Romance of the Four Kingdoms

Chapter 18

That night Lu Bu ordered a banquet for his officers at Puyang Castle to celebrate his victory over Cao Cao as his forces fled to Xu Chang. A messenger is dispatched to Juan Castle a couple of hours after the battle for the officers addressed to Zhang Liao. Once he heard this news he promoted some noteable soldiers to garrison commanders and ordered them to keep an eye on Juan Castle and to make sure to keep it intact while they were gone. Zhang Liao rounded up the other officers including Mitsuko and they rode on horseback thanks to the warhorses in the stables. They rode to the castle in under an hour, the sun starts to set. Mitsuko was surprised to see the castle on the inside look huge on the inside. It must've been quite a fight she thought to herself. Shortly after their arrival they were escorted to the main chambers as a bright amber colour shone on the entire castle.

Mitsuko was surprised as they entered the room to see a huge assortment of tables and chairs considering Zhang Liao never told the other 3 officers why they were coming here. The large room was decorated extravagantly with red luxurious carpets leading into the room as you open the door, the many silky smooth banners decorated with gold jewellery hanging from the ceiling however they bear the banner of Lu Bu's forces. The amber light coming in from the window brighten the room but makes it more noticeable that the walls were very Spartan save for one or two pictures professionally drawn pictures hanging on the wall. The tables and chairs were in the shape of an upside down 'U' shape with Lu Bu at the head of it alongside his daughter and en empty seat reserved for his most trusted officer Zhang Liao. Mitsuko sat at the lower ends of the assortment of tables off to the right side where the lesser experienced and lesser known officers were sat.

Among these tables were plates and plates of freshly cooked food mainly smaller animals like pigs and meat buns. Everyone started to eat anyway, Mitsuko was the last to start opting to glance at everyone feeling a bit...apprehensive about everything. Eventually she started eating and realised how merry the atmosphere was. Even though she kept to herself the atmosphere never shifted from all work serious type, it was weird for her to see everyone being merry and happy so suddenly. She turns towards Zang Ba sitting on her right side who seems to be more...hands on with his food going at it like he's demon devouring a human. She chuckles to herself as she glances at everyone having a merry time.

As the banquet progressed the once amber light turned into a bright white light created by the moon as it begins its rise to replace the setting sun. Mitsuko's mind tried to stay on the banquet taking place in front of her eyes however she was just too curious about the events leading to this moment. Zang ba noticed that she's spacing out so he asked her what's up.

'Hey are you ok?'

'what? Oh yeah sorry, just a little tired still you know...fatigue and all that.' She explains.

'Ahh fair enough, then in that case you won't mind if I take this piece.' He steals a leg of chicken from her plate.

'Hey!' Mitsuko shouts as she grabs his hand which is just like her normal talking voice in this merry atmosphere. Zang Ba laughs as she tries to wrestle the piece out of his hand. Eventually all the food was amazingly finished and Lu Bu ordered the servants to bring wine for everyone. Everyone begins to stand to collect the alcohol that was being served. Like people waiting to be served in a bar. As they stand and drink the servants removed the tables from the premises. Mitsuko leaned on the wall for a while observing everything rather than engaging with many people. She even saw the mighty Lu Bu with a smile on his face, it was almost surreal to see the mightiest warrior in the land having a good time rather than the usual intimidating look he always had, it put Mitsuko a little at ease to see for herself that he was just a normal man not like a special diety or anything. She wasn't much of a party girl, partly because no one really invited her to one before. She was content being on the sidelines or rather she was used to it anyway, she was surprised to see a rather attractive female servant in a rather bland robe with long brunette hair come up to her.