Reborn in the Three Kingdoms, I stole Liu Bei's uncle

Since the Qin Dynasty, the state has provided residences for high-ranking officials, and by this time it had become a regular practice. Not only did high-ranking officials in the capital have residences, but even the counties had residences in the capital. The residences were guarded by a person called the residence guarding secretary.

The position of Shizhong was originally under the Shaofu, one of the Nine Ministers, and was mostly held by the sons of officials and famous scholars. Although the responsibilities were not heavy, it was also a noble position. Naturally, there was also a mansion equipped.

The mansion was fully equipped with slaves and servants, and even all daily necessities were purchased by the state.

Liu Yu arrived in front of Cai Yong's mansion, looked at the extraordinary mansion, and praised it secretly.

He got off the carriage and handed over his business card.

Inside the Shizhong Mansion.

Cai Yong was plucking the strings of a zither outside the bamboo forest.

The fingers moved slightly, and a clear sound slowly came out from the strings.

On the table not far away, tea was boiling.

A woman in plain clothes slowly walked up to Cai Yong and bowed, saying, "Father, you got up so early to make tea, but you have a distinguished guest coming."

Cai Yong smiled and said, "Zhao Ji, you are right. This man is two years younger than you and is very knowledgeable. Even a father cannot help but admire him.

"Father is talking about the extremely talented Liu Yunqi?"

Cai Yong was startled and asked, "You also know this person?"

"It's all spread around the capital now. People say that all the talent in the world is shared by one person. Liu Yunqi alone has eight buckets, father, you have one bucket, and all the scholars in the world share one bucket."

"My daughter always thinks this is an exaggeration. Even if Liu Yunqi has some talent, he is not so talented. Don't forget that my father only has one part of it. Is he more knowledgeable than my father?"

"Have you read the song "Song of the Wine"?"

"My daughter read it and thought that the poem was written in an elegant and lively way, and it was unrestrained and uninhibited. It can be considered a masterpiece."

Cai Yong heard the dissatisfaction in his daughter's words, and laughed, "It is more than a masterpiece. The poem is magnificent and extraordinary. It can be said to be the greatest piece of writing in the history."

Cai Zhaoji was a little unconvinced and said, "Just poetry and prose alone can prove that he is much better than his father. A gentleman's six arts, can he understand music, be proficient in calligraphy, know arithmetic? Can he also be proficient in archery and charioteering?"

"When he comes over later, my daughter must ask him."

"Zhaoji, don't be rude."

Cai Zhaoji smiled and said, "I know. I won't make him look too bad."

Just as Cai Yong was about to speak, he heard a servant coming over and handing him Liu Yu's business card.

Cai Yong took the business card, took a look at it, and the handwriting on it made his eyes light up.

"Good words."

After saying that, he laughed, stood up, and went to the door to greet Liu Yu.

When Cai Zhaoji saw Cai Yong's words praising Liu Yu, she was slightly startled, and then she took the business card and read it carefully.

Her father Cai Yong is a great calligrapher of the time. He created the cursive seal script based on the official script.

Because some of the brush strokes look like bird heads and swallow tails, or bird heads and phoenix tails, the horizontal and vertical strokes are slightly white, the strokes are broken by flying brushes, and the dryness and wetness are appropriate, as if they were made with a dry brush, it is also called Feibai calligraphy.

Feibai script was all the rage at that time, and even some plaques in the palace were written in this font.

Cai Zhaoji had been learning calligraphy from Cai Yong since she was young. She was very good at calligraphy. When she saw Liu Yu's calligraphy, she couldn't help but praise it: "This character is square and simple, with the style of a master. No wonder my father praised it so much."

Liu Yu stood at the door, looking at the towering gate. While he was lost in thought, the door of the Shizhong Mansion slowly opened.

Cai Yong appeared in front of Liu Yu with a tall figure and a smile on his face.

Liu Yu hurriedly bowed and said, "Greetings to Minister Cai."

Cai Yong laughed and said, "Yunqi, we are having a banquet at home today. You don't have to be so polite. Just call me by my name. Please come in quickly."

Liu Yu said, "How dare I act rashly in front of Lord Cai?"

Cai Yong laughed and took Liu Yu into the yard.

Liu Yu looked around and saw that the yard was quite large and, unusually, very quiet.

There are pavilions, small bridges, flowing water, and a bamboo forest. Next to the bamboo forest stands a woman, about twenty years old, with bright eyes and white teeth, looking bright and shining. She complements the beautiful scenery.

Cai Yong laughed and said, "Yunqi, this is my daughter, Cai Yan, Cai Zhaoji.

Zhaoji? Liu Yu was slightly startled, and after a moment, he realized that Cai Wenji of this period was called Cai Zhaoji, and it was not until the Western Jin Dynasty that it was changed to Cai Wenji in order to avoid Sima Zhao's courtesy name. (Cai Wenji is familiar to everyone, and will be referred to as Cai Wenji in the following text.)

She was knowledgeable and talented, and was good at literature, calligraphy, and music. She was one of the four great talented women in ancient times.

Her reputation in later generations is much greater than that of Cai Yong.

But this fame is not only due to her talent, but also to her miserable life experience.

After her first husband died, she returned to her parents' home. At that time, there was chaos in the Central Plains, and she was captured by the King of the Xiongnu. She lived with the Xiongnu for twelve years before Cao Cao spent a large sum of money to redeem her.

This story, also known as "Wenji's Return to Han" by later generations, was incorporated into operas and vernacular novels and became a household name.

"I have heard that Mr. Cai has a daughter who is very talented in literature and is as good as any man. I am honored to meet her today."

Cai Yong laughed and said, "Her talents are like comparing the stars to the bright moon, or comparing a stream to the vast ocean. They are incomparable."

Liu Yu bowed and said, "Mr. Cai, you are too kind."

Cai Yong laughed and said, "I am not lying. Yunqi, there is no need to be too modest."

Before Liu Yu could say anything, Cai Wenji scolded him, "Father, how can you talk about your own daughter like that?"

Cai Yong smiled and said, "You are usually spoiled by me. You don't know that there are countless talented people in this world."

Cai Wenji was dissatisfied and said, "My daughter wants to see the talented Liu Yunqi today.

When Liu Yu heard this, he groaned inwardly.

Didn’t we agree that we would just come here to drink tea and listen to music today?

By the way, praise each other.

Then everyone went home happily.

How did it become like this again?

"I dare not. It is all Mr. Cai's compliments. Miss, please do not take them seriously."

You can't tell, but this person is quite humble and doesn't take advantage of his talent.

Cai Yong smiled and said, "Yunqi, please sit down quickly. Let's sit down and talk."

The three of them took their seats.

Cai Wenji took the tea from the table and poured it for both of them. Then she said, "Master Liu, how about trying this tea first?"

Liu Yu nodded, picked up the tea and took a sip. It tasted bitter, just like the bitter melon he ate in later generations.

But bitter gourd still has a hint of sweetness, but this tea is just bitter.

This is not surprising. Not only was the variety of tea at that time not as great as that of later generations, but even the function of tea was only to detoxify and increase nutrition.

Even so, only the rich and powerful, the noble families, and the high-ranking officials can own this thing.

Ordinary people couldn’t even afford to eat, let alone drink tea.

The three of them drank a few cups.

Cai Yong smiled and said, "Yunqi, I have a new piece of music, and I would like to invite Yunqi to appreciate it."

Liu Yu bowed and said, "It's a good opportunity to listen to Lord Cai's elegant music."

Liu Yu doesn't understand music.

In my previous life, although I couldn't be considered a tone-deaf useless person, I was almost there.

Even if he could sing a few lines of pop music in his previous life, this melody is completely different from the previous one.

Apart from the top students in professional colleges, who knows anything about music?

Cai Yong walked to the guqin and sat down cross-legged.

"Can Yunqi recognize this zither?"

Liu Yu looked at the zither carefully. He saw the seven strings on it and it was beautifully made. However, there was a burn mark at the end of the zither. Liu Yu's heart moved.

"Is this zither a Jiaowei zither?"

Cai Yong laughed and said, "Yunqi's insightful eyes saw that it was this zither."

It is really a Jiaowei Qin. This Qin, along with Duke Huan of Qi's Haozhong, King Zhuang of Chu's Raoliang and Sima Xiangru's Luqi, are known as one of the four famous Qins.

This zither was made when Cai Yong was in Wu. There was a man burning paulownia wood to cook. Cai Yong heard the loud noise of the burning wood and knew it was a good wood, so he came over to make this zither.

Cai Yong said no more, placed his hands on the strings and began to play the piano.

Liu Yu knew nothing about playing the piano, but he felt that the sound of the piano was distant and lively, and very beautiful.

Just play the song.

Liu Yu only felt that there seemed to be a voice echoing in his ears.

The ancients' skill in playing the musical instrument was incredible. Although I don't understand the instrument, I think it sounds very good. It is many times better than some of the incomprehensible pop songs I heard in my previous life.

"Yunqi, how about this song?"

"I don't understand music, but when I hear Cai Gong's music, I feel that the lingering sound lingers in my ears for three days. These three days are still too short. Confucius' saying that one does not know the taste of meat for three months is more appropriate."

Cai Yong's eyes were filled with smiles.

Yunqi’s words touched my heart deeply. This young man is indeed my confidant.