Chapter One, Beauty and Misfortune

The Sun residence and the Zhou residence have seldom interacted. After the sixteenth year of Jian'an, the opportunity for the widow Xiao Qiao to visit the Sun residence increased somewhat, though it was still only two or three times a year. Whenever they came to the Sun residence, Sun Shao would usually avoid meeting them, and when he went to the Zhou residence, he would also try to avoid them as much as possible. It is unclear what the reason is this time for Da Qiao to come and seek his opinion.

Sun Shao pondered for a moment, lowered his head to examine his body, and then nodded: "I can eat and drink, so there should be no problem."

"Young Master, I just saw Mother in the kitchen again," Qiao Yue said while looking for clothes. "Madam didn't eat anything this morning; whatever was sent over was returned unopened. Mother also mentioned that Madam is planning to invite you."

What wooden frame, that is called a soldier's lance. A disdainful voice suddenly emerged from within his mind, filled with contempt for him

Not long after Sun Shaogang was born, Sun Ce was assassinated. His uncle, Sun Quan, inherited the foundation he had just established, diligently governing and striving for excellence. After more than a decade of hard work, he had initially gained control over Jiangdong. With the unparalleled hero Cao Cao pacifying Hebei and the long-distance runner Liu Bei occupying Bashu, the chaos of the late Han dynasty, characterized by the rise and fall of various factions, was gradually stabilizing, and the situation of the Three Kingdoms was beginning to take shape. Through the efforts of two generations, the Sun family had become the undisputed ruler of Jiangdong, but this had nothing to do with Sun Shao.

"What is the matter?" Sun Shao, with his arms wide open, casually asked, reveling in the decadent feeling of being served by others

Sun Shao furrowed his brow in distress and helplessness. Over the past ten days, he had gradually become accustomed to these sudden, uncontrollable thoughts that emerged on their own. He certainly knew where these thoughts originated, but he did not oppose them. After all, if he did not still retain those original consciousnesses, he would have long been possessed by someone and asked to drink talisman water.

The residence referred to is that of the late General Zhou Yu. Zhou Yu's wife, Xiao Qiao, is the biological sister of Da Qiao and is also the nominal aunt of Sun Shao. Zhou Yu passed away in the sixteenth year of Jian'an. The situation in his residence is quite similar to that of the Sun family. Zhou Yu's eldest son, Zhou Xun, is one year younger than him, and he has a younger brother, Zhou Yin, and a younger sister, Zhou Yu. However, Sun Shao does not have a good relationship with these cousins. The reason is quite simple: Sun Shao is inclined towards martial pursuits but does not excel in studies. Additionally, having lost his parents at an early age, he has become somewhat impulsive in recent years due to frustrations regarding his official career. In contrast, the Zhou brothers received an excellent education. The Zhou family and the Qiao family are both prestigious and well-established families, especially the Zhou family, whose ancestors, from Zhou Yu's great-grandfather to his father, were all high-ranking officials with positions above 2,000 stones. Their family heritage is not comparable to that of the Sun family, which is of humble origins. Zhou Yu himself was not only accomplished in both literature and martial arts but also had profound knowledge, particularly in music. As the saying goes, "Even a man of three ranks, if he makes a mistake in music, Zhou Lang will notice it." He was a well-known gentleman, and his wife, Xiao Qiao, was also quite talented. Under their guidance, the academic achievements of the Zhou siblings far surpassed those of Sun Shao. Although their fathers were close friends and their mothers were biological sisters, they did not get along well, primarily because Sun Shao had a poor impression of them. It is understandable; who would want to be regarded as a rough person, especially since Sun Shao is a proud individual.

"Elder Brother." A young man in splendid attire standing downstairs saw Sun Shao, hurriedly approached, clasped hands with him, raised them above his head, and bowed respectfully. As soon as Sun Shao saw him, a trace of displeasure surged in his heart

Really? Qiao Yue tilted her head, looking at Sun Shao with a hint of disbelief.

"Young Master!" A startled exclamation came from behind. Sun Shao instinctively shouted loudly and turned to thrust his long spear. The spear moved like lightning, heading straight for Qiao Yue's throat, who was holding a copper basin. Qiao Yue was taken aback and quickly retreated, causing the copper basin in her hands to crash to the ground, spilling water everywhere. She lost her balance and fell down with a thud.

Sun Shao did not say much either; after changing his clothes, he headed towards the backyard where the bridge was located

Sun Shao stepped out of the hall, descended the steps, and walked into the courtyard in front of the hall. Everything before him felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar. The courtyard had little in the way of decoration; in the southwest corner stood a target for arrows, its center riddled with numerous holes, likely a result of the relentless torment by that violent child. Along the corridor of the west wall, there was a weapon rack, adorned with several spears and halberds, a ring-handled straight sword hanging from it, along with a bow and a quiver containing a dozen or so feathered arrows.

Sun Shao shook his head, instinctively stretched his back, took a long breath, and with two "whoosh" sounds, struck out two punches, the wind from his fists whistling with considerable force. Then, without a moment's hesitation, he walked towards the halberd, grasping the long spear that was inserted into it. The halberd was over two meters long, with a finely carved head adorned with intricate patterns, and two human-shaped pendants hanging beside it. The shaft was meticulously bound with bamboo strips, shaped in an oval form, coated with black lacquer, glossy and dark. The entire halberd resembled a work of art, yet the blade bore numerous nicks, clearly indicating it had been used in actual combat, rather than being merely a decorative piece.

Young master, are you feeling better?

In the fourth year of Jian'an, when the Grand Bridge entered the court, she was only fourteen years old, and now she is merely thirty-one, yet she has been widowed for sixteen years. Moreover, as the widow of Sun Ce, it seems there is little possibility of her remarrying, although at this time there is no significant discrimination against remarriage; it is just that anyone wishing to marry her must first consider Sun Quan's opinion. Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, she is likely to remain a widow until her death

Sun Shao entered the inner chamber and sat down at the desk. On the desk lay a bronze mirror, beneath which was a bronze mirror stand. The base of the stand was circular, with a wooden pillar rising from the center. The top of the pillar split into two branches, extending into symmetrically arranged narrow semicircular grooves, perfectly accommodating the bronze mirror. The top of the stand was carved into the shape of a dragon's head, with just a few strokes, simple and clear. Sun Shao secretly admired this; it was truly a relic of the Han Dynasty. He had seen countless such items in museums before and had longed for them, but today, upon seeing the real object here, he felt no excitement at all.

"It's not good." Qiao Yue pouted, the smile on her face vanished: "I heard from my mother that the lady has been eating less and less these days, barely a few bites of rice in a day."

Lying in bed for over ten days, he still could not fully accept the reality. It was just a brief nap during a concert, so how did he open his eyes to find himself in the Three Kingdoms? He had once fantasized that upon waking again, he would discover himself still in the concert hall. Unfortunately, this wish never came true; every time he opened his eyes, it was always the plain silk canopy above his bed, surrounded by pale blue curtains.

However, things did not unfold as Lü's expectations; the Grand Bridge did not become Sun Ce's legitimate wife, but rather a concubine. Moreover, Sun Ce was assassinated two years after her death. While she was alive, she could not monopolize Sun Ce, but in death, she achieved her wish.

Of course it is true. Sun Shao scratched his head seriously and asked, "When you go to the kitchen, could you please ask the lady what she has eaten these past few days and whether her appetite is good"

Sun Shao, feeling somewhat embarrassed, pointed towards the already bright window. Qiao Yue glanced in the direction of his finger and immediately covered her mouth in a bit of panic, stifling a yawn, her face turning red. She quickly got up, exclaiming, "I will go fetch water for the young master to wash up." As she lifted her skirt, she hurriedly walked away.

Sun Shao retrieved his long spear, having just practiced for a while. After breaking a sweat, his inner agitation vanished without a trace, leaving only a sense of exhilaration. He never expected that as a scholar, he would now become a master; it truly came effortlessly. In his moment of triumph, he couldn't help but let out a long howl towards the sky

The Sun residence is a large courtyard, with three sections in total. Sun Shao resides in the second section, while Daqiao lives in a small building in the third section. As he passed through the back courtyard, Sun Shao heard a low, rhythmic sound of a guqin, causing him to slow his pace and slightly furrow his brow. The emotions conveyed by the music were quite obscure, elusive and ethereal, difficult to grasp, imparting a sense of coldness and desolation.

Qiao Yue was originally the personal maid of Sun Shao, and she was someone he frequently encountered during his first few days in this world. Sun Shao felt a natural sense of affection for this young girl, who was only fifteen years old, as if he were seeing his own sister. The already informal master-servant relationship began to feel increasingly distant.

How could I have this feeling? Sun Shao was taken aback for a moment, then he sighed inwardly, truly a violent child, so excited at the mere touch of a weapon, no wonder he has been restless these past ten days, it turns out he is just idle

Taking advantage of Sun Shao's breakfast break, Qiao Yue quickly swept away the water in the courtyard and then ran to attend to Sun Shao. After just a flurry of activity, she was slightly out of breath, her small face flushed, and her little chest was rising and falling continuously.

Speaking of which, I, Sun Shao, am a tragic figure

Good, good, call the soldiers. Sun Shao surrendered to that stubborn fellow, carefully moving to the bedside. The bed in this era resembles the student beds from school, surrounded by wooden boards on all sides, with a door on each side for getting in and out. After getting off the bed, he cautiously walked to the door, where a pair of rustic shoes lay on a low bench by the door. Sun Shao tugged at his loose cloth socks, secretly lamenting the poor style of the shoes, and then put them on. As he bent down to wear the shoes, the aged wooden bench creaked and groaned, startling the maid Qiao Yue, who was sleeping soundly in the outer room. She suddenly woke up, propped herself up, and stared at him with bleary eyes, then got out of bed and cautiously walked to the door, where a pair of rustic shoes lay on a low bench. Sun Shao tugged at his loose cloth socks, secretly lamenting the poor style of the shoes, and then put them on. As he bent down to wear the shoes, the aged wooden bench creaked and groaned, startling the maid Qiao Yue, who was sleeping soundly in the outer room. She suddenly woke up, propped herself up, and stared at him with bleary eyes, exclaiming: "Young Master, why are you up?"

"Little Yue'er ... ... remembered ... ... remembered." Qiao Yue stammered as she spoke, extending a small hand in an attempt to push away the long spear. However, upon seeing the blade faintly exuding a bloody scent, she hesitated and retracted her hand. Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked at Sun Shao with a pitiful expression.

In the bronze mirror, there is a blurred figure, strikingly handsome, yet with a face full of sorrow

It is again the effect of residual consciousness

Although he possesses remarkable martial skills and has already reached the age of eighteen, his uncle Sun Quan is extremely concerned and affectionate towards him. However, this concern has gone a bit too far; believing that the reason for keeping a bit of bloodline is valid, he resolutely does not allow Sun Shao to lead troops into battle. As he watches many younger individuals than himself enter official positions, he remains at home as a recluse. He has submitted petitions multiple times, all of which have been rejected by Sun Quan. In a fit of anger, he even fainted, which then allowed the counterfeit version to take advantage of the situation.

Zhou Mansion? Sun Shao's eyes darted around, and an inexplicable surge of anger welled up within him, as if the original Sun Shao had little interest in Zhou Mansion. Calm, calm, Sun Shao reassured the violent child, and only then did he search his memory for information about Zhou Mansion.

Since we are already here, we might as well make ourselves comfortable. Hearing footsteps outside the room, Sun Shao sighed at his reflection in the mirror and put on a relaxed smile.

That would be wonderful. After the young master finishes eating, I will take the items to the kitchen and then go inform the lady, so that she can feel at ease.

Is that so? Sun Shao pondered for a moment, put down the bamboo chopsticks in his hand, stood up and said: "I will go change my clothes, you take these to the kitchen, and then we will go see the lady together"

Although he was reluctant to accept it, he had no choice but to accept that he was no longer the white-collar worker of the 21st century, but rather Sun Shao, the only son of the warlord Sun Ce from the Three Kingdoms period, sharing the same name as his previous self. However, the only thing they had in common was their name; apart from that, there was not a single similarity between them. Not to mention the temporal gap of over 1,800 years, there were no other aspects in which they resembled each other. The original Sun Shao was fond of martial arts, seemingly inheriting Sun Ce's genes, and was quite accomplished in martial arts at just eighteen years old, already a master. In contrast, this makeshift Sun Shao was a frail scholar, skilled in rhetoric and perhaps somewhat adept at verbal sparring, but when it came to physical strength, he fell far short. If he were to challenge the original Sun Shao, he would likely not even be able to withstand a single finger from him. The original Sun Shao was a child of high-ranking officials; although his father Sun Ce died young, his uncle Sun Quan was the lord of Jiangdong, making him a noble relative by any account. On the other hand, this makeshift Sun Shao was merely an ordinary white-collar worker, somewhat self-righteous in his aspirations. The original Sun Shao bore a striking resemblance to his father, with a cheerful personality, even somewhat impulsive, brave and fierce, with a heavy heart for violence. In stark contrast, this makeshift Sun Shao was a compassionate scholar who had never even killed a chicken.

From his past experiences, Sun Shao felt that this was very cruel. When he first arrived in this world and received information about the Grand Bridge from his lingering memories, he was almost stunned. It is said that the Second Bridge is the most famous beauty of the Three Kingdoms, yet who would have thought that the Grand Bridge was such a tragic figure

Sun Shaolian's face flushed with anger as he shot a glare at Qiao Yue, who remained unfazed, giggling as she held the food table, resembling a fluttering butterfly, before leaving the hall and heading out the east gate

Today, this wave of restlessness came on very strongly, preventing him from lying still. He had no choice but to get up and let out a few long breaths. He intended to calm his mind, but upon seeing a wooden frame with a long spear inserted in the courtyard outside the window, that sense of unease intensified even further

Well, well, you are skilled. Sun Shao was too preoccupied to refute this, and he indulged in the instinct of his body to fully express the excitement within him. At this moment, he did not care whether this excitement belonged to him or to the original Sun Shao. In a daze, he could not distinguish whether his own space was the true self or a counterfeit; it seemed as if he had entered a state of oblivion where both self and other were forgotten.

It is unclear whether Sun Shao originally did not know how to wear clothes, or if his awareness was not entirely intact. In any case, Sun Shao is not very accustomed to the clothing of the Han Dynasty; he either wears it askew or twisted, which has caused Qiao Yue to secretly laugh at him several times.

The long spear came to a steady stop three inches from her throat, as Sun Shaocheng took a bow stance, holding the spear forward with one hand. A slight sweat appeared on his forehead as he looked at the terrified Qiao Yue with a hint of pride, winking at her: "Little Yue'er, in the future, do not approach me suddenly while I am practicing martial arts."

In short, the two individuals were originally unrelated, and if it were not for the arrangement of fate, they would have had no possibility of any intersection.

Sun Shao cautiously stepped out of the door, and what appeared before him was a spacious room. Unlike the rooms from his previous life, this room had no walls in front, only two columns supporting the roof, with morning light streaming in at an angle. After a moment's hesitation, he realized that this was the so-called hall, a place for receiving guests, while the room he had just exited was referred to as the chamber, a private space.

Qiao Yue covered her mouth and smiled, a hint of pride evident between her brows: "Young Master, why not let me help you get dressed? Otherwise, if Madam finds out, she might think I am being lazy."

Qiao Yue's mother, Qiao Ying, is the personal maid of the Grand Bridge. Born and raised in the Qiao family, she followed the Grand Bridge to the mansion after he entered the court, and she is still the housekeeper of the inner court. The Grand Bridge's ability to raise Sun Shao and the others is largely due to Qiao Ying's significant contributions; otherwise, as a fifteen or sixteen-year-old child, the Grand Bridge would need someone to take care of him, let alone take care of children.

It is estimated that the original Sun Shao is quite dissatisfied with this counterfeit version of himself from eighteen hundred years later, who has taken over his formidable body. Therefore, although his original consciousness has been gradually fading over the past ten days, that innate ferocity still occasionally surfaces, causing this counterfeit version, who is accustomed to quiet contemplation, to feel quite disturbed.

This child's life truly lacks any sense of charm

The true self, Sun Shao, is perplexed, but the counterfeit Sun Shao suddenly understands the crux of the issue, finding it quite amusing. This lad, despite possessing excellent martial skills, seems to lack sharpness of mind. Given his status and formidable abilities, how could Sun Quan possibly allow him to lead troops into battle? If he were to perish in combat, it would tarnish Sun Quan's reputation, but if he were to prove as capable in warfare as his deceased father, Sun Ce, and also be well-liked, that would pose a significant problem. How will Sun Quan handle him? Rather than being unable to manage the situation later, it is better to nip this potential threat in the bud. If he were to perish in battle, it would damage Sun Quan's reputation, but if he were to be as adept in warfare as his late father, Sun Ce, and also be well-liked, that would indeed be a major issue. How will Sun Quan deal with him? It is better to eliminate this potential threat early on than to find oneself unable to manage it later. This is not about protection; it is about suppression. If there were genuine care, he could be prevented from leading troops and instead be assigned a nominal position, rather than being relegated to a life of idleness, suffering from a face full of acne.

Listening to the clear and crisp sound of the bridge's copper bell, Sun Shao suddenly felt a stirring in his heart, a warm sensation slowly rippling within him. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and said: "No need, I will go to pay my respects to the lady myself right away"

The lady they referred to is Qiao, the adoptive mother of Sun Shao, who is also historically known as the great bridge among the famous Erqiao. Sun Shao's biological mother, Lu, was a concubine of Sun Ce. After marrying Sun Ce, she gave birth to three daughters in quick succession and did not have the confidence to demand to be made the primary wife. Later, she became pregnant with Sun Shao and hoped that having a son would provide her with the opportunity to elevate her status from concubine to wife. However, unexpectedly, Sun Ce captured Wancheng and took the great bridge. Faced with the noble background and the beauty of the great bridge, this unfortunate woman immediately lost all hope. She experienced difficulties during childbirth with Sun Shao; although her son was born, she herself did not survive. She had hoped for the chance to become the primary wife, but unexpectedly, Sun Ce captured Wancheng and took the great bridge. Faced with the noble background and the beauty of the great bridge, this unfortunate woman immediately lost all hope. She experienced difficulties during childbirth with Sun Shao; although her son was born, she herself did not survive.

He drew out the long spear and casually waved it a couple of times. As the spear danced, the original Sun Shao seemed to return; the spear became increasingly obedient and satisfying, as simple as if it were an extension of his arm. This excited him, who in his past life was powerless; it appeared that the original Sun Shao indeed possessed remarkable martial skills. A spear nearly two meters long felt weightless in his hands, flowing effortlessly, exuding the demeanor of a master.

In the autumn of the 21st year of Jian'an (216 AD), in Wu County (present-day Suzhou), the former General of the Suppression of Rebellion's office.

After the deaths of Lü Shi and Sun Ce, Sun Shao and his three elder sisters were raised by their grandmother, Lady Wu, because she claimed that Da Qiao was an inauspicious person who had just entered the household and caused the death of her son. However, this good situation did not last long. In the seventh year of Jian'an, Lady Wu also passed away, and they were then taken care of by Da Qiao. One by one, the three sisters got married, and in the end, only Da Qiao and Sun Shao remained in the household. Sun Shao had no impression of his biological parents or his grandmother, Lady Wu. The closest person to him, apart from his three sisters, was his adoptive mother, Da Qiao. Although she was not his biological mother, their bond was no less than that of blood relations. After Lady Wu's death, they were taken care of by Da Qiao, and one by one, the three sisters got married, leaving only Da Qiao and Sun Shao in the household. Sun Shao had no impression of his biological parents or his grandmother, Lady Wu. The closest person to him, apart from his three sisters, was his adoptive mother, Da Qiao. Although she was not his biological mother, their bond was no less than that of blood relations.

As soon as he touched the halberd, a familiar sensation surged into his body, invigorating his spirit, as if he were reuniting with a close friend, making him feel as though this halberd had come to life.

Of course, I have always been an expert

That annoying sound is here again

"There is something to discuss." Qiao Yue turned to Sun Shao, opened her arms to embrace his waist, pulled the belt to the back and tied it securely, then turned back to face Sun Shao and examined him for a moment, before clapping her hands and saying: "It seems that the Zhou residence has come to invite you, and the lady would like to seek your opinion."

In addition, the yard is completely empty, with not even a single tree.

Sun Shao lazily sat up, crossed his legs on the bed, and helplessly gazed at the faint morning light filtering through the window, his eyes somewhat vacant and a bit confused

Qiao Yue got up from the ground and jogged out of the east gate. After a short while, she brought a basin of water to assist Sun Shao in washing up, and then she presented a food table. This was Sun Shao's breakfast, now referred to as the morning meal. It was quite simple, consisting of only a bowl of rice porridge, two slices of large radish, a plate of dried meat, and a plate of sauce. When Sun Shao ate for the first time, he felt somewhat disappointed. Wasn't he a member of the royal family? Why was the meal so simple? However, he buried this question deep in his heart and did not dare to voice it.

Fortunately, this child has been feeling aggrieved for so many years, and even in death, he cannot find peace, nor is he allowed to have peace as this imitation.