In the Qiao Pei military camp, within the central military tent.
When Cai Zhaoji arrived, she found that the central military tent did not have many people. In fact, the two deputy generals who had accompanied her also stopped outside the tent.
Inside the tent, only two burly generals were visible, likely the generals Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan mentioned by the deputy generals.
Of course, there was also Lu Yu.
At the moment, Lu Yu was eating, or rather, gnawing on a lamb shank, wolfing it down with such gusto that he seemed uncivilized, as if he hadn't eaten in three days.
Frankly speaking, for Lu Yu, wasn't he starving?
Originally, heading south to find his "scumbag cheap father," though it was across vast distances, he always carried the title of "Hidden Dragon," and people everywhere would offer him good food and drink;
His travel expenses, rations, and cooked meat were never lacking. Yet, now, arriving at Cao's camp, it was like encountering a great famine!
For three months, Lu Yu hadn't eaten meat; every day, he ate only thin porridge or congee.
Without exaggeration, if someone gave Lu Yu Lao Gan Ma chili sauce from his previous life, he would treasure it as if it were a priceless delicacy!
Now, with roasted lamb shanks, fine venison, dog meat... and various fruits laid out on the table, how could Lu Yu resist? It was free food, so why not eat!
Dog meat was popular in the Han Dynasty, but Lu Yu truly couldn't get used to it. Therefore, after half-eating the venison and roasted lamb shank, he hadn't touched the dog meat at all.
"You kid look thin and weak, yet you eat like a hulking brute! Haha, and you're still a picky eater!"
Cao Ren boomed...
Though it sounded like a reprimand, in reality, his usual tone of speaking was like this.
This meat was precisely what he and Xiahou Yuan had prepared for Lu Yu to eat!
There were plenty of burly men in Cao's camp. Young people who understood military strategy were considered treasures. Cao Cao longed for them, and Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan were no exception, showing him affection out of love for another.
Seeing Cai Zhaoji walk in, Lu Yu picked up a papaya and offered it to her. "Sister Zhaoji, eat this papaya. It's good for your body!"
The words slipped out...
Just after hearing General Cao Ren's "reprimand," Cai Zhaoji's expression tensed. The more unrestrainedly Lu Yu ate, the more uneasy she felt.
"Young brother, who told you to be so presumptuous in front of the two generals! Who told you to take the papaya? How can you take someone else's things?"
Cai Zhaoji deliberately spoke more sternly. In her view, only by punishing her brother this way would the two generals calm down and spare him!
In truth...
While scolding Lu Yu, Cai Zhaoji also felt heartache.
"General Cao, General Xiahou... my brother is not yet of age. He is young and impulsive... If he has offended or provoked the two generals in any way, I beg you to spare him for my brother's sake, or... or punish me instead!"
Ever since three months ago, when she heard the news of her father, Cai Yong, tragically dying by Wang Yun's blade.
During this period, Cai Zhaoji had become sensitive and fragile, especially living under someone else's roof, an inexplicable sense of inferiority welled up within her.
After all, the world was in chaos now. If she and her brother were to be driven out by their brother Cao Cao, then... who else could protect them?
"If, if my younger brother causes trouble and requires... requires compensation... I have it, I have it..."
As she spoke, Cai Zhaoji quickly fumbled in her sleeves. Before Cao Ren and Xiahou Yuan could react...
She took out all the money she had on her person from her sleeves...
What a colossal sum it was!
Two strings of Wuzhu coins, only two strings, and a few scattered copper coins. Because Cai Zhaoji was particular about cleanliness, each coin was wiped to a sparkling sheen. However, when added up, it probably wouldn't buy even a jin of millet.
And this was already her entire fortune.
Seeing this scene... Cao Ren was stunned, Xiahou Yuan was also stunned, and even Lu Yu was stunned.
When he was "Hidden Dragon," didn't the county magistrates and prefects of the southern counties give him quite a bit of money? Now... has his sister become so poor?
Good heavens! One truly doesn't know the cost of firewood and rice until they manage a household.
It seemed... Sister Zhaoji had truly had a difficult few years.
For some reason, Lu Yu's nose felt a little sore. He even pondered that if it weren't for the impending chaos and the great turmoil in the land, he would rather take Sister Zhaoji to roam the mountains and rivers, living a leisurely life of selling intelligence, without worrying about food or clothing!
*Hoo...*
Taking a gentle breath, Lu Yu intended to say something.
But his meticulous mind kept him from speaking.
"Endure it, endure it a bit longer. Without exposing the 'Hidden Dragon' identity, this... this is the only way to get close to Cao Cao and live a good life!"
"Sister, a good life is coming... endure it, just a little longer!"
...
"Sister Zhaoji, you've misunderstood... actually, it's..."
Before Lu Yu could speak, Cao Ren quickly stood up and repeatedly explained. "Miss Cai Yan, this lamb shank and venison were for him to eat. As for the papaya, this kid specifically saved it for you."
"He hasn't caused trouble, and... he is very intelligent, the talent that Duke Cao is looking for!"
"Is... is that so?"
Cai Zhaoji paused slightly. Seeing Lu Yu's wronged expression, yet still clutching the papaya, she felt a strange pang of affection.
"Little brother Lu Yu, it seems I've wronged you."
Cai Zhaoji said softly...
Lu Yu smiled faintly and then placed the papaya into Cai Zhaoji's embrace.
In Lu Yu's opinion, his sister was at the prime of her youth, but the parts of her body that should be developing showed no signs of it.
As a younger brother, whether he ate lamb shanks truly didn't matter, but Sister Zhaoji had to eat papaya to supplement her body specifically!
Otherwise... with a double A-cup, who could afford her?
"Miss Cai Yan, I am Cao Ren, courtesy name Zixiao. This is General Xiahou, courtesy name Miaocai!"
With the misunderstanding cleared, Cao Ren first introduced himself and then announced loudly, "Both Miaocai and I have long admired your great name. People say that Miss Cai Yan could distinguish piano strings at the age of six, a truly remarkable woman of the present age. I never expected you would also raise such an outstanding younger brother. We are truly impressed, truly impressed!"
Speaking of which, Cao Ren glanced out the window.
"Miss Cai Yan, the carriage is ready. Shall we go to the Chenliu Commandery Office together?"
"Chenliu Commandery Office?" Cai Zhaoji repeated.
In her memory, this was Cao Cao's place of work. In the three months since arriving at Cao's camp, she had only visited it once.
"That's right," Cao Ren explained. "My elder brother has recently instructed me to find young people with discerning talents to personally nurture them. Your brother is intelligent, astute, and well-versed in military strategy. I believe my elder brother will surely like him! With cultivation and important responsibilities... his future is boundless!"
"Ah?"
"With cultivation? Boundless?"
Cai Zhaoji was stunned again...
At this moment, a completely new thought suddenly arose in her heart.
Could it be that everything that happened today was pre-planned by her younger brother Lu Yu?
Without exposing the "Hidden Dragon" identity, he used a stratagem to approach his brother Cao Cao, subtly offering him advice, and simultaneously ensuring a good life for them both?
This...
Thinking of this, Cai Zhaoji's heart trembled inexplicably.
Heavens...
Lu Yu's deployment was so meticulous, so subtle.
Even General Cao Ren, General Xiahou Yuan, all the deputy generals in the Qiao Pei military camp, and even... Cao Cao himself... were all kept in the dark, weren't they?
*Hoo...*
Exhaling deeply.
Cai Zhaoji's heart was filled with emotion. It seemed that even though she was deep within Cao's camp, living under his roof, and the identity of Hidden Dragon could not be revealed, the mind of Hidden Dragon was still exceptionally intelligent!
Was this what Xu Shao of the Yue Dan Commentary had mentioned to her – "Hidden Dragon resides in the abyss, yet it soars to the nine heavens"?
...
...