng De seemed to have known what my reply was and merely smiled without a shred of surprise or shock, Perhaps some day we may meet on the battlefield as opposing sides.

I smiled in response, as that was, after all, the fate that awaits Liu Bei and Cao Cao.

But for some reason, I hoped that such a hateful scene would never come to pass.

Un, Of course, I feel that Liu Bei and Cao Caos relationship is not limited to the battlefield. Even if that comes to pass, we will still be friends.

Friends Huh. Meng De said discontentedly and then began uttering under her breath, The very reason why I wanted you under my command was so that we wouldnt stop at being just friends

Eh?

What did Meng De just say?

Un As expected I cant be too hasty and rush things.

Dont leave me hanging

Now I was getting nervous.

No, its nothing. Meng De shook her head, In any case, just rest for now. If theres anything, Ill come and find you.

Un, Ill go and collect my salary as Governor of Yu state sometime over the next few days.

Though I dont know yet how much I can collect.

After that, I parted ways with Meng De. Nothing big happened for the next few days, not even with the State Uncle and his faction.

But peace in a time of chaos is something that goes against logic and so this day, something happened.

Yuan Shu declared herself Emperor.

(TL: Im using the term Emperor here for 2 reasons. First, Wu Zetian is also called Emperor for the period when she officially took the role. Second, in Mandarin, the term is actually gender neutral but since there has never been a female monarch except Wu Zetian, it has male connotations.)

(TL: This scene is actually a brilliant remake of the original. In the original, Liu Bei had started gardening to throw off Cao Caos suspicions after he joined Dong Chengs conspiracy. After a few days, Cao Cao invited him for wine and Liu Bei thought that Cao Cao suspected him. But Cao Cao only wanted to invite him for wine and the conversation they had was similar to the one here.)