Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After Zhou Tai entered the tent, he stood in the shadows, sword drawn, remaining silent. Zhou Yu saw the gloomy expressions on Wei Yan and Zhou Tai's faces, but his heart was filled with joy. His throat tightened slightly as he spoke, "Just now, Zi Jing and Xing Ba brought good news—Brother Meng Qi is not only alive, but has now been crowned King of Liang!"

Wei Yan's head shot up, his eyes gleaming. "Are you serious, Commander? This is truly wonderful news!" He had often spent time with Ma Chao during his time with Sun Ce, having witnessed Ma Chao single-handedly defeat the enemy in battle, his spearmanship like thunder cracking the air. He was also a man of integrity and magnanimity, prioritizing loyalty and righteousness above all else. This demeanor deeply impressed Wei Yan. Recently, he hadn't smiled in a long time, having failed to apprehend the murderer who had murdered his master and instead been framed.

"Of course it's true." Zhou Yu nodded and said, "Zi Jing and Xing Ba came here to investigate the cause of Bo Fu's death, so they called you here."

Wei Yan then began his story by recounting Sun Ce's revengeful uprising, how Lü Meng and his generals were held back during an ambush in Jiangxia, forcing Sun Ce to risk his life alone, and how he risked his life to rescue him. On the ship returning to Jiangdong to recuperate, Sun Ce was cared for daily by Sun Quan, who personally prepared and fed him medicine. Yet, just as Sun Ce's condition improved and he was about to arrive in Jiangdong, he suddenly died of poisoning. He then laid out his doubts one by one.

Lu Su frowned when he heard this: "It seems that the murderer must be on that ship. Is there any solid evidence pointing to Sun Quan?"

Wei Yan pounded the table in frustration: "I haven't slept for two days and two nights. I closed my eyes for a moment because of negligence. I didn't see the lord drink the medicine, and he took effect..."

Lu Su stroked his beard, his eyes sharp as a torch: "Since you know the conspiracy, why did Gongjin willingly fall into such a situation?"

Zhou Yu suddenly crushed the teacup in his hand, the celadon shards piercing his palm, and blood dripped through his fingers onto the map on the desk: "Ever since I disembarked, I've felt that there are obstacles everywhere." He stared at the bloodstains on his palm, his Adam's apple rolling violently, "From Lü Meng's inaction leading to his brother's ambush, to public opinion pinning the crime of lord slaying on Wei Yan—" Outside the tent, a torrential rain suddenly pounded on the cowhide tent. He suddenly sneered, "The most poisonous thing is that Sun Quan, Sun Xu, and Sun Shao were assassinated on the same day, and all the accusations are pointing directly at me for treason!"

Lu Su's feather fan suddenly stopped in mid-air, the ribs revealing fine cracks in the candlelight. When he heard "The old lady summoned four veterans to isolate me," he saw Zhou Yu trembling slightly in the light, revealing that Zhou Yu was speechless.

"If I investigate further, Bofu's son might not be safe." Zhou Yu wrapped his bleeding palm with a cloth, his knuckles white from exertion, and his voice was as hoarse as the friction of rusty iron. "Putting everything together: Generals like Lu Meng were all recommended by the aristocratic families of Jiangdong, Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong fanned the flames in the court, and after Sun Quan ascended the throne, he gave military power to the aristocratic families—" He suddenly grabbed the map on the desk and ran his fingertips over the "Wujun" mark. The blood stains on the silk dyed the words "Chaisang" red. "This is clearly a dead end set by the aristocratic families to seize power!"

As the rain subsided, Zhou Yu unwrapped the crumpled map. Bloodstains snaked like scars across the outlines of the "Six Commanderies of Jiangdong." He said, "I surrendered the governor's seal, but that was merely a trade of power for a safe haven in half a command." He gazed at the dim light outside the tent, a bitter smile playing on his lips. "Now that Brother Mengqi, the King of Liang, is entrenched in Chang'an and intervening in Jiangdong affairs, perhaps there will be a turnaround."

Lu Su drummed his knuckles on the table and said in a deep voice, "A careful investigation of the past reveals that the murderer must be Sun Quan and the Jiangdong noble family." The candlelight in the tent suddenly became brighter, illuminating everyone's solemn faces. The veins on Wei Yan's hand bulged as he pressed on the hilt of his sword.

Gan Ning sucked in a breath of cold air, and the copper bell creaked in his iron hand: "I have seen this Sun Quan kid before!" He remembered the gloom in Sun Quan's eyes at the banquet last year when he held the wine cup and laughed about his "brother's bravery." At this moment, the copper bell quiver made the tent pole tremble. "I didn't expect him to be such a ruthless person, poisoning his own brother to seize power!"

Zhou Yu gazed at the sword Sun Ce had personally bestowed upon him, and suddenly let out a wry smile. The bitterness of his smile, like blood foam, stirred the unfinished medicine on the table. "Who could have predicted..." A sudden sweetness welled up in his throat. "The old General Wentai and the hero Bofu, both of whom had fought for their lives, would meet such a fate..."

Lu Su fluttered his feather fan, the candlelight blazing into twin sharp gleams in his eyes. "Gongjin, relax! I'll write to you right away." The fan bone traced the cinnabar mark on the map for "Chang'an," the ink line trailing a scorching trail across the silk. "When the Western Liang cavalry march eastward through Hangu Pass, the rats of Jingzhou and the rebels of Jiangdong will avenge Bofu's blood debt with blood."

Gan Ning's iron gloves slammed against the table, making a loud noise. The bronze bell quiver shook the lamplight, and he said, "What a pleasure! When the king returns to Jiangdong, I will chop those parasites from the aristocratic families into minced meat!"

"Bofu's injustice should not be borne by you alone." Lu Su pressed his palm on Zhou Yu's trembling shoulder armor. "We are here for another important matter—" He paused, "When the king left Jiangdong, he entrusted the mistress and the young master to General Bofu. Now, what are they..."

Zhou Yu's face instantly turned pale, the candlelight shattering into scattered stars in his pupils. "You two have traveled a long way and worked hard," he said, turning his head away from Lu Su's gaze. His Adam's apple rolled heavily, and the jade hairpin on his hairpin shone coldly as it swayed. "Rest in peace tonight. Tomorrow I will personally lead you to search for it."

Lu Su noticed Zhou Yu's panic, and his heart sank suddenly. Earlier at Cheng Pu's place, the old general had also been vague when talking about the mistress and the young master. Now Zhou Yu was so obviously out of control. Could something have really happened? Seeing that Zhou Yu, Taishi Ci, Wei Yan, Zhou Tai and others all looked embarrassed, he did not pursue the matter further. He bowed and said, "Since that's the case, we will rest today. I will go back to the tent to organize the documents and send a message to the lord. We will go to visit the mistress and the young master together tomorrow."

The next day, Lu Su and Gan Ning, unable to suppress their suspicions, visited Zhou Yu early in the morning. Zhou Yu knew he couldn't hide the truth, so he asked Xiao Qiao to bring out the three children, Ma Yue, Sun Shao, and Zhou Yin. He pointed at Ma Yue and said, "This is my eldest brother's son." Gan Ning and Lu Su hurriedly straightened their clothes and bowed, saying, "We are late, and the young master has suffered."

Ma Yue dodged and asked in confusion: "Who are you? I have no worries about food and clothing here with my uncle, how can I suffer?" Zhou Yu said: "They are Mr. Lu Su and General Gan Ning under your father's command." Ma Yue was picked up by Zhou Yu, and Ma Yue grabbed Zhou Yu's collar and asked: "Uncle, who is my father? Isn't my father the mighty general Ma Chao?"

二人连忙应道：&34;正是！少主之父如今已封为凉王。&34;马越更疑惑：&34;不是说我父已死吗？到底怎么回事？&34;周瑜笑道：&34;你父亲九死一生，如今安好，他们是来接你回去的。&34;马越又问：&34;父亲没死为何不亲自来？舅舅一直说父亲死了......&34;

Lu Su's fingers on the table suddenly tightened. "Young Master, you know, Your Majesty has just ascended the throne of King Liang, and the palace in Chang'an is piled high with cases and boxes." He tapped his knuckles against the cinnabar-marked "Yuzhou, Jingxiang" on the map, where the densely packed camps were marked. "Furthermore, to get from Jiangdong to Chang'an, you have to cross the borders of three states with rebel forces. Your Majesty is of noble status, so it's difficult for you to travel light."

As Ma Yue frowned in thought, his thumb unconsciously rubbed the wolf tooth necklace at his waist, the teeth rubbing against his palms, making them itch. "Uncle, will you go to Chang'an with me?" He raised his head, his smile flickering in the light and shadow. Zhou Yu smiled and straightened his hairband for him: "Yue'er, your uncle, Sun Shao, and Zhou Yin must stay here, and you will go back to Chang'an with the master."

"I'm not going!" The child suddenly stomped his soft boots embroidered with tiger heads, and the red velvet ropes on his double buns brushed against the gilded animal heads on Zhou Yu's armor. "I can't even remember what my father looks like. It's better to stay with my uncle—" He pointed to Sun Shao and Zhou Yin, "Studying military tactics and spearmanship with them every day is so happy. Here I have my uncle, my two aunts, and my good brothers. Besides, my uncle doesn't even know that my father is still alive..."

鲁肃连声称&34;是&34;，腰间玉佩撞得铜剑鞘叮当作响：&34;正要去拜访沙摩柯首领。&34;他转向周瑜时：&34;公瑾，主母与山越部众现居何处？&34;

"Let's go together." Zhou Yu said, "Chief Shamoke is currently at the Wu County Office."

Last night, Taishi Ci had relayed news of Ma Chao's actions to the Shanyue. Just then, as the morning light crept over the county government's screen, Shamoke's copper-handled axe struck the stone pillars. The lantern light reflected from the axe blade made the words "Wu County" on the gate plaque tremble slightly. Behind him, the Shanyue leaders clutched their animal-hide belts, the bone ornaments on their earlobes swaying gently with their breathing. Twelve tallow lanterns in the corridor illuminated their bare, painted totem-patterned shirts.

As the clatter of Lu Su and Gan Ning's horses' hooves reached the alley entrance, Shamoke's axe clanged down the steps, startling two birds nestling under the eaves. Ma Yue's face flushed from struggling in Zhou Yu's arms. As soon as she landed, her soft boots clacking as she ran towards Shamoke. The red velvet ropes on her buns flew into two streaks of fire in the morning breeze: "Uncle!"

"My little leopard!" Shamoke's towering figure bent down, his arms trembling as he held the child. His arms, woven with wild patterns, lifted Ma Yue up, the eagle claw ornament on his fur cloak brushing against the child's forehead. Suddenly, he burst into laughter, shaking the tassels of the lanterns below to dust.

As Gan Ning's spear tip touched the steps, Shamoke waved his hand, interrupting him: "You're trying the same trick on me!" The Shanyue elders immediately surrounded them. As they passed through the ceremonial gate draped with the Shanyue battle flag, Ma Yue grabbed Shamoke's beard and recited Zhou Yu's military tactics incoherently, making everyone laugh.

Inside the meeting hall, pine torches crackled with sparks, and the smoke from burning resin, swirling with the animal patterns of the Shanyue totem flag, cast swaying shadows on the walls. Shamoke's knuckles whitened as he gripped the copper-handled axe, the blade leaning against the leopard-skin throne. Everyone waited for Lu Su to recount Ma Chao's story. When he mentioned Ma Chao's near-death experience in Chang'an, the elder wearing an eagle-feather headdress suddenly struck the ground with a bone knife. The bare-chested leaders in the room followed suit, pounding their chests, and the bone ornaments and bronze bells clashed like war drums.

"The king is leading the Xiliang cavalry and is about to break through Chang'an," Lu Su's Adam's apple rolled. "The previous emperor passed away suddenly. In order to avoid the attack from Xiliang, Wang Yun and Cao Cao in the court welcomed the new emperor to Xudu to ascend the throne, handed over Chang'an, and named my lord the King of Liang."

The whole hall erupted in cheers in Shanyue dialect, and the old man wearing a beartooth necklace pounded the ground with his rattan staff. Shamoke suddenly slapped his thigh, causing the bronze bells beside the throne to tinkle. "Brilliant! This is truly my brother-in-law's skill!" He raised his arm, etched with wild veins, and poured the remaining wine from the wine jug into the brazier. The rising blue flames made the totems on the men's bare shirts writhe like living creatures. "Your visit this time..."