kingnovel Chapter 1158 A Tribute to Sun Ce to Comfort His Spirit
Chapter 1158 A Tribute to Sun Ce to Comfort His Spirit
The next day, just as dawn broke, a solemn white mourning banner stood before Sun Ce's tomb outside Jianye City. Ma Chao and Zhou Yu walked side by side at the forefront, their black and blue robes covered with plain gauze, their mourning headscarves hanging down to their shoulders, their steps steady yet carrying an indescribable heaviness. Behind them followed veteran generals such as Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, the patterns on their armor concealed by plain cloth, only the occasional glint of the cold light from the swords at their waists.
The Sun family members followed closely behind. Da Qiao, dressed in heavy mourning, her skirt trailing over the bluestone slabs, almost dampened by the morning dew. She held Sun Shao, who was also dressed in mourning, in one hand, and was supported by a maid with the other. Her face was as pale as paper, only her eyes still reflecting the traces of tears. Although Ma Yue and Zhou Yin were young, they also changed into mourning clothes according to custom and followed respectfully beside their elders, their little hands tightly clutching the hem of their clothes, seemingly overwhelmed by the solemn atmosphere. Sun Shangxiang, Sun Xu, and other members of the Sun family were all dressed in white mourning clothes. Their usual vitality was covered by a heavy sorrow, and their steps were so light as if they were afraid of disturbing the sleeping.
The altar before the tomb was already prepared. Ma Chao stepped forward, personally lit three incense sticks over the candle flame. Wisps of smoke rose, blurring the red in his eyes. He placed the incense sticks into the incense burner, his movements slow and solemn. He then bent down and lifted the wine jar on the ground. The rich aroma of wine mixed with the crispness of the morning dew spread out. He lifted the jar and poured three cups in quick succession. The sound of the wine hitting the altar was particularly clear in the silence. Then he slowly poured the wine onto the ground before the tomb, as if he were drinking with the deceased in the afterlife.
“Bo Fu,” he said, his voice hoarse as if it had been sanded, “my elder brother has arrived.”
As soon as he finished speaking, the choked sob in his throat could no longer be suppressed. He abruptly turned his head, wiped the corner of his eye with his sleeve, and when he turned back, tears were already rolling down his cheeks: "Bo Fu, your brother is too late..."
That cry of "I'm late!" seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and suppressed sobs instantly filled the air. The soldiers knelt down in droves, the dull thuds of their armor clashing echoing around them; the Sun family members could no longer hold back, Da Qiao covered her face and wept softly, Sun Shangxiang's cries were sharp and mournful, and even young Sun Shao, who seemed to understand, had tears welling up in his eyes and clung tightly to his mother's legs.
Ma Chao took a deep breath, letting the tears flow freely, but his voice gradually became steady: "Do you remember? You and I first met in Luoyang. You were just over twenty then, yet you dared to ride alone into the training ground, your robes billowing as you brandished your spear, a true proud tiger." He smiled, but his eyes were even more moist. "Later, to avenge your father, you traveled thousands of miles to Xiliang to join me. I knew you had a grand vision in your heart, so I didn't force you to stay and helped you build your army."
"Later, you and I, brothers, defeated Yuan Shu and fought Liu Yao together, establishing our foundation in Jiangdong." He gazed at the two characters "Sun Ce" on the tombstone, his voice filled with endless sorrow. "I always thought that after the affairs of Chang'an were settled, I would come and stand shoulder to shoulder with you, to see the spring scenery of Jiangdong that you spoke of, and to imagine how exhilarating it would be for us, brothers, to gallop together on the battlefield..."
His tone shifted abruptly, and he clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white: "But I never imagined that in the murky waters of Chang'an, Liu Bian would so cruelly turn on me! You came here with a heart full of righteous indignation to seek revenge, but... but you died by the blade of your own people!" The last few words were almost squeezed out between his teeth, tears streaming down his face like a river bursting its banks. "Bo Fu, tell me, why is this world so unjust! Why are good people always harmed by treacherous officials!"
He grabbed the wine jar from the ground, tilted his head back, and gulped it down. The pungent liquid choked him, causing him to cough violently, but he couldn't suppress the mournful cries in his throat. After finishing the bowl of wine, he smashed it to the ground, the shattering sound startling everyone into silence.
"Bring him here!" Ma Chao turned around abruptly, his bloodshot eyes sweeping behind him, his voice as cold as ice.
The wind before the mausoleum suddenly turned fierce. Soldiers escorted a group of prisoners forward. Zhang Hong, Gu Yong, and others were bound with ropes, their heads bowed and covered in dust, their former dignity completely gone. On a wooden table not far away, several trays covered with white cloth were laid out, their outlines vaguely discernible—the heads of Lü Meng, Lü Dai, and others who had been beheaded, to comfort their spirits.
The women of the Sun family instinctively stepped aside. Da Qiao held Sun Shao tightly in her arms, while Sun Shangxiang turned her head away, her fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white. Ma Chao stood before the tomb, his gaze sweeping over the people with a heavy heart, his voice filled with suppressed grief: "Bo Fu, those who participated in framing you back then are all here today."
The prisoners, their mouths stuffed with rags, could only make muffled noises. As they struggled, the ropes tightened further, their faces filled with fear and remorse. Ma Chao closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, only a resolute look remained in them. He raised his hand and waved it down: "Punish them according to the law, as a warning to others."
The soldiers behind him stepped forward, and one of them brandished a gleaming broadsword. With a single swipe, a head fell to the ground.
The white cloth on the wooden table was gently lifted, and Zhou Yu stepped forward, bowing deeply: "If Bo Fu could know this in the afterlife, he would rest in peace."
Ma Chao's fingertips traced the cold tombstone, as if he could still feel Sun Ce's warmth from his life. His voice was low and deep, like wine buried in the earth, mixed with a bitter taste: "Bo Fu, that brat Sun Quan has run away. He's gone overseas."
He paused, his fingertips tracing the two characters "Sun Ce" on the monument, his Adam's apple bobbing: "After all, they are brothers from the same mother. The old lady is still alive. If she sees him brought to justice, she may not be able to bear it... Let's postpone this step for now."
Zhou Yu took a half step forward, his blue robe fluttering slightly in the wind, but an inextinguishable fire burned in his eyes: "Zhang Zhao and his group, leading the remnants of aristocratic families to hide in Yuzhang and Nanhai, do they think they can become a force to be reckoned with?" He raised his hand and pressed it on the tombstone, his knuckles turning white. "Bo Fu, just you wait and see. In less than half a year, I will definitely capture them one by one and make them pay the price for their betrayal."
The incense before the tomb was still burning, its smoke scattered by the wind, as if sending this belated farewell to the heavens. Ma Chao gazed at Sun Ce's tombstone and slowly bowed: "Bo Fu, the grudges are settled. From now on, Jiangdong has Shao'er, Gong Jin, and us. We will surely protect this land you conquered, ensuring it is free from secrecy and betrayal."
All around was silent, save for the mournful sound of the wind blowing through the pines and cypresses, like a silent response from the departed.
After a long while, Ma Chao stood up and said to Sun Shao, "Go, go and kowtow to your father again. Then we'll head back. Bo Fu is a free spirit and wouldn't stand to see us crying here."
After straightening their robes, everyone bowed once more in the direction of Sun Ce's mausoleum, their movements perfectly synchronized, the fluttering of their garments creating a solemn breeze. Sun Shao was the last to straighten up, his fingertips still dusted from the earlier bowing, before quickly catching up with the group.
As dusk crept into the main hall, the lanterns on the eaves were already lit, their dim light filtering through the paper windows and casting latticed shadows on the blue brick floor. The old lady sat upright in the grand chair at the head of the room, her back ramrod straight, clutching a plain handkerchief in her hand, her knuckles turning slightly white from the pressure—she had known all along that Ma Chao and Zhou Yu would be coming, but she still couldn't help but subtly adjust her clothes when she heard their footsteps.
Sun Shangxiang stood to the side and behind, her skirt brushing against the edge of the celadon vase on the table, making a very soft clinking sound. She hurriedly steadied herself and her gaze fell on the two figures at the door.
"Aunt." Ma Chao stepped in first, his black robe still damp with the night dew. As he bowed, the sword at his waist struck the breastplate with a dull thud. "The matter of Bo Fu has finally been investigated and the truth has come to light. Those who participated in the framing have been dealt with according to the law."
Zhou Yu followed closely behind, his gentle face accentuated by his long blue robe. He added, "Sun Quan has fled overseas with his remaining troops, and judging from their current whereabouts, they won't be back anytime soon. However, Jiangdong cannot be without a leader for even a day. Mengqi and I have discussed this for a long time..."
He paused, looked at the old lady, and said in an increasingly solemn tone, "Although Shao'er is young, he is, after all, the legitimate son of Bo Fu, of the rightful lineage. We want to support him as the ruler of Jiangdong and temporarily manage its affairs." Ma Chao took over, his voice as steady as a rock, "Gongjin will remain as Grand Commander, and he will assist in all military and political affairs. I will assist him from the side until Shao'er can stand on his own."
When the last few words were uttered, the hall was so quiet that the soft popping of the candle flame could be heard. The old lady's handkerchief was almost torn to shreds. She had thought... she had thought that after so much turmoil, Ma Chao and Zhou Yu would eventually take over the power in Jiangdong. After all, they held a large army and had just quelled the internal strife. Even if they took power directly, no one would dare to object.
But they actually mentioned Shao'er.
The surprise in her eyes was almost impossible to hide, and her fingertips trembled slightly—she had actually felt a little awkward these days, and now, hearing Ma Chao casually pass the position to Shao'er, who was still a child, felt like a dream.
"Aunt?" Ma Chao called out again when he saw that she hadn't spoken for a while, his tone now showing some concern. "If you feel it's inappropriate, we can discuss it further."
The old lady finally came to her senses. She looked at the two men before her: one a decorated general, his brows bearing the fierce spirit of a warrior; the other a master strategist, his eyes revealing a calm and calculating mind. If they wanted to seize Jiangdong and replace it, it would be as easy as turning their hand, but alas…
Suddenly, she remembered what Qiao Gong had said when he visited her the other day. At this moment, she felt a sense of unease again. Shao'er was still young, and with the world in chaos and the warlords annexing each other, she was afraid that Shao'er would not be able to protect the Jiangdong region. Qiao Xuan's words echoed in her ears: "The King of Liang is loyal and righteous, and has the ambition to conquer the world. It would be better for him to submit to Ma Chao directly, so that the Sun family can be dukes and marquises for generations."
The old lady's fingers, gripping the handkerchief tightly, turned white, her knuckles trembling slightly from the force. Outside the window, magnolia petals lay scattered on the ground like a layer of snow, making her silver hair at her temples appear even more striking. She was still undecided, unable to make a decision, thinking that she should call Qiao Xuan back into the mansion to resolve her doubts again, but her heart was no longer as cold as before.
"Good, good, good." She said "good" three times in a row, her voice choked with barely perceptible sobs. When she finally spoke to Ma Chao, her voice softened with the gentleness of an elder. "Mengqi, you've come all the way from the north, and you've barely set foot on the ground before you're already busy with matters concerning Jiangdong. You haven't even had a cup of hot tea yet."
She loosened her grip on the handkerchief, patted Ma Chao's arm lightly, yet with a deep warmth: "Let's put this matter aside for now. You should rest at home for a couple of days. Otherwise, your aunt will never let you go."
Looking into the old lady's eyes, Ma Chao saw genuine warmth, a warmth that touched his heart. He had intended to set off immediately, but noticing the few more strands of white hair at her temples, he changed his mind: "Since you are so kind, Aunt, I will trouble you for a few more days."
The old lady immediately beamed with joy, her wrinkles at the corners of her eyes crinkling together, yet they seemed to hold starlight: "That's more like it!"