No matter how many thoughts churned through Duke Lu's mind, Jiang Hao had questions of his own. "Duke Lu, I've spent years cultivating in the mountains and don't know what time it is now. What year is it?"
Duke Lu came back to his senses and chuckled. "It is now the eighth day of the fifth month, the thirty-sixth year of Ying."
From the time of Qin Shi Huang until the early Han Dynasty, there was no concept of era names. Era names were created by Emperor Wu of Han. The thirty-sixth year of Ying meant that Qin Shi Huang's death was less than a year away.
What about Yu Shu?
She should still be in Goguryeo now.
How was he supposed to find her?
Just then, the lamb finished roasting. The servants carved off the fatty portions and served them to their master. Duke Lu immediately instructed a servant, "Go call the two young ladies to eat."
Before long, Lu Zhi and Lu Su came over gracefully. The two women first bowed to Duke Lu. "Greetings, Father." Then they turned and bowed to Jiang Hao. "Greetings, Young Master Jiang."
Lu Zhi wore a green silk dress, lightly powdered her face, and had a pearl hairpin in her hair. She smiled radiantly at Jiang Hao, and he had to admit that she was a rare beauty.
Duke Lu had raised his daughters well. Both women were somewhat educated, able to read and write, and understood propriety and reason. As for Lu Zhi's later descent into darkness, part of it was due to her own nature, but Liu Bang was more to blame.
In her early years, Lu Zhi had been exceptionally virtuous and devoted. She carefully cared for Liu Bang's entire family. After Liu Bang rose in rebellion, Lu Zhi