Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yu was slightly taken aback, then looked up at Ma Chao with a hint of worry in his eyes and said with emotion, "If the brothers in the afterlife knew that you, brother, had such a heart, they would be able to rest in peace." He glanced at the group of children chasing and playing, "But they have lived here for so many years, they know the neighbors well, and their playmates are all nearby. If they suddenly move to a different place, I'm afraid they will miss home at night and not be able to sleep well."

“It’s alright.” Ma Chao waved his hand, the calluses on his palms gleaming faintly in the sunlight. His tone was firm and unwavering, but his eyes were warm. “I have already prepared a courtyard for them in Chang’an. I will also take their mothers there. With their mothers to look after them, there will be no problem.”

He paused, his gaze falling on the children, his voice softening slightly: "I'll have tutors teach them to read and write, and the generals in the army will take turns teaching them some basic martial arts—just to strengthen their bodies, not to force them to suffer." A faint smile played on his lips. "When they're older, those who want to join the army, I'll personally show them sand tables and explain battle formations; those who want to pursue the imperial examinations, I'll hire the best tutors to teach them. We can't mistreat them; we must give them a decent future, to be worthy of the blood their fathers shed on the battlefield."

As Zhou Yu listened to Ma Chao speak, his Adam's apple bobbed, as if he had more to say, but in the end, he only let out a sigh.

Back at his residence, a lavish banquet had already been prepared, with tables laden with smoked meat, roasted fish, and seasonal fruits and vegetables, the clinking of wine cups echoing throughout. Ma Chao held his wine cup, his gaze sweeping over the assembled guests, a lingering guilt towards his wife and children like a fine thorn, constantly pricking him and causing him to drift into a daze.

Shamoke sat opposite him, her brows furrowed with tenderness for her sister and a hint of inexplicable stubbornness. She clinked glasses with him, one cup after another, not caring as wine dripped from the corners of her mouth. Zhou Yu, who was not a heavy drinker, had also drunk quite a bit with him today, his cheeks flushed. His feather fan rested on the table, occasionally trembling slightly from the smell of alcohol.

The children flitted about, playing and laughing. Sun Shao, holding half a piece of honey cake, approached Ma Chao and recounted the day's amusing incidents in his childish voice. Zhou Yin, meanwhile, held up a book, insisting that Ma Chao listen to him recite the newly learned poems and prose. As Ma Chao looked at these lively little ones, the gloom in his eyes gradually dissipated, revealing a genuine smile. He reached out to pat one on the head, then another on the shoulder, echoing their words.

As the moon rose high in the sky, the children, their eyelids heavy with sleep, were carried one by one to their rooms to rest by the maids. The generals who had been at the banquet also took their leave. Shamoke, staggering drunkenly, was half-supported, half-carried back to the side courtyard by his guards, muttering, "Li'er... I'm so sorry..."

The hall gradually quieted down, leaving only Ma Chao and Zhou Yu sitting opposite each other. A maid served strong tea, the rising steam blurring their slightly intoxicated eyes. Ma Chao picked up his teacup and took a sip. Despite the churning of alcohol, a trace of clarity remained. He looked at Zhou Yu and said, "Gongjin, I noticed this afternoon that you seemed to have something to say. Now, you might as well speak frankly."

Zhou Yu ran his fingertips along the rim of the teacup, remained silent for a moment, the alcohol making him less reserved than usual. When he looked up, his gaze was earnest: "Brother, in my opinion, wouldn't it be better to let Yue'er stay in Jiangdong?"

Ma Chao, his eyes still slightly bleary from the alcohol, frowned upon hearing this, his drunkenness mostly dissipating: "Gongjin, what makes you say such a thing? Yue'er's mother passed away early, and over the years he has been taken care of by you and the gentlemen of Jiangdong. I have always felt indebted to him. Moreover, his grandparents are still waiting for him in Chang'an, and in the future, my legacy will eventually be handed over to him. Are you perhaps joking?"

Zhou Yu put down his teacup, straightened his clothes, and solemnly cupped his hands: "Brother, you are now the King of Liang, holding a high position and wielding great power, and your future is even more unpredictable. You think that bringing Yue'er back to Chang'an is to give him a bright future, but have you thought about the dangers lurking in this vortex of power?"

He looked up at Ma Chao, his gaze sharp: "Yue'er grew up in Jiangdong. He's mischievous by nature, but his heart is pure and kind. He's never experienced the infighting of the court. Chang'an is not like Jiangdong. The people there are cunning and treacherous. Are you sending him back to get him involved in those conflicts, or...?"

Zhou Yu's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Ma Chao's head. He stood there stunned, his teacup trembling slightly, spilling a few drops of tea. Yes, he had only thought about his son inheriting the family business, forgetting the treacherous undercurrents of Chang'an, forgetting the unseen swords and shadows. Yue'er was still young; how could he bear such burdens so early?

Ma Chao suddenly smiled, most of the doubt in his eyes dissipating, and his tone became somewhat confident: "Gongjin, you are overthinking it. Yue'er is my eldest son. When we return, I will make him the heir apparent. With me here, and with his grandparents taking care of him, who would dare to harm him in the slightest?"

Zhou Yu leaned forward anxiously, his voice trembling with urgency: "Brother! It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark! Your empire is now vast, with numerous generals under your command. A single move can have far-reaching consequences, and it's inevitable that some harbor impure intentions. Besides, there are your confidantes—four of them came this time, and what about Lu Wan and Wen Ji who didn't come? Won't they be taken into your household in the future? What if they have children…"

“They are all kind-hearted people,” Ma Chao interrupted him, his tone full of trust. “I have known them for many years and know their character well. Gongjin, you are really overthinking it.”

"Brother, you're confused!" Zhou Yu suddenly stood up, slamming his feather fan heavily into his palm. "Even if they don't fight now, once they have their own children, which one of them won't scheme more for their own flesh and blood? Besides, they each have their families backing them up, but what about Yue'er?"

He looked at Ma Chao with a deep gaze: "Yue'er's mother died early, and Chief Shamoke's base is in Jiangdong, so it's difficult for him to stay by his side for long. He has almost no maternal clan to rely on, so who can protect him? If they are all your children, and there is discord among the brothers, how will you handle it?"

Zhou Yu took a deep breath, his voice softening but becoming even heavier: "Leaving aside the distant past, how much effort did Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao's brothers waste fighting each other? Looking at the recent past, Yuan Shao's sons have now turned against each other over territory. Haven't you considered these lessons from the past?"

Ma Chao's smile faded, and his hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air. Zhou Yu's words were like a dull knife, slowly cutting open the hidden worries he hadn't considered—those things he thought were "thorough" actually concealed so many oversights.

"I..." He opened his mouth, but the alcohol had completely worn off, leaving him only with a sense of bewilderment. Moonlight streamed through the windowpane, casting dappled shadows on the floor, much like the invisible cracks.

Zhou Yu lowered his voice even further, with a hint of solemnity: "Brother, if it weren't for Yue'er's future, I shouldn't have said these things. You are resolute and most of your generals can be kept in check, but what about Li Ru? Can you really control him?"

He tapped his finger lightly on the table, his gaze darkening. "Back when I was in Xiliang, I dealt with this old fox. He seems devoted to you, his plans meticulous, but think about it, why is he like this? Isn't it all because of Dong Bai? To put it bluntly, if you were to say right now that you won't marry Dong Bai, that old fox would probably change his tune on the spot, and his previous schemes might just become a weapon against you."

Zhou Yu paused, his gaze towards Ma Chao filled with a hint of inquiry: "Given Li Ru's methods and the Dong family's influence, Dong Bai will most likely become the principal wife among the women around you in the future. If she becomes the principal wife and gives birth to a child, that child will be the legitimate son—although Yue'er is the eldest son, how much weight will he carry in the Dong family?"

“Li Ru is a cunning man, adept at leveraging power and creating momentum. If things really come to that, he only needs to mention it in court and secretly push things along. Even with your protection, Yue’er will inevitably find herself in an awkward position.” Zhou Yu’s words were like fine needles, piercing through Ma Chao’s sliver of hope. “You always say those women are kind-hearted, but what about the people behind them?”

Ma Chao's hand holding the teacup trembled suddenly, spilling tea onto his sleeve, but he didn't even notice. Li Ru's always smiling face became both blurry and sharp in his mind at this moment—yes, every step of that old fox's calculations seemed to revolve around Dong Bai, and he had never thought deeply about this aspect.

"Li Ru... Li Ru..." Ma Chao repeatedly chewed on the name, his knuckles clenched until they turned white, and anger surged in his eyes. "If this old fox really dares to scheme against Yue'er, I will definitely not let him off!"

Zhou Yu suddenly smiled, a smile that carried a hint of worldly wisdom. He gently tapped his palm with his feather fan: "Brother, calm down. Think about it, hasn't Li Ru devoted himself to you all these years? Your pacification of Xiliang and your entry into Chang'an—at least half of this immense legacy is thanks to his behind-the-scenes planning, isn't it?"

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze sharpening: "He has done his best and never made a single mistake. What right do you have to touch him? Just because of the phrase 'possibly plotting'? If you treat a meritorious official like this, it will surely demoralize your troops—today you can demote Li Ru because of conjecture, tomorrow won't you take your suspicions out on other brothers? Once the hearts of the people are scattered, how can this country be secure?"

Ma Chao was suddenly stunned, as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. Yes, Li Ru's achievements over the years were undeniable. If he were to be dealt with based solely on Zhou Yu's few deductions, not only would others be dissatisfied, but even Ma Chao himself would find it unacceptable.

“But…” Ma Chao wanted to say something, but Zhou Yu interrupted him.

“Brother, Li Ru is a man of character. He can help you conquer the world, but only if you give him what he wants.” Zhou Yu’s voice softened. “What you need to do is not think about how to deal with him, but how to keep him in check—use his wisdom and guard against his selfishness. As for Yue’er, you should teach him to stand firm in this vortex, instead of hiding behind you.”

"Letting Yue'er stay here is actually the best arrangement." Zhou Yu's voice softened, with a hint of sincerity. "Jiangdong is a nurturing land with less court intrigue. He can grow up peacefully, whether he studies or practices martial arts, it's all up to his own will, without having to bear the burden of scheming and intrigue early on."

He picked up the candied fruit on the table, handed one to Ma Chao, and continued, "If you, brother, can truly unify the world, then give Yue'er a prosperous land so he can live a carefree life as a prince, with beautiful wives and children around him, without having to get involved in the struggle for the throne or live in fear. Wouldn't such a life be better than constantly having to navigate the dangers of Chang'an?"

“Think about Sister-in-law Li’er,” Zhou Yu’s voice softened, “She risked her life back then, just hoping that her child could be safe and well. If she knew that Yue’er could live a carefree life in Jiangdong, she would be at peace in heaven.”

"Let me think about it some more..." he said softly, his voice tinged with weariness.