Chapter 2 of 10
Chapter 2
6 min read1,527 words
Yanzhou, Puyang City, Dunqiu County!
As Cao Cao and Cao Ren returned to Yanzhou, they happened to rest at a post station here.
This made Cao Cao, who had been in a good mood, suddenly look gloomy, as if he were deeply saddened.
"Is it that you are thinking of the woman from Dunqiu County sixteen years ago, Brother?"
Cao Ren, seeing through Cao Cao's thoughts, asked…
"I can't hide it from Zixiao…"
Cao Cao's tone was light, for he was usually carefree, but in this matter, he felt guilty.
Dunqiu County meant a lot to Cao Cao.
Sixteen years ago, he served as the magistrate of Dunqiu, issuing the "Ten Crimes Edict" to punish the powerful gentry and bring clear skies to the common people.
At the same time…
Here, he met a woman surnamed Lu, who bore a striking resemblance to a woman who had captivated Cao Cao's heart.
Thus, Cao Cao had a romantic relationship with her, and they shared many intimate moments.
Cao Cao intended to inform his father and marry her, but unfortunately, the Cao clan was implicated in the "Empress Song" case, and Cao Cao himself was dismissed from his post!
To protect this woman, Cao Cao only gave her a jade pendant inscribed with the words "Jili" (auspicious) and left, severing all contact with her!
He planned to return and marry her after achieving some success, but the world fell into chaos, and the Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, leading to the woman's death in the turmoil.
Few people knew that Cao Cao had once had a son, one year older than Cao Ang. If he were still alive, he would be fifteen years old…
But…
Cao Cao was well aware that during the chaos, the chances of a child surviving were extremely slim.
At this moment, moved by the scene…
Even Cao Cao, who usually did not show his emotions, could not help but have tears welling up in his eyes.
"These years, I and Miaocai have been searching for this child, but to no avail… This child is most likely…"
"Brother, don't think too much about it."
Cao Ren repeatedly advised…
Among Cao Cao's many younger cousins, only Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan knew about this matter.
Cao Cao had repeatedly instructed the two cousins to keep an eye out for any news of the child.
However, in the chaos of the times, finding a child in a vast sea of people, or even ensuring the child's survival, was no easy task.
"Enough!" Cao Cao calmed his agitated heart. "Zixiao, don't sleep tonight. Let's travel through the night and return to Dongjun County!"
"Alright!" Cao Ren nodded, understanding that his brother did not want to be reminded of the past and feel saddened.
In the end, Cao Cao still felt guilty towards the woman surnamed Lu and the child she had in her arms at that time.
"Clippety-clop…"
The sound of hooves echoed again, and they spent the night without sleep…
…
…
On a carriage traveling from Xuzhou to Yanzhou…
"Little brother, are you really not going to continue searching?"
A woman in a light white dress asked…
Her appearance was not breathtaking, but she was a rare beauty, with a face that exuded a refined and scholarly aura.
This aura greatly enhanced her charm.
She was none other than the most talented woman of her time, Cai Zhaoji.
The young man called "little brother" beside her was named Lu Yu, who was fifteen years old.
To speak of it, he was a child that Cai Zhaoji and her father Cai Yong found when they were traveling to Puyang Dunqiu County when she was five…
It was said that the child's mother died in the chaos…
In the chaos of the times, human lives were as insignificant as grass. Who would care about a child in a cradle except for using them as food?
Fortunately, Cai Zhaoji, with her kind heart, saved the child…
She picked up the child and asked her father Cai Yong to take him in.
Fifteen years of care and attention, the child grew up. He had a wooden plaque with his birth date and name—Lu Yu—recorded on it…
In addition, he had a jade pendant, which Cai Zhaoji hung around his neck, inscribed with the words "Jili" (auspicious)!
"Zhaoji sister, I won't search anymore. We've been searching for five years, and it's likely that my father can't be found."
Lu Yu pursed his lips and puffed his cheeks, answering casually…
Actually…
Lu Yu did not belong to this era. He was a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which translates to "time traveler" in English), a history graduate student in his previous life, who had participated in "The Brainiest" and was known for his remarkable memory, earning him the title of "Brain King"!
Who would have thought that when he traveled through time, he became a one-year-old child, with his mother dying before his eyes, and he was powerless to save her, let alone himself, who was about to be buried in the chaos…
Fortunately, a beautiful and kind young lady saved his life…
Later, he learned that this young lady was the famous tragic talent, Cai Zhaoji!
To thank her and to avoid her fate of "playing the lute and the flute" and "singing of sorrow in the snow," Lu Yu, at the age of ten, insisted that Cai Zhaoji accompany him south to find his father.
Cai Zhaoji, unable to resist her little brother…
Left Luoyang and took Lu Yu to Xuzhou…
As a result, they avoided the chaos caused by Dong Zhuo and the southern invasion of the Xiongnu…
"Five years of searching for my father, making Zhaoji sister endure the hardships of travel. Sister, you won't blame me, right?"
Lu Yu leaned his head towards Cai Zhaoji, and the intimate words between siblings echoed…
"Hardships of travel?" Cai Zhaoji gently waved her hand. "Where have we endured such hardships?"
"With your smart brain and your incredible insight and judgment, wherever we go, whether it's the county magistrate, the governor, or the provincial governor, they all welcome us warmly and give us food and provisions…"
"All they want is the 'heavenly secrets' you speak of!"
"Do you know what the world calls you?"
"What?" Lu Yu asked curiously…
Actually, he knew everything, but… he was willing to listen to Zhaoji sister…
"First, some called you 'Young Lin,' then others changed it to 'Hidden Lin.' The monthly evaluations even proposed that whoever obtains 'Hidden Lin' can end the chaos and dominate the world!"
Cai Zhaoji looked at Lu Yu and smiled. "Lu Yu, at just fifteen years old, you have a reputation that is quite renowned…"
"This journey to find my father sounds like a series of challenges, but in reality, it's just a leisurely trip for us siblings, with no sense of hardship at all."
"Unfortunately, after five years, we still haven't found your father."
Hehe…
Hearing this, Lu Yu chuckled…
Is it important to find that scoundrel "cheap father"?
Not at all!
He just made up an excuse to take Zhaoji sister away from the troubled Luoyang…
In the few memories he had of his biological mother, he only knew that his mother's surname was Lu, and he took her surname…
As for the reason…
It was because fifteen years ago, the "scoundrel" father, who refused to reveal his name, never returned…
Apart from the jade pendant inscribed with "Jili" (auspicious) that he wore around his neck, Lu Yu knew nothing about the so-called scoundrel father…
The reason he insisted on finding him was that Lu Yu wanted to punish this scoundrel…
For his mother, and for himself, who nearly died in the chaos…
"Let's take it slowly… With Zhaoji sister by my side, we will find him eventually!"
Seeing Lu Yu speak like this…
Cai Zhaoji fell into deep thought…
She always followed her little brother's words…
It seemed… he had wisdom beyond his age…
His judgment and insight into the situation of the world were "demonic" in their accuracy…
Especially after Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and the Xiongnu left prince took advantage of the chaos to raid, taking many women from Luoyang…
Cai Zhaoji not only followed Lu Yu's words but also became attached to him…
She couldn't imagine if she, Cai Zhaoji, would have been one of the women taken by the Xiongnu…
In the northern regions…
Cai Zhaoji had read in books that the Xiongnu would confine Han women in sheep pens and use them as breeding tools…
These unfortunate women might never return to Central China…
Every time she thought of this, Cai Zhaoji felt a chill…
Even her eyes welled up with tears, and because of this, despite being a few years older, Cai Zhaoji always listened to her little brother…
And this little brother's judgment of the situation had always been accurate…
Thinking of this…
Cai Zhaoji continued to ask. "Little brother, why are you giving up the search for your family and insisting on returning to Yanzhou? Is it that in the current chaos… Yanzhou is safer than Xuzhou?"
…
…