It is said that Zhou Yu and his entourage, since they left the gate of Qiaofu, went straight to Shu County in the northeast. After the fast horses in the silk, Zhou Yu and a group of family members finally arrived in their hometown of Shu County at the beginning of the unitary period.

In Shu County, the most amazing thing for the world is a huge building complex. This huge building complex occupies a quarter of the land of Shu County, and its core building area is the urban area of the entire Shu County. The owner of this complex is Zhou Yu and his relatives.

In the southeast direction of the building complex, a high wall of 200 zhang in length and width is enclosed, and the four-character plaque of "Zhou Yi's Mansion" is hung on the door, which is now Zhou Yu's family property.

Zhou Yu jumped off the horse, walked to the front of the house, took out the medicine spoon, and inserted it into the door lock with a "bang".

When the gate of Zhou's mansion slowly opened, Zhou An immediately instructed the family: "The boxes are moved into the warehouse, and the carriages and horses are rushed to the stables." ”

While Zhou An and his family were busy packing their bags, Zhou Yu was strolling through the mansion alone, intending to retrieve some memories of his childhood life here. When he saw that the roads under his feet were paved with colored stones, he leaned down and closed his eyes, carefully extracting his memories of the past.

After a while, Zhou Yu gradually opened his eyes and said, "Moling Yuhua Stone." ”

In Zhou Yu's memory, his father once told him: These colored stones for paving the road are all produced in Moling County, Danyang County, and they have an extremely beautiful name, that is, Yuhua Stone.

Because it has been left untended for many years, there are many jagged weeds in the dirt on both sides of the road.

If you follow the long road, you will see the back garden of the mansion.

In the back garden, you can see rockeries piled up by rocks of different shapes everywhere. Near the rockery, in addition to dense weeds, there are fragrant camphor trees. Stepping into the back garden, you will immediately see a square pond. On the surface of the pond, lotus leaves are floating and lotus flowers are blooming. In the middle of the water, there are exquisite and elegant pavilions. Xuanxie is connected with the shore, is a winding stone beam bridge, because this stone beam bridge has a total of nine bends and eighteen bends, so it is called the nine curved bridge.

When Zhou Yu was alone on the Jiuqu Bridge, silently admiring the beautiful garden by the railing, Zhou An suddenly took a woman's shoes and socks, came to Zhou Yu and said, "Young master, this is found in your baggage." ”

Zhou Yu took a look, then took off his shoes and socks, and said, "This is Xiao Qiao's, Uncle An was in a hurry that day, and I forgot to return it to her." ”

"It's hers." Zhou An muttered.

"Is the bedroom cleaned?"

"The young master's bedroom is the one he lived in for a short time when he was a child, and now he has ordered someone to clean it."

Zhou Yu left a sentence "Meet my relatives with me tomorrow", and returned to the bedroom with his memory.

The next morning, Zhou Yu, who had resumed his identity as the young master, wore a dress made of clothes and wore a piece of Xuanniao jade, which symbolized the Zhou family, and took Zhou An to another Zhou mansion to visit.

The size and pattern of this Zhou Mansion are the same as Zhou Yu's house, which is the mansion of Zhou Yu's distant cousin. This distant cousin is called Zhou Shang, and Zhou Yu's father is a cousin. He had a close relationship with Zhou Yi in his early years, but since Zhou Yi moved to Luoyang, the two families have had less contact. For this cousin, Zhou Yu only heard his name, but did not see his face, and he did not know what relatives he had in his family.

"Leave the trouble to your master." Zhou An handed over the name of the young master to the doorkeeper.

When the doorkeeper received the post, he immediately went to the study, forwarded the poster to Zhou Shang, and said, "Master, there is a guest visiting outside the door." ”

Zhou Shang took the name post, only to see the book said: "The Zhou family of Shu County, Lujiang, the son of Zhou Yi of Luoyang Ling, Zhou Yu, the word Gongjin." ”

Zhou Shang put down the name card and said, "Please go to the guest hall to talk." ”

After the doorkeeper left, Zhou Shang went to the bedroom to change clothes.

On the way to the guest hall, Zhou Shang ordered the attendant servant: "You go to the lady's room, say that there is a distinguished guest visiting, tell her to dress neatly, and go to the guest hall as soon as possible." ”

When Zhou Shang came to the guest hall, Zhou Yu and Zhou An were already standing and waiting. He saw that Zhou Yu was wearing a brocade robe and a jade of the Zhou family around his waist, so he asked, "Are you Zhou Yu?" ”

Zhou Yu replied, "Exactly", that is, knelt down and said, "Nephew Zhou Yu, please meet your cousin." ”

Zhou Shang smiled while helping Zhou Yu up and said, "Virtuous nephews don't have to be polite. ”

At this time, a woman dressed in a light green skirt and about thirteen or fourteen years old came to the guest hall and saluted: "Jue'er has seen my father." ”

She was Zhou Shang's daughter, her name was Zhou Jue, and she was fourteen years old at the time.

Zhou Shang picked up his daughter and introduced them to each other: "This is the little girl Zhou Jue." This is your cousin Zhou Yu. ”

After the juniors got to know each other, Zhou Shang said again: "Where is your father?" Have you ever gone home to see it? ”

When he was young, Zhou Yu finished stating the news of his father's death, and only said "The past is like the wind, and it is difficult to chase after the crossing", that is, he said: "Is my aunt healthy?" ”

When it comes to relatives, Zhou Shang is also full of bitterness. He furrowed his eyebrows and said, "Don't mention it, nephew, now, I only have this one daughter left......"

In his early years, Zhou Shang was a general of the imperial court, he married a wife and raised a son and a daughter. Speaking of that son, it is Zhou Jue's brother, he is more than ten years older than Zhou Jue, and he is also a man of horses. During the Yellow Turban Uprising, Zhou Shang's father and son were ordered by the imperial court to go to Yingchuan with Zhu Jun. In the first battle, the Han army was unfavorable, and the son of Zhou Shang unfortunately sacrificed his life for the country. After the war, Zhou Shang resigned and returned to Shu County to live in seclusion. Zhou Shang's wife learned about the war process, and soon died of illness at home in Shu County due to Si'er. Since then, Zhou Shang has only one woman left to rely on for his life.

"I beg your pardon for your presumptuousness." Zhou Yu said.

At this time, the doorkeeper came to report again: "Zhang Hong is here to visit." ”

Zhou Shang said to the servant, "Please come in", and then explained to Zhou Yu: "Zhang Hong is a friend I made some time ago, and this person has several opinions on the art of governing the country, and the virtuous nephew might as well meet with him." ”

Zhou Yu nodded and admitted: "My nephew listens to my uncle." ”

When Zhang Hong entered the guest hall, Zhou Shang introduced them to each other. After the two sides bowed, Zhou Shang came to the main seat and sat down, jokingly: "I'm old, I can't stand anymore, sit down and talk." ”

Zhou Yu and Zhang Hong said "thank you for sitting" together, and then sat down at the banquet with Zhou Jue. Zhou An, who was the attendant, stood next to Zhou Yu's seat.

Zhang Hong came this time to talk to Zhou Shang, but now that he can't do it, he has to chat: "If there is chaos and a group of heroes rise up together, I don't know what you think about this?" ”

"Judging from the current situation, Han Ting is afraid that he will not be saved." Zhou Shangdao.

"Those who can do things are not in the eyes of the world at present."

In contrast, Zhou Yu's answer is more meaningful.

In the end, Zhou Jue replied: "The princes compete for hegemony, just like the troubled times of the Spring and Autumn Period; The beacon fire is in the sky, and the people have been fighting hard for a long time; Qiji is vertical and horizontal, and the prosperity of the military family has reappeared; I hope that after many years, the world will not accept the martial arts. ”

"What Jue'er said is very wonderful, and Yu admires it so much." Zhou Yu said.

Speaking of Zhou Jue's opinions, they all rely on her father's teaching to her.

Since Zhou Jue was four years old, Zhou Shang invited a Confucian master for her and carefully taught her the way of Confucius and Mencius. After the death of Zhou Jue's brother, Zhou Shang personally taught his daughter and pinned all his hopes on his daughter. He selected many books for his daughter, the most important of which is the annals of all dynasties.

Zhou Jue smiled, and replied lightly, "My cousin praised it", and said: "In the eyes of my cousin, even Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu are not enough to succeed?" ”

"Don't say it, don't say it......" Zhou Yu shook his head.

Zhang Hong laughed "heh" and said: "When Luoyang fell, I thought that Sun Jian could succeed, but I didn't want him to die in battle, and the army was also annexed by Yuan Shu. I think when I passed by Liangdong, I also had a relationship with Sun Ce, if Sun Jiajun was not annexed by Yuan Shu, I am very optimistic about Sun Ce. ”

Although Zhou Yu only said "I also feel very sorry", he has silently recorded this matter in his heart.

Zhou Shang saw that his nephew was reluctant to chat with Zhang Hong for the time being, so he said, "Jue'er, take your cousin around." When you are young, remember to come to luncheon. ”

"No." Zhou Jue said, "Please, cousin." ”

Zhou Yu stood up, saluted, and said, "Please forgive my nephew for the crime of disrespect", and then took Zhou An and left with Zhou Jue.

After leaving the door of the guest hall, Zhou Yu ordered: "Go and investigate Zhang Hong immediately." ”

"No."

Zhou An was ordered to leave.

"Where does my cousin want to go?"

"Listen to Jue'er's arrangement."

Zhou Jue said, "Come with me", and took Zhou Yu to a small building in the back garden. In the small building, there are a variety of musical instruments that are most placed. Zhou Jue came to the table, picked up a few small paper bags and handed them to Zhou Yu, and said, "What kind of fragrance does my cousin like?" ”

Zhou Yu casually opened a paper bag, only to see that the paper bag contained fine pieces of incense. Sandalwood, agarwood, pepper, peilan, and duyu - the last incense in the first few square paper packets are all spices that he is very familiar with. However, when he opened the last packet of incense, he smelled a familiar and unfamiliar fragrance. He hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Don't use ambergris!" ”

Speaking of ambergris, it goes back a hundred years.

At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, when fishermen in the East China Sea went to sea, they accidentally caught some gray-white drifting objects. The drifting material is waxy and has a strong fishy smell when it is first fished out of the water.

Once ashore, the fishermen leave the drift to dry in the hot sun. The dried drift not only has no fishy smell, but is also filled with a faint fragrance, and the ignition is overflowing with a rich fragrance.

When local officials learned of this, they bought the drift and paid tribute to the Weiyang Palace. The Han Emperor was overjoyed when he saw it, and thought that this thing was formed by the saliva of the "dragon", so he obtained the good name of "ambergris". Since then, ambergris has become the royal object of the Han royal family. If a person who is not from the Han royal family dares to use ambergris, he will be punished as a trespasser.

Zhou Jue sneered and said, "Since the Han court exists in name only, why do you need to stick to the old etiquette law?" Besides, all beings are equal, why can ambergris only be used by the royal family? ”

Zhou Yu smiled slightly, said, "What Jue'er said is very true", and then handed the ambergris to Zhou Jue.

Zhou Jue took the ambergris, poured it into the bronze incense burner next to the piano case, picked up the fire and folded it, and ignited the ambergris incense. She couldn't bear to waste the ambergris, so she sat on the banquet in front of the piano case and played the famous song "Deer Song" of the Zhou Dynasty.

When he was young, with wisps of green smoke, he was a slender hand that vibrated the strings; As the faint sound of the piano gradually drifts away, there are bursts of refreshing incense......

In the middle of the piece, the individual tunes were suddenly mixed with the beautiful sound of the piano, echoing in Zhou Yu's ears. Out of respect for the person who stroked the qin, Zhou Yu did not say a word, he just used a distant smile to remind Zhou Jue of the mistakes in the sound of the qin. All this, of course, is under Zhou Jue's eyes, and when something goes wrong later, Zhou Jue will respond to Zhou Yu with a shallow smile.

At the end of the song, Zhou Jue got up and said: "My cousin is good at music and has very good ears, if you don't mind frolicking, Jue'er is willing to send her cousin six words." ”

"Which six words?" Zhou Yu said.

Zhou Jue "coughed" twice and said, "The song is wrong, Zhou Langgu." ”

Under the sound of the six characters, it seems to be praising Zhou Yu for being good at music, but after tasting it carefully, he is really making fun of Zhou Yu for being too strict with music. Zhou Yu heard the meaning of her words, so he frolicked with her and said, "You girl, you can pay it back when you grow up!" ”

Zhou Jue covered his mouth and snickered a few times, then stretched out his hand to the guqin and said, "Cousin, please." ”

Zhou Yu sighed softly, smiled and said, "Don't cry if you lose", then sat in front of the piano case and played the song "Deer Song" of Shicai.

Since Zhou Yu played "Deer Song", Zhou Jue has been staring at every note in the music. What she didn't expect was that not only did not make the slightest mistake under Zhou Yu's fingers, but it was also intoxicating after hearing it for a long time - its light and soothing sound was as euphemistic and delicate as a mountain stream; Where the accent is exciting, it is just like a cliff waterfall.

Towards the end of the piece, a note out of tune suddenly destroys the elegant mood. This is Zhou Yu's deliberate move, just to maintain the harmony between brothers and sisters.

At the end of the song, Zhou Jue said "Jue'er thanked her cousin", and said: "Who is Master Ling?" ”

"Former Han Ting Yalelang - Du Kui." Zhou Yu said.

"If I had known that my cousin was a disciple of Master Dule, Jue'er would not have brought shame on herself." Zhou Jue smiled, "It's a pity that the person who taught me music is just an ordinary musician." ”

Zhou Yu didn't want to see his cousin ruined in the hands of ordinary musicians, so he sent his teacher to the door and said: "If Jue'er likes it, my cousin is willing to pass on all the skills he has learned to you." ”

As soon as the words fell, Zhou Jue couldn't wait to kneel down and say, "Jue'er meets Master Zhou." ”

"No, no!" Before Zhou Jue kowtowed, Zhou Yu hurriedly helped her up, "It's within my duty for my brother to teach my sister, and Jue'er doesn't have to be apprenticed." ”

Zhou Jue got up and said "thank you cousin", that is, he talked with Zhou Yu about the playing method of "Deer Song......

After more than ten days, Zhou Yu visited several relatives one after another. During this period, Zhou Yu's house, which was overgrown with weeds and dusty, was cleaned by the family; The family members of Fusong's coffin went to Zhou Yu's mansion to recover their lives; Zhou An, who was ordered to investigate Zhang Hong, finally found out the details of Zhang Hong.

According to Zhou An's investigation, Zhang Hong is a gentleman worthy of deep friendship. Zhou Yu let down his guard and went to Zhang's house in the north of the city to ask for guilt. Zhang Hong felt that Zhou Yu was remarkable, so he made friends with him.