Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At this moment, Zhou Yu wasn't so much fearless and arrogant as he was filled with a chilling fear. When his eyes fell on the ring-handled sword engraved with Wei Yan's mark and the face cloth embroidered with the design of the Governor's Office, a bitter taste welled up in his throat. He suddenly realized that any amount of excuses were futile, like trying to put out a raging fire with dead leaves; it would only burn him.

Before entering the meeting room, the soldiers' tearful reports still echoed in his ears—Young Master Sun Shao, Second Prince Sun Quan, and Third Prince Sun Xu had been assassinated one after another. Now, looking at these meticulously crafted relics, bearing their own "brand," Zhou Yu finally understood that this was a long-planned tactical trap. Someone had crushed his trust, forged his loyalty into a sharp blade, and stabbed directly at the people he held most dear.

What chilled Zhou Yu most wasn't just the young master's assassination. It was the fact that Sun Quan and Sun Xu were also assassinated in the same bloody incident. Zhou Yu seemed to see a pair of hands manipulating the situation from the shadows, coldly pulling at the threads, weaving every clue into a web that led him to his death. Even without any embellishment, how could the four veteran generals and the old lady believe in his innocence based solely on this "ironclad evidence"?

Zhou Yu lowered his eyes to gaze at the blood-stained handkerchief on the table. The embroidery threads still felt familiar. These objects, once locked away deep in the storeroom, had become instruments of torture. He suddenly remembered the old lady's gaze towards him during the meeting yesterday, a hint of wariness already in it. It seemed the seeds of conspiracy had been sown even then, waiting only for today to blossom and bear fruit.

"What else does the Commander have to say?" Cheng Pu's question hit him like a hammer. Zhou Yu opened his mouth, but ultimately closed his eyes, letting the chill spread from his feet to his heart. Explain? What was the point of explaining in such a deadly situation? He suddenly felt ridiculous. It was ridiculous that he had once believed that the relationship between the emperor and his subjects was close, and it was ridiculous that these comrades who had once fought side by side with him had now become the executioners who pushed him into the abyss.

Zhou Yu's face was as gloomy as water. His boots rolled over the clotted blood between the cracks of the blue bricks as he approached Da Qiao and Sun Shao, kneeling in a pool of blood. The smell of blood, mingled with the incense of sandalwood, assaulted his nostrils. He saw the child in Da Qiao's arms, eyes closed, pale face bathed in crimson. The familiar lilac skirt was streaked with piercing scarlet.

"Stop!" Sun Quan suddenly drew out his sword, but the blade trembled slightly when it was three inches out of the sheath. The second son of Jiangdong had a rolling Adam's apple and veins on his forehead throbbing: "Gongjin, if you don't explain clearly, don't even think about getting close to Shao'er! My brother's only flesh and blood, I will stop you even if I die!"

Zhou Yu raised his eyes, a gaze so cold it could have formed ice. His voice seemed to echo from the depths of the underworld: "Back off—are you worthy enough to stop me?" These light words struck Sun Quan like a hammer to the heart. The young man instinctively took a half step back, and by the time he realized what was happening, his cheeks were already burning with shame and anger. He lunged forward, his chest nearly colliding with Zhou Yu's armor, his sword clanging between them.

"Sun Zhongmou, are you really going to stop me today?" Zhou Yu raised his eyebrows, and the murderous intent in his eyes startled the birds perched on the corridor into a flutter. This seemingly calm question was wrapped in a suffocating sense of oppression. Sun Quan's sword-wielding hand began to tremble uncontrollably, and a dry hoarse sound came from his throat. Finally, under Zhou Yu's gaze, he retreated to the side in disgrace.

Just as Zhou Yu continued to walk, a shrill roar rang out: "Four old generals!" The old lady stood up shakily on her dragon-headed cane, her silver hair dancing wildly in the draft. "Are you just going to watch this Zhou... this Zhou Lang act so recklessly here?" She pointed a withered finger at Zhou Yu, tears welling in her cloudy old eyes, and her voice became sharp and piercing with excessive grief and indignation.

Cheng Pu's iron spear stretched across his chest, Huang Gai's steel blade gleamed with a cold gleam. Han Dang and Zu Mao, each holding a long halberd, stood on either side. The four white-haired veterans, like an impenetrable wall of steel, surrounded Zhou Yu in the center. The candlelight in the meeting room flickered, casting interlaced shadows on the blue brick floor like an impenetrable web.

"Grand Commander!" Cheng Pu's old voice was filled with unconcealable pain and anger, and his iron spear trembled slightly. "Now that the facts are in front of you, what else do you have to say? Shouldn't you give everyone an explanation?" Huang Gai's eyes widened with anger, and he threw the blood-stained handkerchief to the ground: "How do you explain these physical evidence?"

Zhou Yu finally stopped, looking at the bloodied remains scattered on the ground, a wave of deep sorrow welling up in his heart. His eldest brother, Ma Chao, the "Jin Ma Chao," the fearsome "Xiliang," had conquered countless fortresses with his cavalry, yet he perished in Chang'an, slain by the emperor's suspicions and machinations. His second brother, Sun Ce, the young overlord of Jiangdong, had single-handedly pacified the six prefectures of Jiangdong, yet now he had fallen to a conspiracy orchestrated by an unknown hand. They were both heroes, invincible on the battlefield, upright men, yet in the end, they were both succumbed to such despicable and treacherous tactics.

And now, this sinister conspiracy surged like a surging tide, completely drowning him. Zhou Yu felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. To be honest, at that moment, he felt completely disheartened and hopeless. But when his eyes swept over to the nearby area, he saw the small figures of his eldest brother's son Ma Yue, his second brother's son Sun Shao, and his sister-in-law Sally, lying lifeless in a pool of blood, and a surge of warmth surged in his heart.

His eldest brother died thousands of miles away in Chang'an, his second brother perished in the heart of Jiangdong, and he was powerless to save either. Yet, Sister Sally was right before his eyes, yet he couldn't even protect her life. What a sinister, horrific plot! Now, the two children were left alone, orphaned. Zhou Yu clenched his fists, his passion reignited. How could he give up and retreat from the world? No matter how many hardships and obstacles lay ahead, no matter how many misunderstandings and slanders he faced, he would seek justice for his eldest and second brothers, and for the innocent and tragically murdered loved ones!

A sweet, rusty smell rose in Zhou Yu's throat, and his hoarse voice sounded as if it had been rubbed by sand and gravel: "General Cheng, Mr. Huang..." He staggered and held on to the pillar, his knuckles white from the effort. "My eldest brother, Ma Chao, roamed across Xiliang, taking on all the enemies in the world with a single lance; my second brother, Sun Ce, was known as the Little Overlord of Jiangdong, single-handedly conquering six counties. They lived upright lives, doing what men should do. Could it be that they only raised a sinister villain like me?"

Cheng Pu pressed down his iron spear slightly, but Zhou Yu suddenly laughed out loud, his laughter mixed with suppressed sobs: "You don't believe me, but do you also not believe in the judgment of the two lords?" He glanced at everyone in the hall, his eyes red, "Now in front of all the soldiers in the mansion, how dare I lay hands on the flesh and blood of my two brothers?"

Han Dang was about to speak, but Zhou Yu interrupted him, saying, "Those rats hiding in the shadows are waiting for me to act rashly! If I touch these two children, they will be able to prove their guilt. Four generals who have fought for half their lives, can't they even see through such a vicious plot to kill someone with a borrowed knife?"

At the end, Zhou Yu's voice suddenly rose, with a slightly crazy smile: "Such poor acting skills, even the new recruits can see through it! If I, Zhou Yu, only have this little trick, how can I join my two brothers in pacifying Jiangdong?"

Cheng Pu's iron spear dropped heavily, clanging against the blue bricks with a dull thud. Huang Gai's broadsword tilted unconsciously, and as Han Dang and Zu Mao retreated, their halberds scraped the ground with a harsh sound. Cheng Pu's throat churned, avoiding Zhou Yu's hawk-like gaze. His voice was so low it was almost swallowed by the sound of the rain: "General, we don't want to believe it either... But with the physical evidence, you should explain something."

Zhou Yu looked at the blood-stained objects scattered across the floor and suddenly chuckled, his laughter carrying a chill that penetrated his bones: "If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. These false accusations are full of loopholes. Even if I speak eloquently, what's the point?" His eyes swept over the people in the hall, and his scorching anger gradually turned into cold clarity - now was not the time to avenge his brother.

Undercurrents surged within him. He knew better than anyone that those behind the scenes had dared to set up such a murderous scheme in broad daylight. If they could elevate the young Sun Shao to the throne, he would surely be met with countless attacks, both open and hidden. Furthermore, his eldest brother Ma Chao's son, Ma Yue, was also present. These two helpless children were like candles swaying in the wind and rain. His second brother, Sun Ce, had already been murdered. Even if he were to slice and dice the culprit, what would it matter? Without protecting the bloodlines of his two brothers, all revenge would be futile.

Zhou Yu took a deep breath, suppressing his grief and anger. He slowly lowered his eyelids, hiding the murderous intent surging in his eyes. "That's all..." His voice was low, but every word was weighty. "Let them have their moment of ferocity." He looked at the unconscious Sun Shao in Da Qiao's arms, then at the trembling Ma Yue, his clenched fists trembling slightly in his sleeves. "As long as I have breath left, I will raise my two brothers' bloodlines to adulthood."

The meeting room was dead silent, the only sound being the patter of rain against the eaves. Zhou Yu straightened his back, letting the cold rain pour in through the open door, soaking his blood-stained clothes. He knew that from this moment on, he was choosing a path more difficult than revenge—enduring humiliation, lying in wait, even if it meant bearing eternal infamy, to preserve the last bloodline for his two brothers.

The four veterans exchanged bewilderment, their weapons trembling slightly, still reeling from Zhou Yu's words. Cheng Pu hesitated, Huang Gai's clenched fist unclenched, and Han Dang and Zu Mao exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion and hesitation. This treacherous situation left them, veterans of half their lives, unsure how to respond.

While everyone was stunned, Zhou Yu stepped forward steadily, his boots crunching over the scattered seal fragments. The candlelight cast a long shadow behind him, swaying on the blue brick floor with his steps, like a beast ready to pounce. He walked directly to Da Qiao's side, knelt on one knee, and his voice suddenly became gentle yet firm. He reached out to Ma Yue, who was curled up in Da Qiao's arms: "Yue'er, come to your uncle."

Ma Yue was just an ignorant child, the scene of his mother's tragic death still vivid in his mind, and he was sobbing in panic. At the familiar voice, his tear-stained eyes lit up, and without hesitation, he threw himself into Zhou Yu's arms, hugging his neck tightly, burying his little face in his blood-stained clothes, as if grasping at a last straw.

Zhou Yu steadily picked up the child, gently stroking Ma Yue's trembling back, and looked up at Da Qiao. His eyes were filled with unquestionable determination: "Sister-in-law, now that my brother is gone, you see this room is full of suspicion and conspiracy... Shao'er will be in danger if he stays here. If you still trust me, come with me."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yu suddenly stood up, holding Ma Yue in his arms, and turned to face the crowd. His eyes, like a poisoned blade, swept across every face: "I, Zhou Yu, swear today to put aside all grudges and devote myself to raising my two nephews. But if anyone dares to touch them..." His voice suddenly turned cold, and he spoke word by word, "Don't blame me for not remembering our past friendship. Swords have no eyes!"

These chilling words pierced everyone's hearts like an icicle. Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong's beards trembled slightly, veins popped on the hilts of Lü Meng and Lü Dai's tightly gripped swords, and even the battle-hardened veterans shuddered. Without waiting for anyone to react, Zhou Yu turned to Da Qiao, his eyes earnest. "Sister-in-law, what do you think?" Da Qiao looked at Ma Yue in his arms, then down at the swaddled Sun Shao, finally nodding gently.