The afternoon sun that filtered through the panes of Yuan Shu’s room cast a dim, grayish light throughout the room.
Outside, a heavy snow was falling, and Zhou Yu rubbed his bright red hands together. A layer of frost had formed over his hair, eyebrows, and lashes as he stood in front of a stove, shivering nonstop.
“Zhou Yu, what have you been up to?!”
Yuan Shu just woke from his midday nap, and he sat, relaxed, on the seat. Zhou Yu’s teeth kept chattering. In the span of a single night, a wave of icy cold had enveloped the entirety of Shouchun. He was really suffering for this plan.
“Zhugong,” Zhou Yu said, voice trembling, “you must not let anyone know about this, otherwise Gongjin’s lowly life will be forfeit…”
As he spoke, Zhou Yu placed a rectangular package, wrapped in yellow cloth and dripping wet, in front of Yuan Shu.
“This…”
It was Yuan Shu’s turn to shudder. He looked toward Zhou Yu, who mustered up enough strength to nod.
Yuan Shu’s voice trembled. “Sit, quickly, sit… Where did you get this?!” Zhou Yu sat to one side while Yuan Shu continued, “Servants!”
He covered the package with a cloth as he called for warmed wine to be brought and for Yang Hong to be summoned. It took a while for the orders to be executed. Zhou Yu sipped the warmed wine, easing away the chill in his bones. Yuan Shu had his servants bundle Zhou Yu in a blanket, his face glowing red.
All the servants were then sent away, and on the short table in the hall, the small square jade seal was revealed. Light glimmered off its one gilded corner. Yuan Shu’s full attention was drawn to it. He forgot Zhou Yu’s existence entirely; hunger shone in his eyes, as if he were already unwilling to part with the seal for even a second.
“Zhugong,” Yang Hong said quietly. “This must be what Sun Jian picked up… It is, without a doubt, the imperial jade seal.”
This seal symbolized the power of the emperor over the vast land and its many inhabitants. It was no wonder Yuan Shu fell into a dreamlike trance in its presence. 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 mumble, again and again. “Incredible, incredible…”
“Zhugong,” Zhou Yu said sincerely. “To lower that bastard Sun Ce’s guard, Yu lied to gain his trust, so he would store the jade seal in the pool of the side courtyard. Today, early in the morning, Yu managed to successfully retrieve it.”
“Wow, wow!” Yuan Shu snapped back to himself.
Yang Hong waved his hand slightly. “Zhugong!”
Using the yellow cloth, Yang Hong rewrapped the jade seal, and only then could Yuan Shu pull his attention away. He watched Yang Hong carry the jade seal into the backyard before letting out a long breath and nodding at Zhou Yu.
“You’ve done well,” Yuan Shu said. “I was mistaken about you, Zhou Yu.”
Zhou Yu spoke, voice choked, “Yu did nothing. This object circulated for many years and is finally resting in Zhugong’s hands, which means that Zhugong…has received the mandate of the heavens. It is therefore his duty to ensure his people live long lives and the nation prospers. For Yu to have helped fulfill this is no more than a fated coincidence. Yu is ready to die even the cruelest death to repay the favor Zhugong showed in giving him a space to call his own… Yu does not know how to repay Zhugong’s appreciation…”
Zhou Yu’s speech sputtered out, and he stared into his wine cup, finding himself unable to continue. Yuan Shu laughed loudly, joyfully, and he moved forward to hug Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu hurried to rise and raise him to his feet, and the two of them, one old and one young, embraced like friends that spanned generations.
Yuan Shu said, “Nephew, there are some things this old man cannot say, but it doesn’t matter, because you and I both know what I mean to say in our hearts.”
Zhou Yu nodded. In this moment, Yuan Shu was as pleased as he had ever been. No matter what Zhou Yu requested, Yuan Shu would grant it, and all he had to do was open his mouth and ask. But his facade already carried him this far; the most important matter he would need to wait to bring up at the right time.
Yuan Shu continued, “You must not mention this to outsiders.”
Zhou Yu nodded; it was a reasonable request. “For now, the heavy snow sealed off access, and the pond is frozen over. Sun Ce shouldn’t be able to inspect the bottom of the pool, but the mind is often restless during long, sleepless nights…”
“You are correct,” 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 returned from the inner room and sat down. He cupped his hands. “Zhugong, Zhou-daren, please listen.”
Zhou Yu nodded. Yuan Shu was in a good mood and stroked his beard. “Speak.”
Yang Hong’s eyes narrowed, and he studied Zhou Yu before he smiled. “I did not expect Zhou-daren would possess such a meticulous mind. I let judgments cloud my vision. The Sun family must be dealt with, but Zhugong must not rush to do it at this time. I imagine Zhou-daren also thought of a plan, so why not let us hear it?”
Zhou Yu smiled briefly. He knew Yang Hong was clever. He would not get personally involved, yet he would borrow someone else’s hand to kill Sun Ce.