Ya She

Chapter 23 The Comb

186 AD.

Zhou Jin looked at her twin brother lying lifeless in her arms, his face covered in blood, and tears streamed down her face.

How could this happen? She just wanted to climb the tree to pick some fruit, how could she be so careless as to fall? And when her brother tried to save her, he fell to the ground and hit his head on a big rock, and just like that... just like that, he suddenly passed away?
Why did God take away not the unruly girl, but the brother who was praised by everyone?
Zhou Jin wept uncontrollably. Although she was only twelve years old, she knew that the hopes of the entire Zhou family rested on her twin brother. And her brother had lived up to expectations, gaining considerable fame at a young age. Everyone said that the Zhou family truly lived up to its reputation as a powerful clan with hundreds of years of history; this generation was likely to be even more renowned than before.

But she ruined all of that.

Zhou Jin hugged her brother tightly, trying to call him back, hoping he would open his eyes as usual, smile at her gently and tolerantly, pat her head, and comfort her that she didn't need to worry about anything because he was there for her.

But she didn't wait for her brother to wake up again. She clearly realized that his body had become cold in her arms and then slowly stiffened.

"Xiao Jin, this isn't your fault..." someone whispered in her ear.

How could it not be her fault? If she hadn't been so mischievous, how could her brother have died saving her?
The man remained silent for a long time, then sighed softly and said, "Xiao Jin, even if it weren't for you, your brother wouldn't have lived long..."

Zhou Jin suddenly woke up, turned her head to look at the person half-squatting beside her, and asked sharply, "Master, what do you mean?"

Beside her was the tutor her father had brought back to teach her brother. He was only in his early twenties at most, and wore almost the same dark black robe all year round. He had a handsome face and a gentle demeanor. Zhou Jin didn't know his name; she simply called him "Teacher." Because she had been mischievous since childhood, her father, in an effort to quiet her down, would send her to the tutor to study alongside her brother.

Because the unexpected incident happened at night, the servants who were supposed to be attending to her hadn't noticed yet. Only this teacher suddenly appeared, which puzzled Dan Zhoujin, since the teacher usually stayed in the study area and shouldn't have come to the inner courtyard. Seeing that the teacher didn't answer but only looked at her with pity, Zhoujin couldn't help but hug her brother tighter and continued to ask, "Teacher, what exactly did you mean by what you just said?"

The teacher's gaze softened considerably as it fell upon her brother, as if tinged with a sorrowful longing. He slowly said, "Your brother was not destined to die at the age of twelve. So, whatever the reason, even if he didn't die today to save you, he would still be taken away by Heaven tomorrow or the day after."

"I don't believe it!" Zhou Jin was heartbroken. She knew the teacher was just trying to comfort her; how could anyone's fate be predetermined? "If... if it were me who died..." Zhou Jin wiped the blood from her brother's face and tears streamed down her face.

"Silly child..." The teacher shook his head, sighed deeply, stood up, and prepared to turn and leave.

Looking at the face in her arms that was almost identical to her own, Zhou Jin suddenly had a thought: "Master, you said... you said I... I would live on in place of my brother, is that alright?"

The teacher turned around and looked at her with surprise.

Zhou Jin mustered her courage, looked up at the teacher who had taught her to read and write, and said earnestly, word by word, "My brother saved my life, so I will live on in his place. Is that not allowed?"

The teacher bent down again, patted her head tenderly, and sighed softly, "Child, you will regret this. It's not as easy as it's written in the stories."

"No! I will persevere!" Zhou Jin wiped away her tears, her mind made up. No matter who tried to persuade her, she would not change her mind. She had never felt any pressure before because her brother had shouldered all the burdens. She was originally just meant to grow up carefree, marrying into a powerful family through arranged marriage—the fate of the Zhou family women. But now that her brother had passed away because of her, she had to be prepared to take on the family's responsibilities in his place.

Perhaps moved by her determination, the teacher thought for a moment, took out a comb from his pocket, loosened her braids, and carefully restyled them into a boy's topknot.

“Master…” Zhou Jin bit her lower lip, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

“Child, this hair comb is for you. If one day you wish to return to being a girl, use this hair comb to comb your hair again…” The teacher placed the comb in her hand and smiled at her, “You look just like your brother.”

Zhou Jin gripped the comb tightly, the teeth digging into her palm, but she felt no pain at all.

From this day forward, there will be no more Zhou Jin in this world, only her brother, Zhou Yu.

two

190 AD.

Sun Ce casually tossed aside his chopsticks, played a game of chess, and looked up with a smile at the young man in blue opposite him.

The boy was the same age as him, a vibrant sixteen, but much thinner. His blue robes fluttered slightly in the night breeze that swept through the hall, making him appear even more frail and slender.

Sun Ce frowned imperceptibly. He knew that the Zhou family patriarch had just passed away last year, and the entire burden of the Zhou family rested on the shoulders of the young man before him. He had also sighed inwardly more than once about how difficult things were for the young man, but because their relationship was not deep, he couldn't bring himself to say the words.

Zhou Jin came from a prominent family in Lujiang. His great-grandfather, Zhou Rong, had served as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and his great-grandfather and his son had served as Grand Commandant. Even the recently deceased head of the Zhou family, Zhou Yi, had served as Magistrate of Luoyang. The Zhou family was a family of scholars for generations, and the young man in front of him was undoubtedly a model of integrity and a noble young master envied by all.

Sun Ce knew his own background wasn't bad either; his father had fought pirates and resisted the Yellow Turbans, making him a figure of considerable renown. However, although his father held the position of Prefect of Changsha and was appointed General Who Destroys the Enemy by Yuan Shu, he wasn't a true general appointed by the Han Dynasty. Furthermore, due to his humble origins, he was looked down upon by the scions of powerful families and couldn't be trusted by them. His father was consistently described by these people as "frivolous and cunning," which was hardly a compliment.

Just when his family was unable to establish themselves in Shouchun, the young master of the Zhou family came alone to his father and talked late into the night by candlelight. Suddenly, his father moved the whole family to Shuxian, instructed him to get along well with the other party, and then led his troops to fight against Dong Zhuo.

Sun Ce was also raised under his father's deliberate guidance, so he naturally knew that the Zhou family's protection of him was not simply about providing them with a five-courtyard house. More importantly, because of the Zhou family's closeness, the attitudes of other aristocratic families towards him also changed.

It was as if a circle he normally couldn't fit into had suddenly opened up, and he could actually squeeze in. These past few days, they'd invited him to hunting trips, poetry gatherings, pitch-pot games, and cuju (ancient Chinese football), which truly flattered him. This wasn't just about having fun together; it also meant he could meet some higher-ranking figures, which would be immensely beneficial for his father and his own future development.

"It's your turn." A clear and melodious voice rang out, as pleasant as the sound of a zither.

Sun Ce snapped out of his reverie and realized that his owl piece had been subtly surrounded by the opponent's scattered pieces. He considered several ways to break out, but felt that all his escape routes were blocked. Unless he had a stroke of luck and played several "five whites" in succession, which could kill the opponent's important pieces at will, he was doomed.

"Cheng Xiao and Mou, call out five white ones." The young man in blue smiled, picked up the teapot beside him, and filled the two with tea, filling the room with the aroma of tea. "Brother Ce, will you concede defeat, or continue to gamble?"

Sun Ce, never one to admit defeat, fought hard for several more rounds, finally watching helplessly as his opponent captured his Owl piece. He sighed, "Brother Yu's strategy is truly ingenious; I humbly admit defeat." This wasn't flattery. He had been with the Zhou family for over half a year and had played countless games with this Six Masters Chess Master, yet he hadn't won even once. Everyone said playing chess was like strategizing, and it seemed he was far inferior to him.

Zhou Jin observed the dejected look on the young man's face and was pleased to find that although his complexion was gloomy, his eyes burned with an indomitable spirit. It seemed that this time, he hadn't made a wrong bet.

Zhou Jin is sixteen years old this year, but to be precise, she died four years ago.

That's right, her brother was buried with her name, and she lived on in her brother's place.

She had initially thought that her impersonation of her brother might be rife with inconsistencies. However, she never expected that the hair comb left to her by her teacher would actually transform her into a boy. And after combing her hair again, she would revert back to being a girl.

The teacher gave her this magical hairpin without batting an eye, and when she tried to ask him for an explanation, he had already vanished without saying goodbye. She had no choice but to keep this secret to herself.

Four years ago, after that night, she fell seriously ill. After recovering, although her figure and habits were still different from her brother's, everyone assumed he was grieving the passing of his "sister," and no one noticed anything unusual.

No one knew that she stayed up all night to catch up on the books and historical texts her brother had read in the past; no one knew that she practiced playing the zither until her fingertips bled in order to have the same musical skills as her brother; no one knew that she gritted her teeth and practiced horse stance with a heavy sword so that she could be praised as both a scholar and a warrior, just like her brother… No one knew how she transformed herself into a perfect scion of a noble family, and no one knew the price she paid in private.

Even her parents didn't realize that their proud son had been switched at birth, and even she herself thought that the one who had survived was actually her brother, and that she was really dead.

She thought this kind of life would continue. Although it was bitter and painful, she got used to it and it wasn't so torturous. But she never expected that after the news of Emperor Ling's death arrived, her father would fall ill and never recover, and just like that, he passed away.

Her father was the pillar of the family, and with his passing, the burden of the entire family fell on her shoulders.

She was only fifteen years old at the time, yet she saw more clearly than anyone else in the world.

When her teacher was instructing her and her brother at the Zhou family's residence, he had vaguely mentioned that this time was very similar to the end of the Qin Dynasty, a time of chaos and decline. At the time, she didn't understand what her teacher meant, but because the sorrow on his face was so profound, she kept it firmly in her heart. In recent years, as her mind had matured and she compared various historical records, she had to admit that her teacher's insight was unique; they had indeed entered a turbulent era.

Therefore, in her view, the slogan of restoring the Han Dynasty was just a facade. The Han Dynasty was already finished. If the Zhou family's small boat in other places could not capsize in the waves of the chaotic world, they would have to rely on a bigger boat.

So she chose Sun Jian.

Whether in terms of bravery or strategy, the other party was more than capable of becoming a local tyrant. As for the difference in status, she could easily lend a hand. "Are kings and generals born with a special destiny?" She had no ambition to participate in the struggle for power; she simply wanted to preserve her own family.

However, if someone asks her the real reason for choosing Sun Jian, she is completely unable to answer.

Perhaps it was a chance encounter in the countryside that left a deep impression on her when she saw this young man in fine clothes riding by on horseback. So when considering supporters, the first power that came to mind was the Sun family.

Okay, she's doing this for the bigger picture. A stable power needs a perfect leader and an excellent successor. For example, Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, was a hero, but his sons weren't very good.

However… Zhou Jin snapped out of her long reverie and looked at the incomplete Six-Chess Set in front of her.

Playing chess requires skill, but it also requires luck. And it seems that Sun Ce truly lacks only luck…

Sun Ce picked up the scattered pieces on the chessboard, pursed his lips, and said, "Who told you to be a scattered piece? Brother Yu, why can't a scattered piece be considered a '枭棋' (a type of omnipotent piece)?"

“Why not? If the Owl Chess is incompetent, it’s only natural for the Scattered Chess to call himself the Owl Chess.” Zhou Jin naturally knew what Sun Ce was implying, and elegantly curved the corners of his lips.

Sun Ce's eyes lit up, and he said with a smile, "Then let's continue. The rule is that you only win if you destroy all of the opponent's pieces!"

"..."

Sun Ce saw a flash of annoyance in the eyes of the boy who always acted like a little adult. He finally felt that the boy was starting to look like a boy. He smiled and reached out to pat the boy's head, saying, "Don't always have such a serious face. It won't make the sky fall down if you smile a couple of times."

Zhou Jin stared blankly at him. The pressure and temperature on his head were no different from what she remembered. If it weren't for the training she had received over the past few years that had improved her self-control, she probably would have burst into tears immediately.

Since her brother passed away, so many years have passed and no one has treated her like this... Zhou Jin lowered her head, afraid that the other person would see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Hey! I downloaded it for you! You're not going to back out now, are you?" Sun Ce couldn't see the expression on the boy's face, and he felt a little uneasy.

A smile curved Zhou Jin's lips as she raised her head again: "No, I won't regret it..."

three

191 AD.

Zhou Jin stood at the post station, watching the figure ride away on horseback.

Who could have imagined that Sun Jian would be so easily killed by a sneak attack, his life ending like a shooting star in the prime of his life...

Luck, sometimes, really is a very important component of ability. For the first time, Zhou Jin doubted whether her investment was correct, but when she thought of Sun Ce's unwavering gaze as he left, she gritted her teeth and decided to persevere.

She said she wouldn't regret it, so she shouldn't. Having two relationships at once is no safe decision; the world is already turbulent enough, and she doesn't want to be swallowed by the waves so quickly.

Zhou Jin only looked away when the departing figure was completely out of sight, but as soon as she turned around, she was suddenly startled and stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Master?"

The Master, whom I hadn't seen for five years, was still wearing that dark robe, his appearance unchanged, and his face still wore a warm and gentle smile.

Zhou Jin quickly took a few steps forward and greeted the teacher with great joy. She had changed. If it were her five years ago, she probably would have already rushed over, but now, as the eldest son of the Zhou family, she simply bowed her head politely, her every move flawless and impeccable.

"Master, what brings you to Lujiang?" Zhou Jin suppressed her joy, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes. She gestured for the master to come with her to the post station to talk. Only then did she notice that the master was accompanied by a ten-year-old beggar, his face dirty, like a mud monkey.

"Just passing by." The teacher smiled and followed her into the post station.

Since it wasn't mealtime, Zhou Jin ordered a pot of tea, remembering that her teacher loved it. As for the little beggar who had sat down with her, Zhou Jin thought for a moment and asked him for a plate of pastries. At this time, during wartime, tea and pastries were luxuries. Because the Lujiang area hadn't yet been affected by the war, people's livelihoods were still relatively good. The waiter quickly brought the tea and pastries. The little beggar curled his lip, clearly disdainful of the plate of not-so-fresh pastries, but he didn't say anything. He wiped his hands, picked up a piece with his chopsticks, and ate it.

Zhou Jin couldn't help but glance at her, because she could tell that the little beggar's movements were very elegant, something that couldn't be cultivated in an ordinary family. Perhaps she was a child from a family that had been destroyed. Zhou Jin felt a surge of pity and ordered another plate of pastries for her.

Zhou Jin personally poured tea for the teacher, but still couldn't help but inquire, "Teacher, did you come from Xiangyang? Do you have any news?" At this time, with war raging, the transmission of information was extremely complicated and difficult to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Even the soldiers who came to deliver news of Sun Jian's death could not accurately report the battle. Seeing that the teacher had come from the official road to Xiangyang, Zhou Jin boldly inquired.

Master Zhou Jin smiled, took a sip of tea, and said, "Sun Jian died because he was guilty of possessing a treasure!"

"Possessing a treasure is a crime?" Zhou Jin was taken aback. She thought Sun Ce had been ambushed while pursuing Huang Zu, but she didn't expect there to be another story.

"When Sun Polu was stationed south of Luoyang, he retrieved the He Shi Bi jade from a well. It must have been thrown into the well by the seal bearer when Zhang Rang rebelled, kidnapped the emperor, and fled. The guards scattered." The master spoke vividly, as if he had witnessed it himself. Although Zhou Jin still had doubts, he couldn't help but follow his lead and guess further.

"Could it be that Uncle Sun didn't hand over the He Shi Bi to Yuan Shu? Could it be that Yuan Shu harbored murderous intentions?" Zhou Jin asked, but he already knew the conclusion. No lord could tolerate a subordinate with disloyal intentions. Secretly passing on the Imperial Seal meant he wanted to become emperor again! Although it's said that when Qin lost its throne, many heroes vied for it, such a blatant display of ambition would only make him a target for others to make an example of.

Zhou Jin sighed inwardly. Sun Jian was a powerful and ruthless man, but unfortunately, he lacked strategists. She had hinted at it before, but Sun Jian wouldn't listen to advice and ultimately suffered the consequences. Lost in thought, she missed the strange look on the teacher's face and didn't see the extremely complicated expression on his face as he pressed the bundle at his waist.

Without any effort, it was simply a matter of items being switched in the chaos. The long-lost He Shi Bi jade was finally back in his hands, but why did he feel so lost?

The things were still the same, but the person who was with him... was no longer there... It truly was a case of things changing and people being gone...

No... if you really think about it, the He Shi Bi jade was already missing a piece. Although it was repaired with gold, it can't really be considered a complete return to its rightful owner...

The teacher finished the tea on the table in one gulp, stood up and said, "Xiao Jin, I'm leaving. Please take care of this child. She's from Lujiang and went out to play on her own. She really doesn't know what's good for her."

Zhou Jin hurriedly stood up to stop him. She wanted to ask the teacher about the Liuqing comb, but how could she ask in front of everyone?

The master seemed to know what she wanted to ask, but he did not answer. He just smiled, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

Zhou Jin felt bewildered, always feeling that the Master's back view was so lonely and desolate, making one's heart ache even just by looking at it.

"Hey! The snacks are awful, I want something better." A haughty child's voice came from behind. Zhou Jin looked down and saw the little beggar, whose head reached her chest, staring at her with his big, watery eyes.

"What's your name? Whose child are you? I'll take you home." Zhou Jin's tone wasn't very friendly either. At first, she thought she was a girl whose family had been destroyed, but who knew she was just a runaway child. She thought of herself at twelve years old, reckless and disregarding the consequences, and in the end, it was the person she cared about most in the world who got hurt.

The little beggar shrank back because of Zhou Jin's tone, touched his dirty nose, and said hesitantly, "My surname is Qiao, you can call me Xiao Qiao."

194 AD.

"Young Master, it's time to rest for a while." Xiao Qiao refilled the teapot on Zhou Jin's desk, pouting slightly in dissatisfaction. Since being sent to Zhou Jin's side, she hadn't gone home, only sending a note to her father informing him of her whereabouts. Surprisingly, her father didn't stop her after finding out. She later learned that when she ran away from home, her father had found her personal maid to impersonate her, and the news hadn't leaked out.

It's also possible that her father lost his temper and disowned her. However, Xiao Qiao wasn't sad. She felt that being with Zhou Jin was much more exciting than the imprisoned life at home.

After all, her young master was the world-renowned handsome Zhou Yu! He was a feast for the eyes every day, not to mention that he was always thinking about the well-being of the people. The young Qiao, who was just beginning to experience love, simply could not resist such a perfect being.

Zhou Yu looked up from the pile of books and saw Xiao Qiao's infatuated gaze. He couldn't help but rub his temples, feeling a headache coming on. "Xiao Qiao, it's getting late. You should go back and rest." Although this girl had changed into men's clothing and voluntarily stayed by his side as his servant, Zhou Jin didn't dare to really treat her like a servant.

This is Old Master Qiao's precious daughter! Heaven knows how Old Master Qiao raised her. His daughter ran away from home and he didn't even bother to take her back? Leaving her with a strange man for years without a second thought—is that really okay? It seems best to find an opportunity to send Xiao Qiao back. Otherwise, this girl is getting older. At first, she didn't care much for a ten-year-old child, and it didn't matter if she kept her around. But three years have already passed. If she keeps delaying, it won't be good if she misses her chance to get married.

Zhou Jin shook her head dejectedly, feeling that she had aged remarkably quickly in the past few years. She was only twenty, a time when most people are in their prime, yet her heart already felt riddled with wounds. She suddenly thought of marriage... If she hadn't survived in place of her brother, she would probably have married long ago, staying at home to be a wife and mother, living a monotonous life.

"Young master, how is the grain procurement going?" Xiao Qiao did not obediently go to rest, but instead walked behind her young master and began to massage his shoulders obediently.

"It's enough for now, but it's only a temporary measure." Zhou Jin tossed aside his pen, relaxed his body, and closed his eyes. After Sun Jian's death, Yuan Shu took back the troops Sun Jian had led, refusing to hand them over to Sun Ce, forcing him to recruit soldiers himself. But recruiting soldiers is no easy task. Sun Ce had only recruited a few hundred soldiers when he was attacked and nearly killed. Later, Yuan Shu offered him the position of Prefect of Jiujiang, but appointed someone else; he then offered him the position of Prefect of Lujiang, but again appointed someone else.

After several such encounters, even Sun Ce's loyalty to Yuan Shu was worn down. Furthermore, the circumstances surrounding Sun Jian's death were highly suspicious, and Yuan Shu's stubbornness and intolerant nature meant that Sun Ce had long harbored the idea of ​​establishing his own independent regime. However, recruiting soldiers required provisions; otherwise, expecting horses to run without feeding them simply didn't make sense.

At that time, Zhou Jin's uncle, Zhou Shang, was serving as the governor of Danyang. Zhou Jin felt obligated to come and help Sun Ce raise grain. Ignoring her family's advice, she resolutely bought most of the Zhou family's land and wealth, and went around making arrangements to finally raise enough military rations for two months, which would be enough to get through this difficult time.

Standing behind Zhou Jin, Xiao Qiao had a perfect view of his handsome profile from her angle. In the candlelight, he appeared as elegant and sculpted as a statue. Feeling her face inexplicably hot, Xiao Qiao unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand.

The music was wrong, and Zhou Yu noticed.

At a banquet last year, Xiao Qiao saw a young lady deliberately play a wrong tune, just to make Zhou Yu turn around and look at her. At the time, she was too young to understand such feelings and secretly laughed at the young lady's scheming. But if it were her now…

"Ouch! Xiao Qiao, I have no grudge against you, do I?" Zhou Jin shrank his shoulders and turned back in confusion. When did this girl's grip become so strong?
"Hmph!" Xiao Qiao snorted lightly to cover up her displeasure, and preemptively interrogated him: "Young master, why are you so good to that kid surnamed Sun? Even if you are sworn brothers, isn't this going too far? Selling houses and land and owing favors to raise food for him?" Xiao Qiao asked with a self-righteous tone, as if the Zhou family's things were originally under her control.

Zhou Jin said in a serious tone, "I have high hopes for him. He will become the ruler of the world." In fact, sometimes even she couldn't explain it clearly. Perhaps she transferred her feelings for her brother onto Sun Ce.

She knew exactly what she was doing and had no regrets whatsoever.

Xiao Qiao was furious. Was this how one should be so devoted to others? In her heart, her young master was wise and brave, a first-rate military leader. Why did he have to support that big, dumb guy? He could have easily started his own rebellion! Why did he value that person more than himself? The more Xiao Qiao thought about it, the angrier she became, a kind of inexplicable anger surging within her. Ignoring what Zhou Jin was doing, she pounced on him and started punching him.

Zhou Jin grabbed Xiao Qiao's hands, her head throbbing even more. Why was this girl becoming increasingly difficult to manage as she grew older? She was almost fourteen, yet she still acted like a child. Who would dare marry her in the future? She didn't want to be settling for a life without ever getting married…

As for Sun Ce… Sun Ce will get married in the future… Zhou Jin’s mind flashed with that handsome face, and she was momentarily stunned. She failed to grab Xiao Qiao, who fell directly into her arms, and the two rolled around on the soft couch. Just then, the door was pushed open.

"Brother Yu, about the military provisions... uh... you..." Sun Ce's voice suddenly stopped, and he stood there dumbfounded, feeling for a moment that he didn't know whether to leave or stay.

Xiao Qiao struggled to get off Zhou Jin, straightened her disheveled clothes with an air of nonchalance, snorted, and turned to leave.

Sun Ce was dumbfounded, never expecting that his brother Yu and his personal servant had such a relationship. However, he also knew that among the upper-class nobles, homosexual relationships were nothing unusual, but witnessing it with his own eyes today, especially since one of the main characters was his brother Yu, was quite a shock to him.

Zhou Jin had no idea that what had just happened would be misunderstood; in her mind, it was just children playing around with her. However, it was time to take Xiao Qiao home, otherwise, delaying would damage Xiao Qiao's reputation. As she thought this, Zhou Jin sat up and casually tidied her appearance, appearing poised and elegant.

Sun Ce stared at the still-flushed blush on the handsome young man's face, as if bewitched, unable to look away. He had long known that his sworn brother was incomparably handsome, but now, in the dim candlelight, he possessed an indescribable charm that made one's heart race.

Zhou Jin looked up and found Sun Ce staring intently at him. He coughed lightly and said, "Brother Ce, we have raised enough military rations for about two months. There is no need to worry for now."

Sun Ce then realized that his reaction was a bit off, and changed the subject to cover it up, saying, "Brother Yu, I have already gone through the coming-of-age ceremony and taken the courtesy name Bofu. You may call me Brother Bofu."

“Bo Fu…” Zhou Jin was taken aback, only then remembering that Sun Ce’s birthday was a bit older than hers, and that she herself would soon be coming of age.

"Brother Yu, have you decided on a courtesy name yet?" Sun Ce asked with a smile. Meeting Sun Ce's ardent gaze, Zhou Jin was momentarily dazed, her heart pounding wildly. She also wanted him to call her by her name…

“Jin…” Zhou Jin smiled elegantly, “Your courtesy name is Gongjin.”

196 AD.

Zhou Jin stopped and turned to look at Sun Ce, who had been following closely behind. A bitter smile appeared on his lips as he said, "Bo Fu, this is enough."

Sun Ce stared at his close friend, pressing his lips tightly into a straight line, suppressing his anger, and remained silent.

Zhou Jin sighed, knowing that Sun Ce, who was usually quick to express his emotions, was already at his best. What he probably wanted most now was to break with Yuan Shu directly.

But they can't do that right now.

Zhou Jin gave a wink to the servant behind him, who then led Zhou Jin's uncle's carriage forward, leaving the two of them to say goodbye alone. Xiao Qiao had been personally sent back to the Qiao family by him two years ago, and sometimes Zhou Jin would miss that spirited girl when he didn't see her.

Frowning and pondering for a long while, Zhou Jin felt she had already said everything she needed to say during her drinking session with Sun Ce last night. Yuan Shu's decision to replace her uncle Zhou Shang with his cousin Yuan Yin as the governor of Danyang was clearly due to his displeasure with the uncle and nephew's secret support of Sun Ce. Sun Ce was no ordinary man and naturally wouldn't remain under Yuan Shu's command forever; however, at this time, lacking troops, horses, and supplies, Sun Ce couldn't truly turn against Yuan Shu.

Sun Ce looked at the young man, who always wore a faint smile, now frowning deeply for him, and felt a pang of pity, inwardly cursing himself for being foolish. At this moment, the one who least wanted to leave was Gongjin. And now Gongjin was the one comforting him; he truly was a troublesome older brother.

With a deep sense of helplessness weighing on his heart, Sun Ce forced a smile: "Gongjin, take good care of yourself. I want to see you looking stronger next time we meet!" Perhaps it was because of his exhaustion, but his sworn brother was always thin and pale, as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

Hearing Sun Ce's teasing, Zhou Jin knew that he had come to his senses, and his worries eased slightly. He smiled sincerely and nodded.

Looking up at Sun Ce's sharply defined face, Zhou Jin could no longer see the childishness that once lingered in his brows. Standing before her was a ruthless general, forged in the crucible of bloodshed and decisive battles. Like a sharp spear, even simply standing there exuded an aura of dominance capable of defeating ten thousand men.

She should have known all along that she hadn't made a mistake in choosing the right person. A smile of appreciation appeared on Zhou Jin's lips.

Why did she choose him back then? Zhou Jin was lost in memories. No, it wasn't him she initially chose, but his father... and the faint shadow of her elder brother that she could find in Sun Ce.

She knew her brother was dead, yet she couldn't stop herself from searching for his traces in others. Perhaps if her brother were still alive, he too would walk this thorny path to kingship, but she couldn't. She wasn't bold enough, not brave enough, not... not ruthless enough.

The main reason is that she is still a woman at heart, even though she disguised herself as a man for ten years. And her decision to support Sun Ce, who was like a young boy, after Sun Jian's death was a journey from being in a dilemma to sticking to the end, to being sincerely convinced, and finally to doing her best.

Although Sun Ce was still young, he had already earned the world's praise as "a man of outstanding talent and courage, unparalleled in his abilities, with a keen eye for the extraordinary and aspiring to conquer the Central Plains." His frivolous and impetuous nature was exactly like his father's; it was only hoped that these rough edges would be gradually smoothed out by the trials of time, ultimately leading him to achieve imperial greatness.

Everything was proceeding as she had predicted, but there was one thing she hadn't anticipated: her own feelings.

Zhou Jin carefully concealed the admiration and longing in her eyes, gathering it up little by little, and then burying it deep in her heart. She was no longer Zhou Jin, but Zhou Gongjin.

What Sun Ce needed wasn't the Zhou family's eldest daughter, who couldn't be easily swayed, but rather Zhou Gongjin, who could stand by his side, offer advice, and serve as his right-hand man. That wouldn't be bad, actually.

Her wish now goes beyond simply ensuring the Zhou family's safety.

Her ambitions changed; she hoped to see him sit on that throne, looking down upon the world, and to see the people end this apocalyptic ordeal.

And she will always be by his side.

As Zhou Gongjin, I will never regret it.

four

AD 199

"What...what are you saying?" Zhou Jin clenched her fists tightly under her sleeves, asking in disbelief. Even with a massive army at the city gates, she wouldn't lose her composure like this, but hearing the most unbelievable words from the person she cared about most made it impossible for her to remain calm.

Sun Ce glanced at Zhou Jin in surprise. He didn't think there was anything wrong with what he had just said. Wasn't it just about arranging a marriage for Qiao Guolao? "Weren't you two very close back then? I thought you turned down so many marriage proposals all these years because you were waiting for Xiao Qiao to grow up!" Sun Ce grinned mischievously. "Back then, I thought you were up to some kind of homosexual relationship, Gongjin! Turns out, it was a romantic affair!"

Zhou Jin's nails dug deeper into her palms. She knew she should say something, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Three years ago, she refused Yuan Shu's offer of office, requesting only to serve as the magistrate of Juchao County. Meanwhile, Sun Ce conquered far and wide, establishing his own territory. She feigned going to Juchao County to assume her post, but secretly crossed the Yangtze River to Wu, where she reunited with Sun Ce. Sun Ce personally welcomed her and appointed her General of Jianwei. Last year, Yuan Shu died, and Sun Ce appointed Zhou Jin as the Commander of the Central Army, with the nominal title of Prefect of Jiangxia. In these past few years, Zhou Jin assisted Sun Ce in conquering Wan City and seizing Lujiang Commandery; Sun Ce's empire was beginning to take shape.

Over the years, the two shared common ideals, plotting for the world together and fighting side by side on the battlefield, almost inseparable. Sun Ce remained unmarried, and she stayed by his side with a complex mix of emotions. Initially, she felt somewhat fortunate; he looked down on those reclusive young ladies and even encouraged his younger sister, Sun Shangxiang, to practice martial arts. Last year, Cao Cao deliberately sought a marriage alliance with Sun Ce, but he instead gave Cao Cao's niece to his own brother, Sun Kuang. This was because he didn't want too much involvement with Cao Cao and completely disregarded any form of exchanged for marriage.

But the more she did this, the more her unrealistic desires swelled. She imagined more than once what kind of expression Sun Ce would have when she was reborn as a woman after the world was unified.

Ideals are just ideals; reality is always cruel.

She was even prepared for the day when Sun Ce would tell her he was getting married, but she never expected that he would come in person to propose marriage.

Seeing Zhou Jin staring blankly, seemingly lost in thought, Sun Ce earnestly tried to persuade him. He assumed his sworn brother was just shy, so he racked his brains to find reasons for him: "Forming a marriage alliance with someone like Elder Qiao, who holds a position of power in Lujiang County, would greatly benefit the development of the Jiangdong army. Our foundation is still weak, and we will inevitably need to rely on external forces. Having this relationship will make things easier for us in the future."

If he's unwilling to exchange his own marriage for benefits, can he just use hers? Zhou Jin lowered her eyes, concealing the disappointment and pain within.

Then she heard her own reply. "Okay, I understand."

Didn't she say she'd support him and never regret it? What should she do? She was starting to have second thoughts...

Zhou Jin sat in the room, staring blankly at the sea of ​​red. After agreeing to marry Xiao Qiao, she frequently visited the Qiao family, partly because she was about to become someone else's husband and naturally wanted to behave well, and partly because she genuinely wanted to avoid Sun Ce and didn't want to see him.

Marriage... that word was so far removed from her life. She thought she would never have the chance to get married in her lifetime, let alone that she would become someone else's husband...

The power of the Green Hairpin could truly turn her into a man, or it could restore her to her female form... Clenching the Green Hairpin in her hand, Zhou Jin knew she was becoming increasingly conflicted, especially in this room filled with dressing cases, where the brightly colored bridal gowns on the racks both dazzled and filled her with envy.

She...she really wanted to wear it just once...

Once this thought appeared, it was like a tender sprout breaking through the soil. No matter how hard Zhou Jin tried to suppress it, he couldn't eradicate this seed from his heart.

I'll just wear it for a bit... it shouldn't be a problem, right?

Xiao Qiao went out for a spring outing at the invitation of a young lady. There was no one else in this courtyard, and the place she was staying in was a side room, so the servants wouldn't push the door open and come in without announcing themselves.

Zhou Jin was completely captivated, as if under a spell. She stood up, her fingers touching the bridal gown, the soft texture on her fingertips making her unable to resist any longer.

She untied the square scarf used to tie a man's hair, combed her hair with a hair comb, and carefully put on the wedding dress with a feeling of worship. Then she saw a familiar yet unfamiliar face in the bronze mirror.

The woman had her hair down and wore a bright red, flowing robe with wide sleeves and a tight fit, which accentuated her perfect curves. Zhou Jin, who hadn't worn women's clothing in ten years, never knew she had such a good figure.

However, her face was plain and she didn't look like a bride at all.

Zhou Jin sat down in front of the dressing table and opened the layers of dressing boxes.

Applying lead powder, rouge, pale yellow, drawing eyebrows, applying lip rouge, and drawing facial features... Zhou Jin carefully applied her makeup. Although she had never done it before, she remembered seeing her mother do it every morning. She was serious and devout, as if she had practiced it countless times in her heart.

When Zhou Jin finally regained her senses, she was utterly shocked by the face she saw in the bronze mirror.

So, this is Zhou Jin.

If she had lived her life in a conventional way, Zhou Jin would have looked exactly like this in the bronze mirror.

Zhou Jin did not stop. Instead, she awkwardly tied her loose long hair into a cloud-shaped bun, with a few light strands of hair hanging down beside her cheeks, making her look even more graceful and charming. Finally, she inserted a peacock tortoiseshell hairpin inlaid with gold and wrapped a five-colored cherry tassel around the bun.

“The Book of Rites says, ‘When the master enters the room, he personally removes the bride’s tassel.’… Xiao Jin, when you get married in the future, remember to tie a five-colored tassel on your head! Only your husband can remove the five-colored tassel…” That year, when the teacher was giving a lesson, her brother flipped through the book and came across this passage. He turned his head and jokingly said to her with a smile.

Staring at the two swaying five-colored cherry blossom tassels, Zhou Jin was stunned for a long time until someone pushed the door open and made a soft "Eh" sound. She subconsciously turned her head to look, and then she was shocked.

Sun Ce? Why is he at the Qiao family's place at this time? Zhou Jin hurriedly hid behind the screen, her heart pounding, unsure of what to do.

A hurried apology and the sound of a door closing came from outside the screen. Zhou Jin wasn't sure if the other person had recognized her, but when she turned out from behind the screen, she saw herself in the bronze mirror and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Even she herself couldn't recognize this face, let alone anyone else.
However… Zhou Jin looked at the five-colored cherry blossom tassels that had fallen to the ground because of her dodging, sighed silently, and began to take off her hair and wash off her makeup.

Having a dream once is fine.

Even the most beautiful dream eventually ends.

Sun Ce left the Qiao family residence with his head down and a look of embarrassment on his face. He hadn't seen Gongjin for days and assumed he was on a long holiday since his wedding was imminent. But today, he had some urgent military information to discuss with him, so he came directly to the Qiao family residence to see him.

I just didn't expect to offend the beautiful lady.

Unexpectedly… that little girl from back then had grown so beautiful… Sun Ce secretly envied his sworn brother's good fortune with women, but he never imagined that he would see Xiao Qiao returning home as soon as he stepped outside. She was wearing a lake-blue jacket and skirt, her hair styled in a lily-shaped bun, her long hair parted into several strands on top of her head, the black strands blooming like petals of a lily, making her incomparably beautiful and dazzling. Sun Ce recognized her at a glance as the little girl from back then, but if this was Xiao Qiao, then who had he accidentally bumped into?

Xiao Qiao was surprised to run into Sun Ce. She was also taken aback when Sun Ce asked her such a question, but she immediately smiled and said, "What the general saw must be my sister. She was just itching to try on my wedding dress."

Sun Ce's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't thought much of it just now because he assumed he was seeing Xiao Qiao, so he naturally wouldn't have any fantasies about his brother's woman.

But now... recalling that fleeting glimpse of her stunning beauty, Sun Ce felt as if he had seen her somewhere before, with an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

But then he thought about it again. Since that person was Xiao Qiao's older sister, she must look very similar to Xiao Qiao. No wonder he had that feeling.

But something still feels off...

Xiao Qiao tilted her head, watching the ever-changing expression on Sun Ce's face. A thought flashed through her mind, and she smiled and said, "General, my sister is still not betrothed."

Sun Ce understood Xiao Qiao's implication: that she would think of that unforgettable face, and his heart suddenly began to pound wildly.

"My lord, it's late, you should rest early." Xiao Qiao gracefully walked in, carrying a bowl of soup.

Zhou Jin rubbed her slightly aching temples and put down the military intelligence report she was holding.

Xiao Qiao knew what her husband had been worrying about these days, and she was also full of resentment: "What's wrong with you, brother-in-law? After wiping out Liu Xun, a former subordinate of Yuan Shu, and capturing Wan City, you haven't come back. Then you attacked Huang Zu, the governor of Jiangxia under Liu Biao, and I could tolerate that, knowing he was avenging his father. But then you went to attack Yuzhang and persuaded the governor of Yuzhang to surrender, why haven't you come back yet? Can you really bear to leave you, my husband, to handle such a huge mess of the Jiangdong army all by yourself?"

"It's not exactly a mess," Zhou Jin said with a wry smile. She knew Sun Ce had been acting very strangely lately, but she couldn't figure out why. It seemed... it seemed to have started after Sun Ce married Da Qiao...

Zhou Jin's heart was filled with bitterness. Although that incident happened a long time ago, she still couldn't help but feel sad whenever she thought about it. Sun Ce had seen her dressed as a woman by chance at the Qiao family's residence and hastily arranged her marriage to Da Qiao. However, he led his troops into battle just a few days after the wedding and has not returned since.

Did he figure something out? Zhou Jin recalled the thoughtful look on Sun Ce's face before he left, and felt a surge of irritation.

"I'm not going to think about it anymore. I'll just lay it all out next time we meet," Zhou Jin resolved silently.

Although Xiao Qiao felt that her husband was no longer as affectionate towards her as he used to be, she didn't really care. She was no longer the child who would run away from home after a single argument with her father, and her spoiled, pampered nature had gradually been smoothed out. In this era, mutual respect and harmony were traditional virtues, especially since her husband never gave other women a second glance. If she had to find fault with him, it would be that he was far too good to Sun Ce.

They were so good that she was even a little jealous.

"Xiao Qiao, go and spend more time with your sister." Zhou Jin coughed lightly, bringing Xiao Qiao back to her senses.

"Alright then." Xiao Qiao knew that her older sister had been heartbroken these past few days, so she didn't say anything more. But she didn't want to leave just like that; she always felt that although her husband was physically by her side, his heart wasn't with her.

Zhou Jin, oblivious to the strange expression on Xiao Qiao's face, frowned as he looked at the battle report on the table, his heart filled with worry. Chen Deng, the Prefect of Guangling, had incited Yan Baihu's remaining followers to rebel in Wu Commandery, and Sun Ce had led troops to quell the rebellion. Although suppressing the rebellion would be a simple matter if Sun Ce were to go, Zhou Jin couldn't hide his anxiety; his brow twitched throbbing.

"Husband, why are you here? You don't look well!" Xiao Qiao reached out to support Zhou Jin, who subconsciously pulled his hand away, lifted his sleeve over the table, and touched the hairpin on it.

With a crisp sound, the comb fell to the ground.

Both of them were stunned, staring blankly at the broken comb on the ground, a shadow passing over their hearts.

A broken tooth on a comb is a very bad omen.

Outside the screen, a guard burst in, banging on the door and shouting urgently, "General! Something terrible has happened! Our lord has betrayed us in Dantu!"

Zhou Jin felt dizzy and her vision blurred. For a moment, she couldn't hear anything Xiao Qiao was shouting.

Zhou Jin sat silently in the mourning hall, surrounded by blinding white light. She didn't know how long she had been there, only that people came and went, and cries rose and fell, but her soul seemed to have left.

Upon receiving the news, she traveled hundreds of miles overnight to reach Dantu and saw him one last time.

He was already severely injured and delirious. It took him a long time to recognize her. He could only hold her hand and utter a single word with difficulty.

"Owl Chess".

She understood his meaning, just as she had always understood it all these years. He was entrusting her with a responsibility: if the hawk dies, then even a scattered piece can become the hawk.

He wanted her to inherit his Jiangdong army, but she couldn't. If she truly wanted to, would he have been able to lead the army back then? And who else could become that strategist? Could she guarantee she could serve that person as she had served Sun Ce?
"Gongjin..." A young voice came from beside him. Zhou Jin looked up in a daze and saw a young face that vaguely overlapped with Sun Ce's face ten years ago.

"Gongjin, you need to rest. You can't collapse." Sun Quan's brows were furrowed with worry. He had long known that Gongjin and his elder brother were very close, but he never imagined that Gongjin would be so heartbroken. He was so haggard and thin that he looked like a ghost, as if even a gust of wind could blow him away.

"Gongjin... Before my elder brother left, he instructed me to consult Zhang Zhao on internal affairs and Gongjin on external affairs..."

Zhou Jin was startled; her unfocused eyes sharpened, and she immediately pushed herself up. However, she didn't know how long she had been kneeling there; when she stood up, her legs felt like they weren't her own anymore. Fortunately, Sun Quan was beside her, preventing her from falling to the ground in a disheveled state.

"Gongjin...you...please accept my condolences..." Sun Quan finally couldn't help but speak. The heavy sorrow emanating from this man was so intense that it was alarming to look at him.

"Don't worry." Zhou Jin finally stood up, standing straight. "In leading the people of Jiangdong to fight between two armies and compete with the heroes of the world, you are not as good as Bo Fu. But in terms of employing the virtuous and capable, and ensuring that all officers and generals do their best to protect the peace of Jiangdong, Bo Fu is not as good as you."

"Gongjin..." Upon hearing this, Sun Quan was at a loss for words.

"With the turmoil in the Central Plains, we, with the strength of Wu and Yue and the strategic advantage of the Three Rivers, are well able to observe the outcome calmly," Zhou Jin said slowly, each word uttered in her tired, hoarse voice. "Rest assured, I will assist you well."

A promise made is a promise kept for a lifetime.

"I am Zhou Yu, courtesy name Gongjin, Grand Commander of Eastern Wu."

In this world, there is no more Zhou Jin, only Zhou Yu.

五

Two thousand years later.

While sorting through antiques, the owner found a broken comb with one tooth in a box in the corner, and then he was lost in a long-forgotten memory.

Yes, he gave this comb to a little girl years ago. A little girl who wanted to live in her brother's place.

The shop owner stroked the patterns on the Liuqing comb with his hand. Back then, he was very enthusiastic. During the Three Kingdoms period, he found the reincarnation of Fusu and took him by his side to teach and guide him. Even Zhou Jin, who was completely unrelated to him, was able to help her realize her wish and gave her this Liuqing comb.

But this sentiment gradually faded with the passage of time. He could no longer bear to see the children he had raised die before his eyes time and time again. So in the end, he preferred to watch over them from afar, just to make sure that Fusu in that life grew up healthy, and to try his best not to think about seeing him.

If you don't want to see each other, you won't know each other.

If we don't know each other, we can't understand each other.

If we don't know each other, we won't miss each other...

The broken teeth of the comb were clean and crisp, like severing a ties.

The boss always felt that Zhou Jin was very similar to him, but they were also very different.

They all harbored a deep desire to help someone achieve hegemony, but in the end, Zhou Jin devoted himself wholeheartedly to fulfilling Sun Ce's dying wish. He, however, was more selfish, wanting to find that person again.

Yes, later, out of concern, he went to see her again, and then that person returned the comb to him, saying that she shouldn't have left the comb behind back then, and should have given up and become a man from the beginning...

"Hey? Boss, this comb is beautiful! It's a pity one of the teeth is broken!" The doctor, who was helping him tidy up the storeroom, noticed that the boss had been lost in thought for a while, so he came over. "What kind of material is this comb? The carving on it is very delicate and exquisite!" The doctor had been in the Silent Shop for a long time, so his eyesight had naturally improved. Just by looking at the comb's lustrous color, he knew that it must have been handled and rubbed frequently. Moreover, it was as smooth as grease, as warm as jade, and its color was similar to amber. It was obviously an antique that had been around for a long time.

"...This is a bamboo comb. It's made from bamboo from Yinshan, which was planted hundreds of years ago. The bamboo's surface retains a layer of green bamboo, which is used to carve patterns, hence the name 'green bamboo carving'," the shopkeeper said casually, placing the bamboo comb into a brocade box. "However, one of its teeth is broken, so it can't be used anymore."

(End of this chapter)