The sky was dim, and rain had begun to fall again. That evening, having more or less finished his official business, Liu Acheng left the Palace City, bought two lotus-leaf ducks on the way, and chose to visit Fan Wang's nearby home. Not only that, he also brought along a visibly distracted Liu Jili.
It was a simple dinner: chopped duck and a few seasonal summer vegetables. Fan Wang and his son Fan Kang, Liu Cheng and his clan brother Liu Jili, four tables. Fan Wang sat alone in the seat of honor, his son on his right, and the two guests, Liu Cheng and Liu Jili, on his left.
They talked as they ate.
But after a brief discussion, their exchange had to stop because of one person's presence.
"Duke Fan, let's pause a moment. Sorry for the trouble, but could you explain things to this clan elder brother of mine?" Left with no choice, Liu Acheng pointed straight at Liu Jili as he spoke to Fan Wang, then took the opportunity to gnaw on his duck.
In the seat of honor, Fan Wang stroked his beard and smiled. He hesitated, but still spoke. "Deputy Director Liu, what would you like me to explain?"
Liu Jili froze at this. He struggled to open his mouth, but never made a sound.
"Exactly." Fan Wang lowered his hand, his smile almost bitter. "The thing you're imagining doesn't exist in the first place."
Liu Jili immediately looked at Liu Cheng.
The latter was quite direct, pressing down on a duck leg as he answered at once. "But what I said should be true."
Liu Jili was now thoroughly confused.
"That means you've got the wrong idea, Deputy Director Liu." Across from him, Fan Kang could no longer bear to watch. "General Liu