The Three Kingdoms: Home Travel

"Hey, you two!" Jiang Zhe called out from afar to Fang Yue and Tao Ying, who were secretly laughing in the distance. If you're going to peek and eavesdrop, why did you run so far?

The two came over with smiles on their faces. Jiang Zhe shook his head and went inside with Xiu'er. Mi Zhen looked around and then followed her sister Xiu'er.

The carriage was naturally taken care of by servants from Wang Yun's household.

Wang Yun asked everyone to sit down in the hall. He called a servant to serve tea, then looked at Xiuer with a smile and said, "Xiuer, you must have had a very hard time these years... It's true, why don't you come to your uncle's place and see what you've been up to... Sigh!" He then glared at Jiang Zhe fiercely.

What did I do to you? You old fool! Xiu'er has sided with you, and you're using her as a pawn! Jiang Zhe took a sip of tea, feeling annoyed.

"Uncle is joking..." Xiu'er looked at Jiang Zhe with deep affection in her eyes and replied, "I used to be a little lonely, but now..." She bit her lip and just smiled sweetly.

Hmph! Look! Jiang Zhe returned Wang Yun's look with a glare. Xiu'er is still safe with me. At least I won't abandon her!

"Oh..." Wang Yun responded with a sigh, then looked at everyone. When he saw Mi Zhen, he frowned, glanced at Jiang Zhe, and then asked Fang Yue and the others, "Who are these brave warriors...?"

"I am Fang Yue from Hanoi, courtesy name Ziling, greetings to Lord Situ!" Fang Yue performed a military salute with neither arrogance nor servility.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Situ. I am Tao Ying from Xuzhou, courtesy name Zicheng. I have just met you!" Tao Ying, being the son of Tao Qian, remained composed despite knowing the position of Situ.

"Okay! Okay!" Wang Yun smiled slightly and nodded, a stark contrast to his attitude towards Jiang Zhe earlier.

"I am Zhen'er, the youngest daughter of the Mi family in Xuzhou... I greet Minister Situ..." Mi Zhen bowed gracefully. As a member of a prominent family, she was naturally very polite, which immediately improved Wang Yun's impression of her.

"Xiuer..." Wang Yun said, looking at Xiuer with affection, "It's been quite a few years since we parted ways back then..."

Xiuer recalled for a moment and said softly, "Back then, Xiuer left Luoyang according to her father's and mother's wishes. Xiuer was eight years old that year..."

"Eight years old..." Wang Yun shook his head and sighed, "The disaster of the Party Prohibitions had far-reaching consequences... Alas! Don't blame your uncle, your uncle really couldn't protect your father... and in the end, your mother was also implicated..."

"My mother and father had a very deep love for each other, and she died for love... My mother is Xiuer's pride..."

"You!" Wang Yun sighed deeply.

"We've finished all the tea, why isn't dinner served yet?" Jiang Zhe's stomach was empty, and he looked around.

"This..." Wang Yun coughed as he looked at Jiang Zhe, who seemed a little restless.

"Uncle, you can just call Xiuer's husband Shouyi..."

"Shouyi...not bad handwriting!" Wang Yun muttered, glancing at Xiuer, his tone immediately softening. "Shouyi, have you been studying at home?"

"Read, read..."

"Oh!" Wang Yun nodded, then asked, "What books do you all read?"

Jiang Zhe opened his mouth, thinking to himself, "I've read Romance of the Three Kingdoms..."

"..." Wang Yun's face twitched, and there seemed to be some anger in his eyes. Could it be that his niece had married a good-for-nothing?

Have you ever read the Book of Changes?

Jiang Zhe opened his mouth.

"What about the Book of Poetry and the Book of History?"

"..." Jiang Zhe frowned, thinking to himself, "Why am I even reading that stuff?"

"What about the Analects!" Wang Yun's voice grew louder and louder.

"I've read a little bit of it..." Jiang Zhe said somewhat awkwardly. He wasn't lying... he'd read a tiny bit of it in elementary school textbooks...

Wang Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief; he was genuinely afraid that this kid hadn't read anything.

"What are your thoughts?" Wang Yun picked up the teacup and blew on the steam.

"...Among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me..."

"..." Wang Yun stared blankly at Jiang Zhe for a long time, and then suddenly realized that what he had just said was just a perfunctory response.

Jiang Zhe glanced at Xiu'er, who covered her mouth and chuckled softly. Jiang Zhe's face immediately fell. "Old man, how dare you embarrass me in front of my wife! You're so despicable!"

Having lost interest in questioning Jiang Zhe further, Wang Yun treated everyone to a meal. Throughout the journey, Wang Yun glared angrily at Jiang Zhe…

During the banquet, Wang Yun kept urging Xiu'er to eat more, and Fang Yue and others also mentioned it a lot... But as for Jiang Zhe... that old man deeply resented Jiang Zhe, this "good-for-nothing," for deceiving Xiu'er, so how could he give him a good look?

Taking a sip of wine, Wang Yun asked with some concern, "Xiuer, did you encounter any bandits along the way?"

"Thieves?" Xiu'er was taken aback for a moment, then realized, "Uncle, are you referring to the Yellow Turbans?"

"He's a Yellow Turban rebel!" Wang Yun said with a frown, then looked at Xiu'er with a hint of apology.

Xiuer's cry of "Yellow Turbans" was also influenced by Jiang Zhe. Jiang Zhe believed that if the people of the Han Dynasty lived in peace and prosperity, who would rebel? Later records indicate that the Chinese people have the strongest capacity for endurance; as long as they are given hope of survival, they will not rebel…

Xiuer glanced at Jiang Zhe, then hesitated before saying, "Yes...yes, Uncle...I haven't encountered him on my way here..."

"That's good...that's good..." Wang Yun laughed heartily. "Your uncle was worried you'd run into a large group of Yellow Turban rebels. Alas! These traitors have no regard for the law!"

"Nonsense! If I ran into them, would I still be eating here?" Jiang Zhe muttered, taking large bites of his food. The food at Wang Yun's house was quite good, but it was a pity the old man wasn't a good person...

"The thieves almost brought disaster to the capital..." Wang Yun sighed.

"Hey!" Tao Ying chuckled and immediately said, "Lord Situ, we have also encountered those Yellow Turban rebels, but the capital is heavily guarded, and it will probably be difficult for the Yellow Turbans to attack..."

"Oh?" Wang Yun was taken aback, looked at Tao Ying, then frowned and said, "I remember the governor of Xuzhou..."

"That is my father!"

"Oh!" Wang Yun suddenly realized, nodded, and asked curiously, "Where did you encounter the Yellow Turbans?"

"That was Xuzhou! That traitor led 50,000 troops to attack Xuzhou, but was defeated by a few simple strategies from a certain gentleman... The Yellow Turban rebels are nothing special!" Of course, my contribution was also indispensable...

"Oh?" Wang Yun looked at Jiang Zhe upon hearing this, her eyes twitching as she watched Jiang Zhe devour his food.

"Shou...Shouyi, is it you who defeated the Yellow Turban rebels?" A glint of light flashed in Wang Yun's eyes. Could this seemingly careless young man actually possess such talent?

"Don't talk while eating or sleeping!" Jiang Zhe lowered his head and continued attacking the pork hock in his hand.

"..." Wang Yun was stunned for a moment, his face turning somewhat ugly. Never before had anyone dared to speak to him like this! However, to be able to say such a thing was not due to ignorance... Perhaps I had misjudged him?

"Husband..." Xiu'er looked at Jiang Zhe pleadingly and gently tugged at his clothes under the table.

Okay, okay, my wife is the boss... nothing beats the braised pork hock...

Setting down what he was holding, Jiang Zhe wiped his hands and said, "That's true!"

"Hmm!" Wang Yun felt relieved. It seemed this lad really did have some skills. I was also puzzled; otherwise, how could Xiu'er have taken a liking to him...

After waiting for a while without Jiang Zhe speaking, Wang Yun asked somewhat awkwardly, "Then... could Shouyi explain in detail...?"

It seems Wang Situ doesn't understand Jiang Zhe. Jiang Zhe is the type who won't tell you unless you ask. He only started talking after Wang Yun asked him...

"Wonderful..." Half an hour later, Wang Yun stroked his long beard and looked at Jiang Zhe, sighing inwardly, "I really am getting old... my judgment is also... sigh!"

"Uncle?" Xiu'er called out worriedly.

"No problem, no problem!" Wang Yun waved his hand and said with a smile, "Shouyi, I didn't expect that you, who are not well-versed in poetry and literature, are so proficient in military tactics and strategies..."

"So-so..."

"..." Wang Yun thought for a long time but still couldn't understand what this meant. Maybe it was just some self-deprecating words, which was fine.

"What is your opinion on the current political situation, Shouyi? Don't hold back, speak freely! If you have any good strategies for governing the country, feel free to share them... Consider it an opportunity for this old man to see your talent!"

"Do you really want to talk about it?" Jiang Zhe glanced at Wang Yun.

"Hehe, speak freely!"

"The emperor is incompetent, eunuchs and relatives of the empress are in power, officials are incompetent and implicate the people, and taxes are heavy, leaving the people with almost no chance of survival. In short, the Han Dynasty is doomed..." Jiang Zhe said a few words in a long and eloquent manner, but suddenly realized that something was wrong. Why was there no sound?

Looking around, he saw that everyone at the table was staring at him in disbelief. Then he looked at Wang Yun, whose body was trembling, his finger pointing straight at him, and his eyes... seemed to be filled with anger?

"Bang!" Wang Yun slammed his fist on the table, his beard trembling with rage, and roared, "Boy! You have no respect for the Emperor! No respect for the court! You are utterly unfit to be a son!"

"..." Jiang Zhe opened his mouth blankly, wasn't it... wasn't it supposed to be free speech?

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