Liu Bei POV

After we entered the cabin, we followed Bo Fu along the corridors. When I took a closer look, I found that the wooden boards for the floor of the corridors had floral motifs on them. I don’t know what they are but I was impressed by the worksmans.h.i.+p.

The end of the corridors was the bow of the s.h.i.+p with a staircase that led upstairs. As I walked up, I noticed that there were wooden windows at every level. On the first level, there were some attendants and guards. The guards stood stock still and upright in the cabin and seemed unperturbed by the strong winds that blew in. Looks like they are very experienced at being out at sea.

“How long has it been since I last saw Xuan De?” Bo Fu said softly.

Though I think I won’t have a problem walking on my own after boarding, Bo Fu still held me as she did while we were boarding.

“From what I remember, we last met in summer so it should be about half a year.”

“Half a year huh.” Bo Fu gasped as she let go with 1 arm and used it to flatten her fringe, “As the saying goes: Time flows ceaselessly day and night like a river. Seems like an appropriate use of it now.”

(TL: Actual saying: 逝者如斯夫，不捨晝夜.)

“It’s only been half a year, there’s no need to exaggerate so much.” I smiled at the serious Bo Fu.

When she heard my words, she sighed, “A lot has happened to me this last half a year.”

When she finished, Bo Fu pulled down her outer tunic, revealing her bare skin underneath. I wanted to look away but when I saw her bandages about her left shoulder, I got a shock and couldn’t s.h.i.+ft my gaze away.

“This is…”

“I’ve done a lot this past half a year for the sake of my ambitions in Jiangdong. At the same time, I’ve also made a lot of enemies.” Bo Fu smiled, but I couldn’t feel any good feelings behind that smile. What I felt instead was heartfelt melancholy and fatigue.

The unification of Jiangdong huh. It’s been hard on you, Bo Fu.

“Is it serious?”

“… It’s alright.” Bo Fu squeezed these words out after a long while in silence.

I didn’t pursue the matter when she didn’t continue. All I did was silently, apply more strength into my arms and support her as she did for me.

The banquet was held on the 3rd floor of the cabin, and it was surprisingly big, in fact it was wider than most main halls. And because this was the highest level, the ceiling was rather high up, almost 10 meters tall. There were also intricate carvings on the walls and silk carpets as part of the decour. All it needed were some brick red pullars, and it would be of the same level of luxury as the Court hall in Xuchang.

As we entered the main hall, Bo Fu and I naturally sat at the head while the generals sat along either row behind us. On the left was Bo Fu’s side consisting of Zhou Yu, Lu Su, Lu Meng, Tais.h.i.+ Ci; on the right was our side consisting of Yun Chang, Yi De, Feng Xian, Zi Long.

As for the others, they were all spread out on the other s.h.i.+ps. This allowed them more freedom, as well as watch over the troops on the other s.h.i.+ps. As for the 4 of them who came with me, I’m actually rather worried.

Firstly, Zi Long. Wen Yuan should have been the 4th but because she couldn’t stand this sort of atmosphere, Zi Long came to make up the numbers instead. Zi Long is the sort who would definitely accept to come along for something like this, and so she did to the woe of me.

From the moment I sat down, Zi Long has been staring at me fixedly. When I took a closer look at her, I saw that she even had a brush in her hands and was ready to take down notes on her palm.

I don’t need to think to know that she plans to write down all my mistakes in this banquet. My sitting position, how I hold the cup, manner of speech etc etc, she would take down everything and give me a sermon later on so I’d better brace myself.

Secondly, Yi De. Yi De was actually named by Bo Fu to join in the banquet. It was clear that Bo Fu’s side did not know about what happened to Yi De so if any incident occurs later on related to the past Yi De, not only will it be awkward, it will also be bad for Yi De herself.

I snuck a peek at Lu Meng, who was the one from Bo Fu’s side who had the strongest connection to the past Yi De, and saw that she was staring at Yi De. I get the feeling that she will do something once the banquet starts.

While I was deep in my thoughts, Bo Fu had already grabbed her wine cup and raised it above her head.

“In the expedition against Yuan Shu, I fought together with Xuan De. Back then, Xuan De had given us extraordinary support which allowed us to prevail against Yuan Shu. Unfortunately, Xuan De was in a rush then and he wasn’t even able to leave a few words of farewell. I, Sun Ce Sun Bo Fu, have always repaid my favours manifold so I decided then that should Xuan De ever have need for help, I will definitely come to his aid.” As she said so, she looked at me and pushed her cup out at which I hurriedly picked up my cup and clinked cups with her, “Everyone, Xuan De is now here to visit Jiangdong under my invitation. I, Sun Ce Sun Bo Fu, am truly excited about this and hope that Xuan De can gain something from this trip.”

As she finished, she tilted her head upwards and downed the wine in the cup in 1 gulp.

“I look to Bo Fu for your understanding should we happen to do anything inappropriate in Jiangdong.” I gave some standard words for courtesy’s sake and raised my cup and downed its contents as well.

“But of course. Xuan De and your people need only bother to enjoy yourselves.”

*Pa*– *Pa*– Bo Fu laughed out loud as she patted my back rather forcefully, making me cough and spew some wine out.

Even though she was injured, her strength was still surprisingly large huh.

After I recovered, I looked down and saw that no one was listening to what Bo Fu and I said at all. Everyone was engrossed in drinking wine and eating meat. Only Tais.h.i.+ Ci and Zi Long were listening, and when I raised my cup, Zi Long followed suit as well and drank along with me.

“Don’t drink so much, Gong Jin. Why are you drinking so much when you know your liver isn’t strong?”

“Geh… Zi Jing! Are you bullying the weak and sick!?”

“No, look at you, you’ve begun to spout nonsense already…”

On the other side, it appears that Zhou Yu who had been drinking non-stop for a while now has gotten drunk and Lu Su has been taking care of her like an attendant, as he helped her wipe her mouth and persuaded her to no avail. Seems like Zhou Yu’s intelligence drops a fair bit once she gets in touch with alcohol.

But from my perspective, it seems like Zhou Yu and Lu Su’s relations.h.i.+p is more than just comrades. I’d never seen it that way before but now that they are both of different s.e.xes, I can’t help but to see it that way. But the more I thought about it, the more it felt weird.

“Zhang Fei! We haven’t seen each other in so long, why haven’t you come to talk to me at all huh~”

Un?!

On our side, Lu Meng had made it to Yi De before I knew it.

“L, lord Lu Meng, it’s been a while.”

“Un, it’s been a while Lord Yun Chang.” Lu Meng only gave a sentence in reply to Yun Chang’s attempt to distract her before returning her gaze to Yi De.

Cold sweat was running down my back. I looked nervously at Yi De and saw rhat she had an utterly baffled look on her face.

“This isn’t bragging but my martial prowess has greatly improved from before so if we have the time, we should definitely have a bout again.” Lu Meng wasn’t tall but she was filled with pride. She put 1 foot on the foot rest of Yi De’s chair, and 1 arm on the arm rest as she pushed her cup to Yi De, “But for today, we should have a good drink. Cheers.”

“…” Yi De looked at Lu Meng for a long while before she turned her gaze away and wordlessly picked her cup up and clinked it with Lu Meng’s and saying in a quiet and respectful tone, “Cheers.”

She clearly didn’t remember who she was but she still managed to follow through. Perhaps only this Yi De could do it.

Lu Meng smiled and nodded her head with satisfaction before she downed the contents in her wine cup.

“Lu Meng, how can you behave like that at a banquet… Return to your seat quickly.”

“Oh~”

Lu Meng only nodded and sauntered back to her seat after Bo Fu waved her hand and chided her.

Only when Lu Meng sat back down on her seat did I rest easy. Yun Chang probably feels the same way as I do.

“I let you see something unsightly, Xuan De.”

“No…” I didn’t know how to react to Bo Fu’s apologetic words but since she put her cup out, I decided not to say too much and clinked cups with her.

Jiangdong’s wine is stronger than the wine in the north. Though it’s not at the level as the wine from Xuchang, it’s sweet and easier on the throat.

“Kahaa…” Bo Fu sighed in satisfaction as she downed her wine.

The Bo Fu now is behaving exactly like a middle-aged uncle.

“Bo Fu should watch your health, and drink less if you can.”

It would be terrible if her wound opened up because of the effect of alcohol on her heart.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I can still drink a few cups for courtesy’s sake. Compared to Gong Jin, I’m in much better shape.” Bo Fu gave an exaggeratingly loud laugh as she said so. But her laugh grew softer and softer and I began to feel the sense of melancholy I’d felt before from her.

“Bo Fu, have you been too busy with work lately? Or are you a little tired?”

Bo Fu suddenly frowned and her eyes bulged when she heard what I said. She seemed like she wanted to turn to look at me but she stopped her gaze halfway and looked at the table in a daze.

While she stared fixedly ahead, her body rocked lightly from left to right. She then took a deep breath before giving a long exhalation.

“To tell you the truth, I haven’t been involved in the matters of ruling ever since I unified Jiangdong.” Bo Fu said as she absentmindedly swirled her wine cup, “And because of the injury, I have pa.s.sed on all authority to my little sister.”

So she’s pa.s.sed over Jiangdong to her little sister. That means she pa.s.sed it Sun Quan huh. But come to think of it…

“Zhou Yu will advise on external affairs, Zhang Zhao will advise on internal affairs… Huh?” I said these words which I suddenly recalled.

“Eh? How did you know, Xuan De?”

“Ah, no. I just…” I didn’t think that Bo Fu’s ears would be so sharp to pick it up so quickly. Naturally, I didn’t have an explanation for this.

“I guess it’s expected of Xuan De huh… Even though we only knew each other dor such a short time, you already understand me so well.”

Good thing that Bo Fu didn’t press me on this, and seems to have arrived at a satisfactory answer.

But if what I remembered wasn’t wrong, then after Bo Fu delegated responsibilities to his main officials, he should have…

My gaze slowly turned to the wound at Bo Fu’s shoulder. From the amount of bandages, it was clear that the wound wasn’t small and Bo Fu was obviously grievously wounded. So she survived even after all that huh…

“But since you’re recovering already, Bo Fu will take back the reins soon right?”

“Hahaha…” I said what I thought was an obvious conclusion but Bo Fu guffawed loudly as though I’d told a joke.

After she stopped laughing, Bo Fu’s smile disappeared and she closed her eyes as she said, “Xuan De, I’m tired. I don’t want to get involved with these troubled times anymore.”