Chapter 13 - Monkey

Zhou Yu cleaned up the bed, and the two put one blanket over them as they pressed together to sleep. Zhou Yu’s bed was very small, and they both had large builds, so their hands and feet were pressed together. A few sounds came from the outside, and Sun Ce raised his eyes to look at the ceiling, saying with amusement, “It’s winter, and yet there’s so many rats.”

Zhou Yu wasn’t expecting for Sun Ce to say such a thing, and with a ”pft”, he chuckled out loud.

Sun Ce continued, entertained, “Tomorrow we have to let the great general know, so that he can bring the rats under control.”

“You brought the rats,” Zhou Yu replied. “I’ve lived here for over a month now, and I’ve never seen one, but when you came, the rats followed. Make sure you don’t get bit by them in your sleep.”

Sun Ce’s expression changed a little, and he narrowed his eyes, noticing that under the eaves outside the room, the moonlight was obviously a little brighter.

Sun Ce held his breath, but Zhou Yu pressed his hand down on Sun Ce’s poised one, shaking his head lightly.

The assassins outside the room seemed to be waiting for something, but Zhou Yu knew that Yuan Shu shouldn’t be dealing a killing blow at this time. After all, he hadn’t discovered the whereabouts of the jade seal yet, and if he killed Sun Ce, it was no different than directly falling out with Sun Jian. Sun Ce was also pretty bold, and with a laugh, heihei, he no longer glanced in that direction outside.

After one stick of incense, Zhou Yu’s ears twitched as he heard the sound of a bamboo whistle from afar. A good portion of the assassins on the roof left, but there were probably a few left still eavesdropping on their conversation.

Sun Ce had just finished bathing, and he smelled of the good scent of manly skin. From the beginning to the end, he had been clutching Zhou Yu’s hand tightly.

In the second half of the night, Zhou Yu asked in a small voice, “Are you asleep?”

“No,” Sun Ce said quietly, before he turned over and squashed Zhou Yu underneath his own body.

Zhou Yu: “...”

Zhou Yu’s entire being was squished by Sun Ce into an odd position, and they were pressed ear to mouth. Sun Ce opened his eyes, and his soft lips moved a little. “One to the left, three to the right.”

“They’ve all fallen asleep,” Zhou Yu said extremely quietly. “There’s one left by the fence in the backyard who’s listening in…”

“What do you want to say?” Sun Ce asked lightly, right by Zhou Yu’s ear. “Gongjin, you smell pretty good, exactly like how you smelled when we were kids.”

“Oh fuck off…” Zhou Yu swatted away the hand that Sun Ce was using to grope around, and he replied under his breath, “I have a plan that can let you, Sun Quan, and the old madame leave peacefully. Want to try it?”

“Speak.” Sun Ce had one hand wrapped around Zhou Yu’s waist, and he slung his leg over his body. The two of them were entwined together, and Sun Ce smiled. “I just knew you’d have a plan.”

“Stop wasting words… what are you doing? Stop that!” Zhou Yu whispered. “If you keep making a scene, I’ll stop paying attention to you.”

Sun Ce could only hold that position and not move. Zhou Yu said a few sentences quietly, and Sun Ce’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Think it through,” Zhou Yu said. “This matter has no room for any hesitation, otherwise even if Zhang Zifang returned to this world, he would not be able to help you.”

“What if you wanted to kill me?” Sun Ce asked with an earnest expression.

Zhou Yu’s expression grew stern, and he looked into Sun Ce’s eyes. Sun Ce smiled. “Even then, I can only deliver myself to your doorstep and let you kill me.”

Zhou Yu used all of his strength to kick Sun Ce off the bed. Sun Ce hurried to beg for mercy, saying, “We’ll do as you say…”

Afternoon of the next day. The panes of the window let in dim, greyish light into Yuan Shu’s room.

Heavy snow had begun to fall outside, and Zhou Yu rubbed his bright red hands together. A layer of frost had formed over his hair, his eyebrows, and his lashes, and he stood in front of a stove, shivering without stopping.

“Zhou Yu, what are you doing now!” Yuan Shu had just woken from his midday nap, and he sat, relaxed, on the seat. Zhou Yu was so cold that his teeth kept chattering. In the span of a single night, a wave of icy cold had enveloped the entirety of Shouchun, and this plan of his had really caused him a great deal of suffering.

“Zhugong,” Zhou Yu said, his voice trembling. “You must not let anyone know of this matter, otherwise Gongjin’s lowly life will…”

As he spoke, Zhou Yu placed a rectangular package wrapped in yellow cloth that kept dripping water in front of Yuan Shu.

“This…”

Now it was Yuan Shu’s turn to shiver. He looked towards Zhou Yu, who mustered up enough strength to nod. Yuan Shu’s voice trembled as he said, “Sit, quickly, sit… Where did you get this!?”

Zhou Yu sat down to one side, while Yuan Shu continued, “Servants!”

Yuan Shu used the cloth to cover up that package as he called for his servants to bring over warmed wine and to summon Yang Hong. After a few moments, things had finally been arranged properly, and Zhou Yu took a few sips of the warmed wine, and a little bit of warmth returned to him. Yuan Shu then had his servants wrap Zhou Yu in a blanket, and Zhou Yu sat to one side, his face glowing red.

All of the servants were sent away, and on the short table in the hall, a small square jade seal reflected the light. One corner had even been gilded gold, and Yuan Shu’s entire attention was focused on it. He had completely forgotten Zhou Yu’s existence; his eyes shone with a greedy light, as if he was unwilling to part with the jade seal for even a second.

“Zhugong,” Yang Hong said quietly. “This must be that one that Sun Jian picked up… It must be, without a doubt, the imperial jade seal.”

As soon as this seal, which symbolized the power of the emperor over the vast land and its many inhabitants, appeared, Yuan Shu fell into a dreamlike trance. Yang Hong lifted the light higher, and under the glow of the lamp, Yuan Shu’s gentlemanly airs disappeared without a trace. He could only keep murmuring, again and again, “Incredible, incredible…”

“Zhugong,” Zhou Yu said sincerely. “Before this, to lower that bastard Sun Ce’s guard, Yu had no choice but to lie and get his trust, so that he would temporarily store the jade seal in the pool of the side courtyard. Today, early in the morning, Yu managed to successfully retrieve it…”

“Wo wo --” Yuan Shu came back to himself. Yang Hong waved his hand slightly, and he said quietly, “Zhugong!”

Yang Hong used that same yellow cloth to wrap the jade seal in again, and it was only then that Yuan Shu unwillingly drew his attention away. He watched as Yang Hong carried the jade seal into the backyard, before he let out a long breath and nodded at Zhou Yu.

“You’ve done well,” Yuan Shu said. “Before, it was this old man who mistook you, Zhou Yu.”

Zhou Yu said in a choked voice, “Yu has not done anything. This (object) has been passed about for many years and has finally come to zhugong’s hands, which means that zhugong… has received the mandate of the heavens, and it is his duty to ensure that the people live long lives and the nation prospers. For Yu to have helped fulfill this is no more than a fated coincidence, and under zhugong’s service, for Yu to have a space for himself, Yu is ready to die even the cruelest death… Yu does not know how to repay zhugong’s appreciation of his ability…”

Zhou Yu stared into his wine cup, and after a few gulps, he actually was unable to continue. Yuan Shu laughed loudly, evidently feeling great joy, and he went forward personally and hugged Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu hurried to rise and raise him, and the two of them, one old and one young, were like friends that spanned generations.

Yuan Shu said, “Nephew, there are some things that this old man cannot say, but it doesn’t matter, because you and I both know in our hearts.”

Zhou Yu nodded. He knew that in this moment, Yuan Shu was the most pleased he had ever been in his life. No matter what he asked for, all he would have to do was open his mouth and ask, and Yuan Shu would give it. But since his facade had already carried him to this point, there was one more, the most important matter, where he would have to wait for a chance to bring up.

Yuan Shu continued, “Although this matter is one that you must not mention to outsiders.”

Zhou Yu nodded, indicating that that was a reasonable request, and he continued, “Now, the heavy snow has sealed off the door, and the ponds have frozen over. Sun Ce shouldn’t be going to inspect the bottom of the pool, but the night is long and dreams abound…”

“You speak rightly,” Yuan Shu said with a cold chuckle and a wave of his hand. “Since the item has been found, in my opinion…”

“Zhugong.” Yang Hong came out from the inner room and sat down to one side. He cupped his hands and said, “Zhugong, Lord Zhou, please listen to my words.”

Zhou Yu nodded. Yuan Shu was in a good mood, and he stroked his beard. “Speak.”

Yang Hong narrowed his eyes and studied Zhou Yu, before he smiled and said, “I had not expected that Lord Zhou would be in possession of such a meticulous mind; I have really mistaken you. The matter of the Sun family must naturally be dealt with, but zhugong must not rush to do it at this time. I imagine Lord Zhou has also thought of a plan, let’s hear it.”

Zhou Yu smiled a little. He knew that Yang Hong was a clever one. He was not willing to get involved, yet he wanted to borrow someone else’s blade to kill Sun Ce. He thought deeply for a moment, before he opened his mouth and said, “To tell zhugong the truth, Yu has indeed thought of this before. Sun Jian is still holding his troops in front of the Hulao Pass, and killing his eldest son now may bring about a change.”

“Wu,” Yuan Shu said. “Tell me more.”

"With Sun Ce's arrival, and the relationship between this lowly one and the Sun family, those are more than enough to serve as a breakthrough." Zhou Yu knew his plan would work. Since he had used the imperial seal to successfully gain the trust of Yuan Shu, whatever he said afterwards was something that no one would doubt.

"Why not temporarily settle Sun Ce; after all, the matter of the jade seal returning to its rightful master is something that this bastard won't even know when spring comes and the ice of the pool melts." Zhou Yu cleverly used the words "returning to its rightful master", which caused Yuan Shu to begin chuckling again.

"Zhugong, after the Shangyuan Festival, why not pretend to have resolved the quarrel in a friendly manner and let this lowly one go forth with Sun Ce. Then send a group of assassins disguised as soldiers to escort the three members of the Sun family. When that time comes, this lowly one will come up with a plan to let Sun Ce send a letter and trick Sun Jian onto the horse carriage. Sun Jian will have been numbed by his great success, and he will think that his wife and sons have left Shouchun. Then, there will be nothing else hindering zhugong's progress, and zhugong can then take the opportunity to act."

“Once Sun Jian has been dealt with, then Sun Ce can be slaughtered. With this, any future troubles can be gotten rid of as well,” Zhou Yu finished.

Yuan Shu praised, “What a good plan!”

Yuan Shu looked towards Yang Hong, who merely chuckled dryly but didn’t reply. Yuan Shu then said to Zhou Yu, “Then you go forth to steady Sun Ce. As for everything else, I will command Yang Hong to assist you.”

Yang Hong, however, was still a little suspicious, and he said, “With Sun Jian’s prowess, I’m afraid that he may not fall for it easily.”

But Zhou Yu said, “When this junior saves his wife and sons and arrives at his encampment, Sun Jian will definitely be very moved, and he will arrange for a lavish banquet to award this junior appropriately. At that time, depending on the circumstances, slipping in some poison and getting rid of all of them in one fell swoop will do.”

“Wu,” Yang Hong said, as if he had thought of the same thing. “If that is the case, you must not let Sun Ce catch even the slightest wind of this.”

Zhou Yu: “That is exactly right.”

“Madame Sun can be released, and Sun Quan can be released,” Yang Hong said. “But as for Sun Ce… Zhugong, you must not release Sun Ce.”

Zhou Yu’s heart thumped viciously.

“If we let Sun Ce go, there would be no end of troubles in the future,” Yang Hong said. “Even if we successfully remove Sun Jian but leave Sun Ce behind, that is basically the same as letting a tiger return to the mountain. With how I see it, since Sun Ce already fully trusts Lord Zhou, then take the opportunity to bring the lady of Wu and Sun Quan out of the city, to Sun Jian’s camp. As for Sun Ce, we will continue to keep him here.”

Zhou Yu said, worried, “I’m afraid that if Sun Ce were to stay here, I would not be able to persuade him easily.”

“It’s alright,” Yang Hong continued. “When he hears that his own mother and younger brother have escaped, how can he not thank you? Just let him stay in Shouchun for a few more days.”

“Wu,” Yuan Shu said. “You speak rightly. This way, even if nephew Zhou is unable to get rid of Sun Ce, at least Sun Ce will still be in our hands. Even if Sun Ce manages to capture you instead, it will be easy for us to exchange hostages. He can choose not to care about his wife, but this old man cannot choose not to care about the life of you, nephew Zhou!”

Yang Hong’s scheme was very cruel. Even until now, he still didn’t fully trust Zhou Yu, and Zhou Yu couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat. He knew that as soon as he arrived in Sun Jian’s camp and carried out Yuan Shu’s plan, then here in Shouchun they would kill Sun Ce, to ensure that any future troubles were removed entirely.

“A miraculous scheme from Lord Yang,” Zhou Yu could only say. “Then all that is required are three waist tallies that allow exit from the city, and a set of travel documents.”

“En. As for the specific details,” Yang Hong said, “let me think it through in detail once more. Let us try to resolve this in one go.”

Zhou Yu loosed a breath, pretending like he had set down a heavy burden in his mind. In Yang Hong and Yuan Shu’s eyes, what they saw, however, was that his thief’s heart was cowardly, and he was afraid that Sun Ce would find out he stole the jade seal. If he could overthrow the Sun family now, then getting rid of that suspicion would be an easy thing.

Zhou Yu knew that Yuan Shu wanted to admire his jade seal more, so he rose and took his leave, leaving behind Yang Hong and Yuan Shu in the hall.

“Bring it out, bring it out,” Yuan Shu said. “Quickly bring it over for zhugong to look, does Benchu know of this matter?”

“I don’t know,” Yang Hong said quietly. “When Zhou Yu came, he was clearly hiding it from his eyes and ears…”

Yang Hong entered and lifted the jade seal out again. Yuan Shu undid the yellow cloth as if he was a madman, staring at it. Yang Hong continued quietly, “Zhugong, Zhou Yu has the heart of a jackal. Look at how he even plotted to murder Sun Ce, whom he’s known since he was young… If this person were to remain at zhugong’s side…”

“Got it, got it,” Yuan Shu said. “After the Sun family matter is settled, do as you see fit.”

Upon hearing these words, Yang Hong also let out a breath in relief.

That day, the people that had been watching Sun Ce were all basically removed, only leaving the one outside the fence.

Sun Ce was in Zhou Yu’s room, teaching Sun Quan to write. As he drew out the strokes, he said quietly, “He still doesn’t trust you.”

Zhou Yu replied, “What I’m afraid of is something changing…”

“Rest assured,” Sun Ce said. “Yuan Shu doesn’t have many skilled warriors under his command, and he won’t be able to stop me.”

“Focus a little more,” Sun Ce said to Sun Quan, frowning.

Sun Quan was clearly a little afraid of Sun Ce. An elder brother was like a father, and since Sun Jian was also usually busy with war, most of the time it was Sun Ce who was teaching his young brother. He was not only teaching him to read, but also how to write, and every time Zhou Yu ran into Sun Quan spotting Sun Ce, it was like a mouse that had seen a cat. Zhou Yu couldn’t resist interrupting. “Don’t be so fierce to him, he’s just a child.”

Sun Ce chuckled. “You’re not his sister-in-law, why are you so protective of him?”

At first, Zhou Yu hadn’t understood the meaning behind those words, but in an instant, the tea in his mouth spewed out. He went to go teach Sun Ce a lesson, but Sun Ce tossed his brush away and dodged aside, shouting from the doorway, “I’m going to stop! Sun Quan, you remember this! Whatever day Gongjin isn’t there to shield you, be careful you’ll get a beating!”

Sun Quan was gleeful at this, and he said, “I… I don’t want you as my brother anymore, I want Zhou-dage…”

“Sun Quan!” a child shouted rudely from the doorway.

Having almost run into that child, Sun Quan gave him a glance. Zhou Yu said, “Cao Pi, come in, how many days have you gone without studying?”

“Zhao-dage was with me,” Cao Pi said unhappily, taking off his boots and coming inside. Under the eaves, Sun Ce placed the two children’s boots together neatly, finding this very fascinating. Cao Cao’s son had a very delicate appearance, and Sun Quan was also very young and fresh, so the two children sat there looking as elegant and beautiful as statues carved meticulously from fine jade. What was even more rare was that they seemed to be untouched by the world.

“Where’s Zhao Zilong?” Sun Ce asked.

“He went to go find allied troops.” Cao Pi shot Sun Ce a nasty glare, before he said to Sun Quan, “This is your brother?”

“En,” Sun Quan replied.

“You got scolded by Zhao Zilong?” Zhou Yu looked at how Cao Pi looked; clearly he had been disciplined very sternly by Zhao Yun. Cao Pi didn’t respond to that either, instead asking, “Zhou-dage, at the end of the year, Zhen-jie’s setting out a table and inviting you and Zhao-dage to go drink. Will you go? You too, oi.” Cao Pi nudged Sun Quan’s arm, and Sun Quan’s brush swiped over the paper. He immediately began to yelp.

Zhen Mi was a great beauty. Probably because she was afraid that Cao Pi would be bored, she decided to keep him company alone on New Year’s. But it wouldn’t be very interesting with just the two of them either, so Cao Pi brought along Zhao Zilong, and he also dragged Zhou Yu and Sun Quan to bring a little liveliness.

Zhou Yu thought deeply, not responding. Sun Ce sat on the windowsill, remarking frivolously, “Don’t even think about it. Zhou Gongjing’s going to go drink and eat with me and my mother this New Year’s. But Sun Quan, we can spare for you.”

“I won’t!” Sun Quan said. “I’ll go spend it with Mom!”

“How about this?” Zhou Yu said to Cao Pi. “If Lord Yuan is interested, then have the two families gather together and lay out a feast in the side courtyard. There’ll be no need to separate the men and the women either, we can all sit together and eat. How about you go back and ask?”

Cao Pi was still a little kid who liked when things were lively, and after he thought for a bit, he said, “Let me go back and ask.”

Zhen Mi was Yuan Shao’s son’s wife, and she had long since married. It was not proper for her to sit with them and eat, but since they were guests, they didn’t have to uphold these formalities. Spending the new year together had its own reasons, while being rejected had reasons of its own as well. That day, Cao Pi went back and asked, but Zhen Mi tactfully declined, which was within Zhou Yu’s expectations.

Zhou Yu then arranged with Cao Pi that they’d go browse the lantern markets during the Shangyuan Festival, and that they’d go together. Only with that did Cao Pi nod unwillingly.

In the blink of an eye, the end of the year was already upon them. On the twenty-eighth night of the last month, Yang Hong specially sent for Zhou Yu and handed him three tallies that would let him through the sentry posts, as well as documents. After the two of them made their arrangements, he handed the poison to Zhou Yu, preparing for any possibilities.

“This poison has no color or taste,” Yang Hong said. “It is a rare object that I’ve hoarded for many years, and all you need is a bit the size of a fingernail to poison over a hundred people. When it takes effect, the first sign is that the eyes will lose sight, and after the span of one stick of incense, the seven orifices will bleed, and the person will die.”

Zhou Yu only listened silently, nodding from time to time. Yang Hong continued, “The guards of the Records Office I’ve already changed out once, and they’re now all assassins with great skill. When the time comes, you merely need to pretend that you stole the waist tallies from me, and in the depths of the night of the Shangyuan Festival, send the three members of the Sun family out of the city. After you leave the city, you must not stop, and instead head directly for Sun Jian’s main camp. As for the rest, that is up to you.”

Zhou Yu replied, “On the night of the Shangyuan Festival, I must make other arrangements to gain Sun Ce’s trust. As best you can, do not send people to follow us. Sun Ce will definitely return to the estate, so all you need to do is have people waiting in ambush outside the room.”

“Wu,” Yang Hong nodded with great meaning. Zhou Yu also knew that with Yang Hong’s meticulous mind, he definitely had reservations, so Zhou Yu continued, “Let the sentries count the number of heads. If it isn’t three people, then they cannot let them out of the city. This way, Lord Yang has no need to send people to watch either.”

“When the time comes, I’ll send someone,” Yang Hong said. “He’ll wait outside the city gates to search your carriage.”

“Alright,” Zhou Yu said, nodding.

On New Year’s Eve, a light snow began to fall. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu passed through the long hallway, heading towards the main hall to greet Yuan Shu. That afternoon, Yuan Shu had gifted them wine, and upon seeing that Zhou and Sun were standing together speaking intimately, he came over and drank a cup with Sun Ce. At twilight, the banquet dispersed, and Yuan Shu went forth on his own to offer up wine to the heavens, while Sun Ce and Zhou Yu headed for the side courtyard to eat their new year’s dinner.

“I’ve already got the tallies,” Zhou Yu said.

“How about we leave early?” Sun Ce said. “There’s no need to wait for the Shangyuan Festival then.”

“No,” Zhou Yu said. “Yang Hong will definitely let me go, but I’m guessing that he has left himself a back door. There’s no rush to leave now, plus, I promised Cao Pi that no matter what, I’d bring him out. As for you, you’ll have to figure out a way to leave the city on your own.”

“Here are three waist tallies,” Zhou Yu said, returning to his room. “One is for you, one is for Zhao Zilong, and the last one I’ll keep, to prevent any sudden changes.”

Sun Ce said, “Those twenty people that Yang Hong assigned to you may not be easy to defeat.”

Zhou Yu responded, “His back door must be with them, but there’s no need to worry. We can adjust our plan along the way, because either way, situations can easily change.”

That night, the family of Sun Ce, Sun Quan, and the lady of Wu, as well as Zhou Yu, were drinking wine in the hall. They chatted about a few things of the past, and the lady of Wu clearly liked Zhou Yu a lot. She mentioned again that in the coming year, she had to go visit Shu County and spend some time with Madame Zhou. Snow swept through the sky, and every household was filled with the fragrance of wintersweet. Zhou Yu recalled that his mother was alone at home spending the new year, and he couldn’t resist a new wave of sorrow in his heart.

“That friend of yours, Lu Zijing, is one that I’ve often heard of,” the lady of Wu said smilingly, as she noticed that Zhou Yu was thinking of home. “I imagine that your mother’s probably spending the new year with the Lu family.”

“That’s right, that’s right,” Zhou Yu said to the gathered group, immediately coming back to himself. “More likely than not, Zijing is taking my place to offer up sacrifices to my ancestors, and he probably also brought my mother back with him.”

“When we go back this time, let’s not go home,” Sun Ce smiled, his face red from the alcohol. “Why don’t we first head to Gongjin’s house to be guests and take advantage of his goodwill?”

“You monkey,” the lady of Wu scolded.

Zhou Yu’s heart jolted at that, and he glanced at Sun Ce. Sun Ce continued, “Shu County’s not far either. Have Dad send some men over, and the two families can live together. It’ll be a little livelier too.”

Zhou Yu immediately understood. The reason for Sun Ce’s suggestion was that he was afraid Zhou Yu would offend Yuan Shu, and his family members would be the butt of Yuan Shu’s revenge. He hurried to say, “If Aunty is willing to come and be our guest, Yu would be glad to welcome you.”

The lady of Wu had understood the general gist of her son’s words as well, and she smiled. “Let’s speak of it later ba. If you have time and can escort your mother over, it would be good for us to be able to have a chance to chat.”

Zhou Yu nodded. That night, the lady of Wu retired into her inner room, while Sun Quan went to go find Cao Pi to play with after he finished dinner. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu filled up their cups again and again, toasting each other, and they drank a little more before they supported each other drunkenly to return to their room.