Liu Bei did not have the habit of traveling by carriage.
However, after the excitement of their first meeting subsided, he also understood that it would be improper to forcibly drag Lu Su away and leave his mother behind. Such conduct would be discourteous.
Thus, after riding alongside the carriage for a short distance, Liu Bei simply dismounted, tossed the reins to a personal guard, and instructed him to take his horse back.
Those guards watched with wide eyes as their lord nimbly leapt into Lu Zijing's carriage. After a round of mutual courtesy and refusal, they finally saw their lord and Lu Zijing seated together in the front compartment of the carriage.
One held the reins.
The other grasped the riding whip.
Liu Bei even rested half a leg outside the carriage, letting it sway leisurely as they moved along, appearing entirely at ease.
"Has the Left General met the envoy from Jiangdong?"
Sitting in silence felt somewhat awkward, so Lu Su asked whatever came to mind. Yet he regretted the question the moment it left his mouth.
Given his current delicate status, even chatting about the scenery of Guanzhong might have been safer.
"I have. Bu Zhi."
Liu Bei could not help laughing as he spoke.
"This man was previously captured by Yide and invited over. I never expected to see him again in Chang'an."
"Oh, right. That is also where I met Bu Zhi."
"At the time, his expression was truly something to behold."
Liu Bei laughed mischievously and even gestured backward. Lu Su knew he was referring to that pavilion whose name had nearly made him die of embarrassment.
He chose not to comment.
"Oh yes, Envoy Bu is still in Chang'an. If Zijing wishes, you may meet him in a few days."
No. It would be best never to meet again. Lu Su made this decision silently.
At the same time, he felt fortunate that Bu Zhi had gone ahead first. Otherwise, arriving together would have been unbearably awkward.
Seeing Lu Su fall silent, Liu Bei gave the reins a slight shake and said,
"Zijing, what do you think…"
Lu Su straightened immediately. Here it comes.
To be asked how to pacify the realm, how to plan the state. Even if he had not yet decided where he would ultimately stand, when facing the lord of Zhuge Kongming, he, Lu Su, would certainly give his all.
Liu Bei hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"…about tonight's dinner. Should we go with Guanzhong's savory flavors, or Bashu's sweet ones?"
"Ah, ah, ah. Zijing, be careful!"
Lu Su, who had just gathered a breath full of lofty ambition, nearly choked on it. He almost lost his balance on the carriage, only to be steadied by Liu Bei grabbing him.
But seeing the genuine concern on Liu Bei's face, and recalling this Left General's sincerity and openness from beginning to end, Lu Su let out a breath and laughed.
"Savory flavors are refreshing, and Bashu sweets are also fine. Why not half of each?"
"A trivial matter." Liu Bei patted his chest and agreed readily, saying it would be no problem at all.
Thus that evening, the common folk returning from their labor in the fields saw Liu Huangshu personally driving a carriage back from outside the city.
For the people of Chang'an, who lacked gossip to spice up daily life, this became the most talked about topic over their evening meals.
As a result, Lu Su felt as though the entire city of Chang'an had come to know him.
"So this is the great talent from Jiangdong? He really came to Chang'an? He does not seem that good looking."
"Well, not everyone can be like Mister Kongming. At least I think Mister Lu looks better than Military Advisor Pang. I wonder if he is married…"
"Does Jiangdong belong to Huangshu now as well?"
"Hey, there was still an envoy from Jiangdong just days ago. Hard to say."
"Mister Lu truly deserves his reputation. Abandoning darkness and turning toward the light. He sees far."
"Ha, old man, you really know how to talk."
The crowds carrying farm tools after work, the lively chatter, the cooking smoke rising from every household, and the Left General beside him attentively observing it all.
Lu Su suddenly recalled the dream he had once had after forming his youthful ambitions. What he now saw seemed to be slowly aligning with that dream.
The residence Liu Bei selected for him was not luxurious, but everything needed for daily life was provided, and it was spotless.
Madam Lu liked it very much. Less than half an hour after moving in, she was already chatting familiarly with the neighbors over the low courtyard wall. In the blink of an eye, she had even arranged to go eat dinner at a neighbor's home to avoid the trouble of cooking.
Facing her son's helpless expression, she spoke with complete justification.
"The Left General already asked about your tastes. If you do not go, would that not be disrespectful?"
That was true. In the end, Lu Su could only comply and head out.
A mounted attendant who had been waiting helped Lu Su onto a Liangzhou warhorse and then led the way ahead.
Such a tall and fine steed, in Jiangdong, would have been hidden away in the stables of great clans, adorned with silk, decorated with gold and silver, fed choice grain, serving as transport for nobles.
Yet the horse beneath him bore no gold or silver ornaments at all. Instead, its vigorous form carried a wildness Lu Su had never seen before. Though he was not a cavalryman, a thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
This would be a fine warhorse.
The dinner banquet at the General's residence lasted deep into the night.
As the actual promoter and executor of the Sun Liu alliance before the Battle of Red Cliffs, the only unfamiliar face to Lu Su among Liu Bei's followers was Fa Zheng.
Even Pang Tong was someone he had known before, having once served under Sun Quan. They were quite familiar.
Pang Tong even used this as an excuse to come over smiling and share a cup of wine with Lu Su.
However, the looks others gave him were somewhat difficult to decipher. Zhang Yide even squeezed over, patted his shoulder, and said, "Zijing supporting ten thousand is truly no easy feat," leaving Lu Su utterly baffled.
Even Ma Chao, with whom he had no prior interaction, came to drink a cup, saying that being able to see a living Lu Zijing was not easy.
These strange moments ultimately did not trouble Lu Su too much. Aside from them, the welcoming banquet was nearly perfect.
The savory Guanzhong flavors made Lu Su exclaim in delight, and the sweet dishes made with cane sugar left him eating until his belly was round.
Yet until he passed out drunk, the question he had worried about the most was never raised by anyone.
Waking from his hangover beneath an unfamiliar roof, Lu Su was momentarily dazed. After sorting through the events in his mind, he found himself unwilling to get up.
After half a year of crossing seas and rivers, such leisure now felt all the more precious.
But… something seemed forgotten. What had he forgotten?
Only after a moment did a thunderous voice explode outside the door, startling Lu Su badly.
"Zijing, Zijing, are you home?"
"The light screen is about to open. I am here by my elder brother's order to fetch Military Advisor Lu."
"Damn it." Only then did Lu Su remember what he had forgotten. The Left General had mentioned twice yesterday that they would view the light screen together this morning. He simply had not taken it to heart, as he did not know what a light screen was.
He hurriedly dressed and washed. Before he could even ask, Zhang Fei hoisted him onto a great horse with one strong pull and slapped the horse's hindquarters, sending it into motion.
Thus, only after being dragged into the main hall by Zhang Fei and hastily fastening his belt did Lu Su finally have time to ask the Liu Bei seated at the head.
"Left General, what is this light screen?"
"Zijing, please sit." Liu Bei gestured lightly, pointing to an empty seat.
Lu Su saw that this seat was right next to Kongming and Shiyuan.
He recalled how Zhang Fei had just called him Military Advisor Lu.
At the same time, intelligence he had encountered back in Jiangdong resurfaced in his mind.
Liu Bei's camp often held secret discussions on a three month cycle.
Coming back to himself and looking around the hall, where more than ten people sat, civil and military alike, all clearly trusted confidants of the Left General.
A trace of grievance unexpectedly arose in Lu Su's heart. Did this Left General truly believe he had him firmly in hand?
Such tangled thoughts were not known to Zhang Fei. The general simply carried out his brother's orders dutifully, draping an arm around Lu Su and pressing him into his seat.
Facing the friendly smiles from Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong on either side, Lu Su raised his chin slightly and did not respond.
You may scheme for the world as you please. Do not think to extract even a single word of counsel from me.
Wolong and Fengchu were both perceptive minds. In an instant, they guessed Lu Su's mood and exchanged amused glances that conveyed a single meaning.
Just watch.
But soon Lu Su could not hold it together, because Liu Bei at the head remained silent, while Zhang Fei, who had just brought him in, began bustling about.
Steamed cakes, meat paste, canned fruit, dried fruits and other items were brought in and placed on each person's table.
The two old friends beside him acted completely at ease, even adopting more relaxed postures, which made Lu Su suspicious.
What kind of secret meeting was this supposed to be?
Since food had been provided, and he had not eaten breakfast, Lu Su accepted it readily. He served himself a portion of canned lychees.
Shiyuan had taught him yesterday to dip this in sugar powder. Lu Su's evaluation at the time had been simple.
Overwhelmingly sweet. A true delicacy.
Before the sugar coated lychee flesh even reached the point of chewing, Lu Su was startled again as the air split open and a glowing screen abruptly appeared.
"This… cough cough cough. What is this?"
The sweetness nearly lodged in his throat. In an instant, Lu Su thought of a possibility and said tremblingly,
"Could it be… that I drowned at sea long ago, and all of this is but a dream seen in the underworld?"
Lu Su had heard this legend in Jiangdong and found it the most reasonable explanation. Otherwise, it was difficult to explain what he had seen in Chang'an, or the softly glowing screen torn open in midair.
Kongming paused upon hearing this, then tossed the note he had just written into the screen and laughed aloud.
"Lu Zijing, praised by later generations for spreading virtue and authority far and wide, does not even know whether he is alive or dead?"
Later generations? Praised? Lu Su's mind grew even more chaotic.
Yet at that moment, a calm voice emerged from the light screen. Lu Su instinctively focused and listened.
[Lightscreen]
["Hello, hello, honored viewers. I am Wen Mang, the regularly updating number one illiterate creator in the history and culture section.
Wait, why does that introduction sound so familiar?
Alright, let us skip the chatter and get straight to the topic.
Last episode, we talked about climate, epidemics, and the dynastic cycles they triggered.
Today, from the same angle, we will discuss women who, even in the era of feudal dynasties, stubbornly made it to the table and played brilliantly.
And when it comes to this topic, there is only one true centerpiece.
The female emperor of the Wu Zhou dynasty.
Wu Zetian."]
[Server Chat Log]
"Zhuge Liang: Today, Jiangdong's Lu Zijing has come from afar. Viewing the light screen together is a joy.
Li Shimin: Lu Su is not yet dead? That Wu emperor who granted the posthumous title 'Ten Thousand' was willing to let such a great talent go?"