Chenliu Prefecture, the Wei Residence.
Cai Zhaoji gracefully emerged from a rustic pavilion, unable to resist casting another glance back at the inner chamber. This was the Wei Residence's study, where Lu Yu had immediately gone upon arriving.
One look, and an entire hour had passed, his attention completely absorbed by the ancient texts and writings.
Cai Zhaoji was accustomed to this. Her younger brother Lu Yu loved to read and possessed the ability to memorize anything he saw. Whenever there were new ancient books or documents, he would always scan them first, committing them to memory.
At times, Cai Zhaoji wondered just how much information Lu Yu's mind could hold.
Of course, she couldn't possibly know that before his transmigration, Lu Yu, as the "Brain King" of the "Super Brain" memory module, had already established a memory palace in his mind. Different types of content were locked into different rooms, allowing for rapid retrieval within a specific domain.
This was unfathomable to ordinary people, but for "Super Brain," it was merely unremarkable, routine operation. To better adapt to this era, Lu Yu also continuously filled his mind with new ancient books and documents!
"I should check on the kitchen first. I wonder if Lu Yu likes the food here at the Wei Residence?"
Cai Zhaoji moved with light steps, intending to head towards the kitchen. Only as his elder sister did she know that Lu Yu had been a picky eater since childhood and had many dietary restrictions. If not careful, even a lavish feast might be difficult for him to swallow.
"He's already fifteen, yet he still worries me so... I should find you a beautiful wife." Cai Zhaoji shook her head with a smile...
Just then.
"Thump, thump, thump!"
Heavy and urgent footsteps approached.
Cai Zhaoji looked up and saw, at the far end of the corridor, a man who was not handsome but possessed a striking heroic aura, walking briskly towards her.
This person, Cai Zhaoji recognized instantly. Was this not her elder brother, the current Governor of Yan Province, Cao Cao?
Brother... Brother is here?
A nameless sense of nervousness arose in Cai Zhaoji's heart. After all, Cao Cao was now the Governor of Yan Province, the ruler of the region, while she was merely the daughter of an old friend. The last time she saw her brother Cao Cao was half a year ago.
As she pondered, Cao Cao also spotted her...
"So, it's my sister Zhaoji."
Cao Cao strode quickly to Cai Zhaoji's side, looking at her still-worn, patched clothing. A slight chill breeze blew, and the patches on her clothes seemed to whistle in the wind.
Immediately, a trace of guilt flickered in Cao Cao's eyes, and his words were filled with apology. "Since taking charge of Yan Province, everything needs to be rebuilt. I wish I had two heads to use, but I've neglected you, my dear sister."
As he spoke, Cao Cao proactively took off his cloak and draped it over Cai Zhaoji, portraying a scene of brotherly affection for his sister.
Indeed, Cai Zhaoji had grown up under Cao Cao's watchful eye. Coupled with the relationship through their mentor, Cai Yong, this brother-sister bond was peculiar yet exceptionally deep.
However, during his time in Yan Province, Cao Cao himself was penniless, wishing he could split a single copper coin in two. How could he have attended to Cai Zhaoji?
Now, the situation was different. Cai Zhaoji had raised a uniquely talented younger brother. Therefore, no matter how thrifty Cao Cao was, how frugally he lived... he couldn't mistreat this pair of siblings in the future!
"Brother, how can you say that? My brother and I can preserve our lives in this chaotic world, and we rely on your shelter. Your kindness to us is already as great as a mountain; how could you have neglected us?"
Cai Yan spoke gracefully...
Feeling the warmth from the cloak, this was the first time she had felt her brother's concern!
"Kindness as great as a mountain? For you to raise such a brother, dear sister, you are the one who is immensely kind to me, Cao Cao!" Cao Cao waved his hand and asked with a smile, "Where is your brother Lu Yu? Why don't I see him?"
"Oh... he's in the study, reading." Cai Zhaoji replied, "Brother probably doesn't know, but my brother solely enjoys reading. Any ancient book or document he hasn't read, he must read it immediately and then commit it to memory."
Huh? Commit it to memory?
Cai Zhaoji said it so casually, but Cao Cao's heart stirred greatly.
One had to know that the ancient books and documents passed down by our ancestors numbered at least tens of thousands of volumes, spanning various fields. Just to read through them was already extraordinary. For Lu Yu to also commit them all to memory, was this the ability to never forget what one has seen?
No wonder... he could seamlessly integrate various military texts and create such brilliant military works as "The Thirty-Six Stratagems" and "On Guerrilla Warfare"!
"Since Brother is here, I'll go call Lu Yu... so he can come and pay his respects to Brother." Cai Zhaoji was about to turn and head into the study.
Before she could take a step...
Cao Cao immediately called out to stop her.
"Dear sister, please do not disturb him."
"I have nothing urgent today, so I'll wait here by the study door."
To seek talent, one must have the demeanor of seeking talent. Especially, the first impression is crucial. In this regard, Cao Cao, who was eager for talent, understood this principle well!
Mm...
Never did he imagine that these words would shock Cai Zhaoji.
Her brother Cao Cao, as the Governor of Yan Province, was exceptionally busy every day. How could he coincidentally have nothing urgent today? For Lu Yu's sake, he would wait at the door?
"Brother, how about I go and..." Cai Zhaoji spoke again, but Cao Cao shook his head and interrupted, "Dear sister, please go attend to your matters. I will wait here alone."
At present, due to his weak influence and precarious position, Cao Cao was not ostentatious or overbearing.
From the several "Talent-Seeking Edicts" he had issued, one could see his longing for talented individuals was almost to the point of gazing into the distance with longing. Now that a truly talented individual was before him, how could he not lower his stance?
"Then... I'll prepare some tea for Elder Brother."
As Cai Zhaoji uttered this, servant girls from the Wei Residence immediately brought fine tea and placed it on a stone table.
At the Wei Residence, Cai Zhaoji merely needed to speak, and someone would do everything for her. However... for so many years, serving her father in the Cai Mansion and looking after her brother Lu Yu in the Cao camp, she had grown accustomed to doing things herself and was not used to being served.
"Dear sister, you should have some tea too..."
Cao Cao sat on a stone stool and proactively poured a cup of tea for Cai Zhaoji. "In the future, you should also learn how to summon servants; this will make life much easier."
Hearing her brother's reminder, Cai Zhaoji smiled and nodded gracefully.
Other than that, when it came to looking after Lu Yu, she truly didn't feel at ease entrusting it to servants.
"Brother, have some tea too..."
Cai Zhaoji proactively offered Cao Cao a cup.
Cao Cao took the tea. Since he had nothing to do, he casually chatted with Cai Zhaoji about family matters.
"Seeing you, dear sister, reminds me of our mentor... Our mentor was a filial son, a talented scholar, and the foremost handsome man of the Han Dynasty. His classes emphasized rules and etiquette, advocated Taoist teachings, and like Zhuangzi, he was very good at telling stories."
"I can never forget how our mentor always brought a 'Guqin' when teaching at the Imperial Academy. At the beginning and end of each class, he would play a passage. The lingering notes of the Guqin touched my heart!"
The mentor Cao Cao mentioned was Cai Zhaoji's father, Cai Yong, who had served as the Chief Instructor of the Imperial Academy and taught Cao Cao for three years.
"It's only a pity that our mentor never mentioned Lu Yu to me. By the way, I heard that this Lu Yu was rescued by our mentor and dear sister in Dunqiu County, Puyang..."
"Can dear sister tell me specifically about what happened back then?"
Dunqiu County, Puyang. Mentioning this topic, Cao Cao recalled fifteen years ago, that encounter he once had... that woman with whom he had shared intimate moments, that infant son still swaddled in his arms...
Huh?
Wait a moment!
Fifteen years ago, Dunqiu County, Puyang, the Lu family woman whom Cao Cao deeply loved!
Fifteen years ago, also in Dunqiu County, Puyang, the infant Lu Yu!
...Lu...Lu... Her surname is Lu, and his surname is also 'Lu'!
Suddenly, a sharp glint appeared in Cao Cao's eyes!
...
...