"Madam, Mr. Ji has brought you."
Taking Ji Shu to the living room, the maid informed him and turned around and left, leaving Ji Shu to meet the Dowager alone.
"Meet Madam." Ji Shu cupped his fists and bowed.
The madam sat in a daze in her seat, and only then did she come back to her senses. She waved her hand for Ji Shu to sit down and said softly.
"Zi Yuan doesn't need to be polite. You are Bo Fu's adopted brother, so you are half my son. Sit down wherever you want."
Ji Shu had met Mrs. Wu two or three times. In Ji Shu's impression, Mrs. Wu was a well-educated and amiable elder.
That's why he didn't want to see Mrs. Tai. He sighed softly and Ji Shu slowly sat down beside him.
There was an unspeakable silence surrounding the two of them for a while, and finally it was the Madam who spoke first.
"I heard that you and Yueying ran away from marriage and eloped?"
"yes."
This is nothing new. Ji Shu nodded without hesitation and the wife smiled.
"That's great. Wen Tai and I only met once before we got married."
"Like that girl Yueying, my marriage was also arranged by my family."
"At that time, I married Wentai with my sister."
"Wen Tai was very kind to me and my sister, and my sister gradually became obsessed with him. Although I am not as enamored of Wen Tai as my sister, I am content with him."
"My sister gave birth to two sons for Wen Tai, and I gave birth to a daughter for Wen Tai."
Ji Shu was slightly shocked when he heard this. Although he and Sun Ce were sworn brothers, they still would not discuss some private matters at home. This was the first time Ji Shu heard this.
Ji Shu knew that his eldest brother was very respectful and filial to Mrs. Wu, but he did not expect that neither Sun Ce nor Sun Quan were Mrs. Wu's biological sons.
Mrs. Tai knew what Ji Shu was thinking when she saw the look in his eyes. She smiled as she was immersed in the memories. There was something bitter and a bit warm in her smile.
"Thinking about it now, it seems that the past has become like floating clouds. My sister was most affectionate to Wentai, but she also had a hard life. Before Quan'er could understand, she passed away. Before she died, she left Ce'er and Quan'er Entrusted to me.”
"At that time, where will I be able to take care of the children?"
"When a child falls or cries, should I encourage him to be strong, or should I make him laugh? When my child grows up, should I train him to be a pillar of the country, or should I just let him live a happy life?"
"Which one is best for the child? Which one is the answer she wants most?"
"I don't know what to do."
"Ce'er likes to practice martial arts, so I will find a good teacher for him; Quan'er likes to study literature, so I will collect good books for him."
"Over the years, I have raised these two brothers, and I have long regarded them as my biological sons. Watching them grow up little by little makes me very satisfied."
Seeing that Ji Shu was lost in thought, Mrs. Tai sighed softly.
"Later, I even went to Wentai. At that time, I was completely confused. I really didn't know what to do with this family."
"Fortunately, Ce'er alone shouldered everyone's hopes and carried the banner of the Sun family. At that time, Ce'er was only almost seventeen years old."
"He has really grown up and become sensible. I am sad and happy at the same time."
At this time, Mrs. Tai stared at Ji Shu and screamed silently.
"Now, as long as I can live and eat with Ce'er, Quan'er, and Xiangxiang, I'll be satisfied."
"I've already lost a sister, I've lost a husband, I can't lose my son again."
"Zi Yuan, can you help me?"
Who said that the heart of an inch of grass will be rewarded with three rays of spring?
All hatred becomes insignificant in front of this.
In the final analysis, the aristocratic family was the culprit who killed Han Dang.
I'm afraid General Han Dang wouldn't want Sun Ce to kill Sun Quan even if he was still alive.
However, Ji Shu knew that Han Dang's death had a great impact on Sun Ce. Of course he would not let the family go, but what about Sun Quan?
Sun Quan's name was clearly printed on the list of accomplices. Even though there were many more people on the list, Sun Ce's eyes were only attracted by this name.
There is no other reason, just because this man is his brother.
The name gnawed at his heart like a poisonous snake, driving him crazy.
If someone stabs you, you may be able to forgive him under certain circumstances after receiving compensation, but what if this person is your brother?
Is there any way you can forgive him?
The ones who hurt you the most will always be the people closest to you. Those who are indifferent can't hurt your heart at all.
It is precisely because he cannot forgive that Sun Ce dares not come to see you.
Ji Shu lowered his head and refused to meet the Madam's eyes. He left his seat and bowed with his fists clasped in front of the Madam.
"Zi Yuan is willing to try his best, but I'm afraid I can't save him..."
Madam Tai's hand trembled slightly under the table. She understood what Ji Shu meant, but she still wanted to win for Sun Quan even if it was just a slim hope.
After walking out of the living room, Ji Shu became a little absent-minded. He didn't even know how to say this to Sun Ce.
He doesn't even want to listen to Mrs. Wu's words. Is it useful for him to speak?
At this time, a stack of books was handed to Ji Shu.
"Brother Ji, I heard that you like reading. These are treasures collected by my mother. I will give them to you. Please help me save my second brother!"
"Please! Everyone says you and Brother Zhou are the smartest. You must have a solution, right?"
A light, soft voice interrupted Ji Shu's thoughts. When he came back to his senses, a small figure stood in front of him.
The girl held up a large stack of books as if she were offering a treasure.
"Miss Third!"
She is Sun Shangxiang, the younger sister of Sun Ce and Sun Quan.
Ji Shu couldn't explain how he felt at this time.
In front of him, a sister wants to save her brother.
Her poor little mind didn't know what to do. She was crying and wanted help from others.
Maybe she overheard the conversation between Ji Shu and Mrs. Wu and felt that Ji Shu was just unwilling to try his best to help, so she ran back to find a pile of books in exchange.
She didn't know how dirty the adult world was, and she would use gold and silver to bribe people. She is Sun Ce's sister and the third young lady of the Sun family. She can take out mountains of gold and silver with her hand. She doesn't know how many books a piece of gold can buy.
She just remembered who told her that "Ji Shu likes to read", so she ran to get books and asked Ji Shu for help.
Pure, pure, innocent, untainted, simple wishes.
Facing these clear eyes, something choked my throat. Ji Shu took the book and put it on the ground. He grabbed the little hand and grabbed Sun Quan's only hope.
"Let's go and save your second brother!"
Sun Shangxiang burst into tears and laughed.
······
The sound of the sword falling to the ground was heard.
I heard the three siblings crying.
Zhou Yu sighed. He still couldn't forgive Sun Quan, but maybe the result was not bad. It would be too cruel for Sun Ce to kill his younger brother with his own hands. He turned around and rolled his eyes at Ji Shu.
"I didn't expect you to be willing to help Sun Quan."
Ji Shu rubbed his nose and did not deny it. After all, something was being discussed in the hall. Without the instructions of Zhou Yu and Ji Shu, the guards would not let her into the back hall, even if she was Sun Shangxiang.
"Only by protecting the weak can one become strong. When one loses his inner weakness, he also loses his own strength. And you and I both know where Big Brother's weakness lies."
It can be said that Mrs. Tai's words eliminated Ji Shu's hatred for Sun Quan. After he calmed down, he still didn't want Sun Ce to take the path of killing his relatives. Once you do some things, people will become weird.
"Ziyuan, thank you."
Ji Shu turned around and saw that it was two generals, Cheng Pu and Huang Gai. Thinking of Han Dang, Ji Shu felt a little ashamed. He lowered his head and apologized to the two of them.
"Young man, I am ashamed of General Han..."
Who would have thought that Cheng Pu waved his hand and interrupted Ji Shu. He and Huang Gai looked at the door and felt relieved when they heard the crying inside.
"I'm sure I'll be happy that the righteous Lord is alive in heaven."
Looking at the two old generals, Ji Shu and Zhou Yu only had deep respect.
After a long time, Sun Ce ordered the soldiers to take Sun Quan to the Taifu's residence.
Seeing Sun Quan come out, the two old generals had dodged away early. Neither of them was ready to meet.
Love is hard to express in my heart.
Ji Shu looked at Sun Quan with emotion.
People who are too happy cannot feel happiness. Human beings are such creatures.
The misaligned gears must be put back into place.
Ji Shu stepped forward and said to Sun Quan: "Jiangdong does not belong to your father, nor does it belong to your elder brother. It only belongs to the person who can lead it forward. You do not."
"You are alive today only because you are deeply loved by so many people."
Sun Quan paused for a moment, then quickly walked forward again. He lowered his head so that Ji Shu could not see his expression.
······
In the madam's courtyard.
Sun Shangxiang walked in with Sun Quan somewhat happily.
"Xiangxiang, go play outside first."
"Oh~~"
Sun Shangxiang knew that her mother was probably going to teach her second brother a lesson, so she flattened her lips and gave a long response. She looked at Sun Quan with some worry and turned around to go out.
Sun Quan lowered his head, walked quietly to Mrs. Wu and knelt down.
Mrs. Wu stared at Sun Quan blankly, as if he was dreaming.
There was a quiet silence, and for a long time neither of them knew what to say.
"Mother doesn't ask me anything?"
Sun Quan did not expect such a scene, and he was a little confused.
"It's enough that I can still live and eat with you. I can't ask for anything more."
Mrs. Wu's gentle reply made Sun Quan finally slowly raise his head, and what caught his eye was a look that looked at his incompetent child.
Sun Quan couldn't help but murmur to his mother.
"Mother,"
"I want to be like my elder brother,"
"Be trusted and praised by others."
"In order to catch up with my elder brother, I have been working hard and working hard,"
"But,"
"Why can't I be like my eldest brother?"
"Don't my uncles all say that I am smarter than my eldest brother?"
"Didn't father and eldest brother listen to my opinions on many issues before?"
"Am I not the prodigy of the Sun family?"
"But why?"
"I can't do anything right?"
"I want to be a big brother's strength,"
"That's all I wanted at first,"
"But why did it become like this today?"
Mrs. Wu was so happy that she almost cried. If she had heard Sun Quan's words earlier, how could things like this have happened today? She covered her mouth with one hand to prevent herself from crying, and spoke slowly to Sun Quan.
"Don't be in a hurry to change. You still have a lot of time in the future, so just make progress little by little."
"You are you, not Bo Fu or anyone else. There is no need to focus on other people's achievements."
"Everyone's pace is different. Even if you can't do it right now, don't worry, as long as you can find your own direction."
Today it seemed that he finally understood how wrong he was. Sun Quan looked at his usually dignified and calm mother holding back tears. He fell on the ground, grabbing the ground with his head, and cried out sadly.
"Mother, I was wrong. I'm sorry, Quan'er let you down."
Mrs. Wu stepped forward to help Sun Quan and hugged him.
"As long as you can swear that you are not lying to me or yourself now. No matter whether others will doubt you in the future, you don't have to care. Just move forward at your own pace. One day you will prove yourself to the world again."
"yes."
Sun Quan also hugged his mother gently. At this moment, he felt unprecedented peace.
