Chapter 47 (Revised) – A Transitional Chapter

Chapter 47 (Revised) - A Transitional Chapter

Zhou Shen stood at the ferry waiting.

"Cousin!"

Zhou Yanzhi greeted his cousin with an exceedingly bright smile, his small canine teeth sparkling in the sunlight. He leaped to his cousin's shoulder, pulling him back. Zhou Shen turned, a gentle smile on his face, the image of an affectionate elder brother doting on his younger sibling.

Zhou Yanzhi enthusiastically massaged his cousin's shoulders, asking with a laugh, "Cousin, what brings you to Xunjiang?"

"I received an invitation from my uncle to attend my little cousin's third-month celebration. I heard father was also coming to Xunjiang, so I decided to visit him," Zhou Shen explained.

"Oh, I see. Which cousin is it?" Zhou Yanzhi was a bit confused about which of the many daughters of the Lu family, which had many women, both wives and concubines, and even kept some family courtesans. With so many women, naturally, there were many children. General Lu originally had two sons and two daughters, one of whom married his uncle but unfortunately passed away after giving birth to Zhou Shen.

Grieving the loss of his daughter, General Lu had intended to marry his brother's sister-in-law, the fourth lady of the Lu household, to his brother as a second wife, but his brother refused. As Zhou Shen grew up, General Lu gradually took in younger concubines who bore him several more children, making the Lu household a place filled with many masters.

"Were you upset last night just because of that dancer?" Zhou Xu asked with a smile, playing with Xiaoluo Lan's hand and turning her fingertips red.

Xiaoluo Lan bit her lip, not responding, still not fully awake and surprised to see it was already night outside. Had he been sitting here all afternoon just waiting for nightfall?

Five days later.

It was a misty, drizzly day.

At Guanshan Ferry, thirty people stood in formation, including civil and military officials neatly lined up, followed by robustly armed attendants in armor. A young man in a blue robe stood at the forefront, rugged and spirited in appearance, tall, and with a calm demeanor.

The young man, around twenty years old, smiled as the vermilion boat and warships emerged through the mist on the Xunjiang River.

Behind him, General Lu, the Zhou family, the Xunjiang Prefect, the District Magistrate, and other officials also smiled.

Zhou family troops disembarked from the warships and moored them at the ferry. Seeing their young lord, they all bowed.

Zhou Shen also politely responded. Judge Xu disembarked from the boat, accompanied by a pale-faced Cui Shizi and Dou Lang.

Apart from Cui Shizi, who coughed continuously, everyone else paid their respects. The young man returned their gestures with even more humility.

"Cui Langjun," Zhou Shen summoned a servant and handed a hand warmer to him. "The river air is damp and cold. Please accept this hand stove."

Cui Shizi, coughing into his handkerchief, smiled, "Thank you, young lord," accepting the hand stove with courteous and warm manners.

Then, the young man's expression turned serious as he bowed, "Your son greets you, father."

Zhou Xu hummed, "No need for excessive formalities."

Zhou Shen stood up, and upon seeing Lady Xiao and Xiaoluo Lan behind his father, he bowed again, "Shen greets Lady Xiao."

Xiaoluo Lan, not expecting to meet Zhou Xu's family so soon, and recalling her relationship with Zhou Xu, felt a surge of embarrassment, her face turning red as she bowed deeply, "Young Master Zhou, greetings."

Xiaoluo Lan also followed with a delayed deep bow, observing Zhou Xu's son. Hearing her mother refer to him as 'Young Master Zhou' and seeing his impressive stature felt somewhat incongruous to her.

After everyone had finished their greetings, Zhou Xu led the group, with a procession following him.

Zhou Shen rubbed his cousin's head, saying, "That's because I've grown up."

"In a couple of years, you'll grow up too," Zhou Shen said to Zhou Yanzhi with a smile.

Zhou Yanzhi shook his head, "In two years, will I become as solemn as you? That would take all the fun out of life."

Zhou Shen just smiled without replying.

Everyone grows up, he thought, watching Zhou Yanzhi's face. As people mature, their thoughts and concerns increase.

"I brought some troops my father gave me this time, but Uncle took them all back. I guess they will soon return to their original unit," Zhou Yanzhi sighed, feeling a bit disheartened.

The troops he had brought were from one of the nine divisions of the Zhou military, specifically from a thousand-man unit under a leader named Li Qianren. They were mainly for show, trained by a captain named Li Ganda. Now, he had lost them all.

Although he still had family servants, it wasn't the same as having troops under his command. As a younger member of the Zhou family, he didn't have much say in the family affairs and was mainly sent to study at the Nanshi Academy. He lacked any notable talents and was mostly cherished for being a favored youngest child.

Sometimes Zhou Yanzhi thought his life was quite good, but at other times, he felt somewhat pitiful. His cousin, only two years older, had already been to battlefields twice with their uncle. Compared to him, Zhou Yanzhi felt somewhat useless.

When they were younger, his cousin was just as wild, even more so as the only son of his uncle. He was rebellious and uncontrollable in front of others.

Except for his uncle, no one could discipline him.

Something happened later, and his cousin seemed to mature overnight, not playing with him as often.

Thinking back, Zhou Yanzhi felt distracted and lost in thought.

Xiaoluo Lan lifted the curtain, looking at the vast Lu household ahead, surprised at Cui Granny's explanation. The Lu residence occupied an entire street block, signifying its lavishness.

"The Lu family expanded over the years due to its large size," Cui Granny explained. "General Lu himself had five sons and three daughters, and the current general, Lu Dajiang, has two sons and a daughter. Tomorrow's event is the third-month celebration for his youngest daughter, which is why the young master is here."

Xiaoluo Lan was astounded, realizing the Lu family was indeed large. The Zhou family also seemed to have many members, as Zhou Shiliulang's position indicated many siblings and children in the family.

Sensing Xiaoluo Lan's thoughts, Cui Granny smiled, "It may seem like a lot, but it's not too many for a large family. Unfortunately, including those who died young or in battle, General Lu only has three sons and two daughters left."

Xiaoluo Lan was shocked to hear the high mortality rate, and it dawned on her that large families like Zhou Xu's likely faced similar circumstances.

"Everyone is called by their birth order, as if those who passed are still remembered and not forgotten."

Xiaoluo Lan, hearing Cui Granny's words, became somewhat lost in thought.

After dismounting from the carriage, Xiaoluo Lan looked at the grand entrance of the Lu residence. Zhou Xu was standing in front of an elderly man with graying hair and a vigorous spirit, engaged in conversation, surrounded by a large group of Lu family members.

Xiaoluo Lan felt an overwhelming sense of shame, wanting to escape it all. Though Zhou Xu was a widower, the old General Lu was still his father-in-law.

Xiaoluo Lan also felt a hint of discomfort, almost wishing to return to the boat.

Zhou Shen dismounted and handed his horse to a servant. Seeing Lady Xiao and Xiaoluo Lan standing near the Lu residence motionless, he kindly suggested, "Lady Xiao, please come inside and rest for a while."

Xiaoluo Lan turned to look at Zhou Xu's son.

Through the curtain, Zhou Shen couldn't see Lady Xiao's expression clearly.

Zhou Xu approached, smiling warmly at Lady Xiao, "Just come in for a rest."

"Shen is right, ladies, please come inside," General Lu's loud laugh rang out. "We have prepared ice blocks inside to cool off. Hurry in and get some relief from the heat."

As the old man moved, a crowd followed him. General Lu, with his silver hair and booming voice, said cheerily, "I had also intended to go to the ferry with Shen to greet his father, but I overslept. As one ages, it's hard to control such things."

Xiaoluo Lan quickly bowed deeply, "General Lu, I apologize for the trouble."

"What trouble? Lady Xiao, you make it sound so formal," General Lu said, stroking his beard.

"Lady Xiao, this way, please," Zhou Shen extended his hand, inviting her in.

Xiaoluo Lan, accompanied by her daughter, followed the group into the Lu residence. Xiaoluo Lan noticed the crowds and swallowed the words she wanted to say.

The Lu residence was vast, and the women of the household often used sedan chairs instead of walking.

Seated in the sedan chair, Xiaoluo Lan gripped the carved handles tightly, her palms aching from the pressure.

"Lady Xiao," the principal wife of the Lu household greeted Xiaoluo Lan with a smile, "The military governor and my father are discussing important matters in the central hall. Let's go to the flower garden in the back courtyard to rest."

"Thank you, Lady Lu," Xiaoluo Lan replied softly.

Upon reaching the flower garden, Xiaoluo Lan found a small pavilion built amidst the garden. Xiaoluo Lan, being in a strange place, spoke little and stayed close to her mother.

After a brief conversation with Lady Xiao, Lady Lu sensed that she was somewhat reserved in speech, and Xiaoluo Lan was also cautious. Leaving six maids to attend to them, Lady Lu excused herself, giving the mother and daughter some privacy.

In a corner of the garden room, six copper basins filled with ice blocks cooled the air. Fangyun fanned Xiaoluo Lan, who then asked her to step out for a while.

Xiaoluo Lan removed her veil, her face flushed from the summer heat.

"Mother, the people of the Lu household are very enthusiastic," Xiaoluo Lan said, sitting beside her mother and holding her hand.

Xiaoluo Lan touched her daughter's flushed cheek, guiding her closer to the ice basins and wiping her sweat with a handkerchief, "Perhaps they just don't mind."

Xiaoluo Lan thought it was actually good this way. Since they didn't mind, superficial courtesy was sufficient to maintain appearances.

Zhou Shen, Zhou Xu's son, shared half of the Lu family's bloodline. Regardless, their first encounter was much better than the treatment she received from Zhou Shiliulang. The Lu residence was Zhou Shen's maternal home, and they were equally courteous to her and Xiaoluo Lan.

Xiaoluo Lan blinked, "How can that be, Mother? I think it's because they do care that they behave this way." If they didn't care, they could have dismissed them casually. Making an effort on appearances can also be a sign of concern.

Xiaoluo Lan affectionately tousled her daughter's hair, "Whatever you say is right."

"Of course, it is."

At the Lu residence's Guanchao Pavilion.

Facing his aunt's concern, Zhou Shen said, "I'm doing well in the military camp. I have meat to eat every day, servants to attend to me, and my own tent to live in. You don’t have to worry."

Lady Lu, sitting on an embroidered stool, held Zhou Shen’s hand with the warmth of an elder, "Is the daily training very tough?"

Zhou Shen replied, "Aunt, there's no training that isn't tough."

Lady Lu wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Your mother passed away early, and the military governor doesn’t pay much attention to you. Now..."

"Aunt, please don't speak of this," Zhou Shen hastily interrupted, "I was immature when I was young. Father was fighting wars continuously, and I couldn’t ease his worries."

"Even so, he shouldn't have done that," Lady Lu, with tears welling up, said, "It’s one thing for the military governor to adopt a child, but how could he treat the sons of other Zhou family members as his own, even sending you to another family? That was too unfair to you."

"Father brought me back later, didn’t he?" Zhou Shen felt helpless hearing his aunt's words.

"But he shouldn’t have done that in the first place. Because of this, other brothers in the Zhou family still harbor such unrealistic dreams, imagining that their sons could become the military governor's children," Lady Lu couldn’t comprehend the military governor's past actions.

Zhou Shen was his only son!

Back then, it was as if he just decided to give him away, replacing him with his brother’s son.

Although he was brought back later, the incident still left a psychological shadow on her, something the Lu family could never agree to.

After listening to his aunt's grumbling, Zhou Shen consoled her a few words, waiting until she left.

Zhou Shen drank a sip of tea, his father's words echoing in his ears from when he was five years old.

"No one is irreplaceable. If you want to take back what's yours, you must fight and snatch it yourself."

It was then, at the age of five, he realized he wasn't the only one.