Water Margin: Lu Bu sits on Mount Liang

The stars sparkled in the blue-black night sky, and the twinkling stars corresponded to the tiny lights below. However, it was obvious that the capital city under curfew could not have the whole city be brightly lit at night, and it was impossible to look at the moon and the stars from a high place.

Looking from the sky, sparse flames were scattered throughout Linhuang Prefecture, and most of them were concentrated in the imperial city. At this time, the largest light source was in the east side hall.

The angry lantern was hung under the eaves, and the flower-patterned lanterns in the same courtyard were trying hard to release their light. Yu Cheng was sitting at the door of the small courtyard of the side hall, eating with big mouthfuls of food. The phoenix-head axe that he never left was placed horizontally on his legs. Beside him were five burly guards in iron armor. Soldiers in military uniforms kept walking back and forth in the courtyard with food trays in their hands. The fragrant smell made people's appetites whet.

In the lighted room, a reddish-brown painted wooden table was placed in the middle. The guards passing by put the meals in their hands on the table. Several hot dishes, including carved Hu rice, crispy yellow du, fried tofu, pheasant soup, and roasted lamb legs, were still steaming. A plate of candied fruit was placed on the side, which was also very beautiful. It was obvious that a lot of thought had been put into its preparation.

At the wooden table, Lü Bu and Yelu Daribo sat opposite each other. Under the dim light, the young princess twitched her nose, then raised her head, looked at the man opposite with a hint of stubbornness, and said sarcastically: "You are the King of Qi, but you don't know that your subordinates are looking for women behind your back. Your skill in controlling subordinates is really the pinnacle."

She looked down at the food on the table, then raised her head again: "As for these things, I was unwilling to even taste them in the palace in the past."

Lu Bu scooped the wine into the wine cup, raised his eyelids and looked at her, and said without getting angry: "You are that woman."

bang——

"You..." Yelu Daribo slapped the nanmu table, and the recoil force made her pretty face twitch.

"Does it hurt?"

Lu Bu asked at a very appropriate time, but the way he tried to hold back his laughter looked deliberate.

"It doesn't hurt." Yelu Daribo said this through gritted teeth, hummed twice, put his hand down, held it and rubbed it with his other hand, then swallowed his saliva as he looked at the delicious food on the table.

"Okay, you don't have to be upset. Although I don't know what the subordinates said, I won't blame them for such things." After drinking the wine in the wine cup in one gulp, Lu Bu looked at the upset princess opposite him and said, "Just treat it as my request."

"...You men are all the same." Yelu Daribo said hatefully, then picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of fried tofu and put it into his mouth, and used his other hand to pour wine.

Lu Bu was curious and deliberately asked, "Why are you eating it now? Didn't you say you didn't want to taste it?"

"... Humph." Yelu Dalibo took a sip of wine, and a blush flashed across her pretty face. "Why don't you try being surrounded by the enemy on the top of the city? You can't eat or drink well, and you're worried about being attacked when you sleep. After the gate is opened, your soldiers won't let people move around freely. This princess has been hungry for a long time..." She reached out and picked up the roasted lamb leg, opened her red lips and took a bite, sobbing, "I just think of it as filling my stomach, not because I'm greedy."

Lu Bu did not speak immediately, but ate some food and turned the wine cup. He watched her take a few more sips of wine, and her face became even redder. He then spoke: "Wine hurts people and often makes people haggard. It is better not to drink if you can. Besides, you don't look like you can drink."

"Aren't you drinking too? Why do you care about me?" Yelu Dalibo took another sip of wine, his beautiful eyes a little blurry: "Don't think that you can get everything from me just because you are the winner."

Lu Bu was stunned, looking at the girl opposite him who was just drinking wine and eating meat, but he found that she was drinking too, as if they were in a competition. It was a bit funny for a moment, and he didn't explain why he couldn't get drunk now.

Gradually, the food on the table became less and less. Yelu Dalibo, who was a little drunk, put down his chopsticks with a "pop", picked up the wet towel beside the table to wipe his mouth and hands, and stood up: "I'm full."

"Hmm?" Lu Bu looked up at her, not knowing why she suddenly said this.

"Don't you want me?" Yelu Daribo said, and went to lie down on the bed, shouting, "Come on—"

"It's still a little wild horse..." The man sitting there couldn't help but laugh. His originally indifferent mood was actually brought up by her. He wiped it with a wet towel, looked at the candlelight, and walked over to blow it.

The light suddenly dimmed, and Yelu Daribo couldn't help but move. Then he heard footsteps coming towards the bed and immediately closed his eyes tightly.

In the darkness, I felt a pair of large hands on my body. I immediately pushed my hands forward and opened my eyes to look at the face that was so close: "Wait..."

Lu Bu raised his eyebrows and looked at the girl with stubbornness in her eyes.

"Let me make it clear first. My brother is Aoluwo, and he treats me like his own sister. If you run into him in the future, can you spare his life?" Yelu Daribo put more strength in his hands. "And his mother, Concubine Wen, also treats me like her own daughter."

"Yes." Lu Bu felt the soft body of the girl below him tremble a little, and nodded: "I don't mind raising a prince of peace." He paused slightly and asked curiously: "You don't want to plead for your father?"

"He...only came to see me a few times."

Yelu Daribo was nervous and blurted out the words before she could react for a moment. Then she stared at Lu Bu for a few breaths before she relaxed her hands and closed her eyes again. She no longer thought about what would happen to her father. She would certainly not be able to escape from such a war. She only cared about her brother and Concubine Wen who had treated her very well before.

However, even if she heard the promise, she didn't know whether the other party would keep it. In such matters, she was the passive party and could only pray that the other party would do as she said after receiving it.

"Then go to sleep, the night is still long..."

Lu Bu pulled her hand down and blew out the bedside lamp.

A drunk Hu horse goes to the capital, and a solitary dragon falls into the pond.

The first time I entered the palace of human relations, I roared at people on a spring night.

……

The goshawk soared over the glowing sphere, uttering a long, sharp cry. It flew over the clouds. In the biting wind, it glanced at the long black dragon below, then flapped its wings and flew off into the distance.

The morning dew was hanging on the tips of the green grass, and was about to fall off. A black figure appeared in the distance on the faintly shaking ground. The wheels rolled over the green grass, rolling up the slightly moist black soil. The horses pulling the cart moved their limbs with all their might, panting and struggling forward. The soldiers following beside them waved their whips and lashed the prisoners in brown clothes a few times, shouting at them to walk faster. From time to time, a vehicle fell into a shallow pit, and several prisoners stepped forward and pushed the cart hard amid shouts and scolding.

This scene continued all the way to the north gate of Linhuang Prefecture.

The one who came to greet them was Wanyan Zongbing. He bowed his head respectfully as he looked at the Wanyan Shitumen team coming over. This veteran was also very famous in his father's time. It was no wonder that he was in such a bad state now. The winner takes all at any time.

"It's been a long time since we last met, Silang. You're still as strong as ever." Wanyan Shitumen smiled generously, stepped forward and patted Wanyan Zongbing's arm. He looked up at the gate of Shangjing City and stroked his gray beard, "They actually took it down. It was really fast."

"Just lucky." Wanyan Zongbing remained calm, looking at the old general in front of him and curled his lips obscurely: "The dog emperor of Liao is not here, so it's much simpler."

"Sometimes luck is even more terrifying." Wanyan Shitumen looked at him and patted his shoulder: "It's not easy to make enemies with people who are lucky."

Wanyan Zongbing frowned, feeling that he had something else to say. While he was hesitating, the old general turned back and shouted, "Hurry up and transport the food and grass in, so that we can set up camp and rest early."

Then he looked at Wanyan Zongbi and said, "Please forgive me, Silang. I will go in and hand in the military order first, and then we will meet again."

"...Please do as you please." Wanyan Zongbing nodded, and immediately made way for him, watching the old general lead his troops into the city. Before he returned to the city gate, he heard a call: "Silang, Silang, don't leave yet." Wanyan Zongbing turned around and saw Wanyan Chanchun's face. He ran over quickly and took a breath: "Where is Silang resting now? I will be fine after my father transports the food. Let's have a few drinks together."

Wanyan Zongbing smiled when he saw him. "It's been a long time since we last met. My temporary residence is on the left side of the Imperial City near Dashun Gate. I will be taking over from someone else at 3 p.m. today. You can come find me then."

"Okay!" Wanyan Chanchun waved at him and ran towards Shangjing City: "It's settled. I'll go into the city first."

Nodding, Wanyan Zongbing exhaled as he looked at the back figure blending into the crowd, then turned to look at the guards beside him and said, "Let's go and sit on the top of the city gate. We finally came to Linhuang Prefecture, but it's bad luck if we don't get a noble lady."

"vomit--"

The saliva splashed on the ground, and the soft muttering dissipated in the wind: "I sleep with the princess, while others can only sleep with the palace maids, what a joke..."

The guards behind him had no expression on their faces and followed him quietly.

South of Shangjing City.

On the vast field, another infantry was marching. The people marching in a line startled the animals in the grass. Scouts and cavalry were galloping everywhere. As a war horse quickly ran into the central army from the north, the generals surrounding them rode their horses and rushed over. They were the infantry officers left behind by Lu Bu, and they were rushing towards Linhuang Prefecture along the main road.

Wang Zheng looked at the paper in his hand, which was covered with words, and a smile appeared on his face. The news that Linhuang Prefecture had fallen into his hands yesterday had already spread among the army, but he was still waiting for other news. Now, seeing the message from Du Fu, he couldn't help but look up and shake the paper in his hand: "Good news, the king is in a very good mood, and even married a daughter of the Liao emperor."

The three generals beside him smiled and huddled together, whispering to each other as they marched.

……

The midsummer sunlight shone through the window, and some cool air squeezed in through the window gap. The delicacies on the table had long since cooled down, and the dripping fat had solidified into irregular shapes. The wooden bed hung with gauze swayed gently, and a figure sat up on the bed, then got off the bed, stretched his muscles, and made a crackling sound of bones.

"Woo... um..." A dissatisfied voice sounded on the wooden bed.

The fair arms were stretched out on the red quilt, the delicate body wrapped inside turned around, the black hair spread out on the pillow, and the curled body changed direction again: "Don't bother me..."

A lazy, tired voice echoed across the wooden bed.

Lu Bu turned his head and looked, and smiled inexplicably. Being with the young girl, he even felt that he was a lot younger. As he turned his head, his eyes swept across the bronze mirror. He walked towards that side involuntarily and looked left and right in the mirror.

"I am still young..."

He said softly, reached out to pick up his clothes, put them on, and tied his belt. He did not expect Yelu Daribo to get up and serve him after a night, so he was not angry. Instead, he took a breath with some spiritedness, glanced at the Liao princess who had fallen asleep again, and walked out of the room.

Outside, there was a middle-aged palace maid standing there holding a porcelain bowl. There were a few black pills in the white porcelain bowl.

Lu Bu glanced at her sideways, then walked past her without saying anything.

"Your Majesty." Yu Cheng walked up to him wearing armor.

"What are you doing..." Lu Bu looked at the dew on his body and the dark circles under his eyes, and then looked at the layout of the East Side Hall: "Isn't there a side room over there? Why aren't you sleeping?"

"...My king, your room has been making noises all night." Yu Cheng's mouth twitched, he looked at him with some resentment, and shrugged: "How can I sleep like this?"

Are the walls in this room so thin?
Lu Bu turned his head to look, his old face slightly hot, then he stepped out and asked calmly: "Are the others up?"

"I don't know about that." Yu Cheng scratched the back of his neck, then chuckled, "I won't talk about the others, but Wanyan Loushi and Wanyan Zonghan must have not gotten up. They each have five wives, so it's lucky that they can get out of bed today."

"Hahaha--"

The figure walking outside laughed loudly. The soldiers standing outside puffed out their chests when they heard the sound. The figure who was looking around in the west side hall opposite shrank back.

"Oh, my king." Yu Cheng walked down the stairs and took out a note from his waist: "The scout just sent a message that the military advisor and the generals will arrive at noon."

A personal guard came over leading Red Hare.

"That's good. Remember to have the scouts run farther away to see where Yelu Yanxi ran to. Also..." The figure with his hand on the saddle stopped and said, "Tell the men below to be respectful to Tianshou."

Yu Cheng nodded: "Yes."

He mounted his horse and soon rode to the meeting place ahead.

……

West side hall.

The spring sunshine shines on the ground as the white clouds move away, just like usual, yet seems a little different.

Zhao Zhaorong practiced sword techniques for a few times with the long sword, then sheathed the sword and handed it to the eunuch beside her.

"Master..." The maid with some crow's feet came over: "You don't want to practice anymore?"

"I feel irritated, so I won't practice anymore." Zhao Zhaorong shook her head and looked up at the rolling clouds: "Has Daribo risen?"

The maid knew what she wanted to ask and shook her head: "Not yet. The King of Qi got up and left the yard, but the princess is still resting."

"Got it. Let me know when she wakes up." Zhao Zhaorong nodded and walked to the side to sit down. "Go prepare some food. I'm hungry."

"Yes." The maid nodded, turned and walked out.

Snapped--

In the empty house, there was the sound of palms hitting the table, followed by a female voice whispering: "Your Majesty, what have you been doing in the past few years..." (End of this chapter)