Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 166 A Chaotic Dance of Demons (Part 2)

The practice of taking Wushi San (a type of Chinese herbal medicine) gradually emerged after the establishment of the Wei Kingdom and continued to gain momentum.

Five-Stone Powder was originally a good medicine for treating typhoid fever, but it was also very expensive and only nobles could afford it. However, this stuff didn't cure many people; instead, its side effects attracted the attention of the nobles.

The formula and proportions of Wushi Powder varied among different physicians. It was virtually impossible for two Wushi Powder formulas to be exactly the same.

However, although the formulas for the "Five Stones" are different, their medicinal properties are all extremely hot and dry. After taking them, people will feel hot all over and experience a deceptive hallucination effect.

This is actually a form of chronic poisoning.

Simply put, the nobles enjoyed the euphoric feeling of a "hallucinatory moment".

Some of the guests present had slightly changed expressions, but no one stood up to oppose Shi Chong.

The servants placed small paper packets one after another on the table.

After the distribution was completed, Shi Chong laughed and said, "Adding it to wine and water and drinking it together will make it even more wonderful."

He said that because he's really experienced; he must have done this a lot before.

Just then, Shi Shouxin stood up and bowed to Sima Yan and the guests, saying, "I am responsible for Deng Ai's assassination attempt. I have just been pardoned by the Prince of Jin and am still a commoner waiting to be selected as an official. I have to go to my adoptive father's place, so I will not stay with you all for the time being."

"Wait a while before you leave if you have something to do."

Shi Chong smiled and said, clearly not wanting Shi Shouxin to leave like this.

"I have heard that the court intends to send me to a post outside the capital. My farmland in Luoyang is being neglected and is being wasted."

I was just about to go and discuss the land with my godfather, but I'm afraid that staying here would be..."

Shi Shouxin looked troubled as he spoke.

Upon hearing that it concerned land ownership, Shi Chong immediately stopped objecting. He nodded and said, "There is a curfew in the city. After you and your father have finished discussing it, stay here tonight."

"That's natural."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Shi Chong, then turned and left the hall.

After Shi Shouxin left, Shi Chong looked at Pan Yue and said, "Now I will have the servants escort the lady home. How about Anren stays here tonight?"

Just as Yang was about to refuse, she saw Pan Yue nod and say, "That would be very good."

He whispered a few words in Yang's ear, and Yang reluctantly stood up and followed the servants of the Shi family away.

At this moment, Fengniang also quietly got up and left, but as soon as she stepped out of the main hall, she was restrained by two servants from the Shi family.

"Everyone, take the medicine."

After taking the powder, you must take off your clothes, as your body will become hot.

I will have the beauties who danced today come in to serve you all your leave.

After he finished speaking, Shi Chong clapped his hands, and the seven dancers who had performed earlier filed in, all wearing extremely thin, semi-transparent gauze dresses.

After they entered, Sima Yan and Shi Chong got up and left.

The two men did not take the Five-Stone Powder, nor did they participate in any sexual activity. They went to Shi Chong's study, ordered the servants to guard the door and not allow anyone else to approach, and then whispered and plotted something.

On the other side, Shi Shouxin was led to Shi Bao's study. At this moment, the Commandant of the Capital Region was still awake, his face filled with worry.

"Is the banquet over there finished?"

Shi Bao gestured for Shi Shouxin to sit down, then sighed softly and asked.

"The guests are taking Five-Stone Powder, so I came here to lay low for a while, and also to give the land deed to my godfather."

Shi Shouxin took out a stack of papers from his pocket and placed them on the table. These were the land deeds for his farmland in the suburbs of Luoyang!
"This matter has been handled rather poorly, but Liu Lang insists on opening Jingu Garden. How about this, I'll think about it and give you some compensation."

Shi Bao carefully put away the stack of land deeds and said with a smile.

He was originally going to bring this up, but now that Shi Shouxin has taken the initiative, it has saved him a lot of trouble.

"Liu Lang opened the Golden Valley Garden in order to build up the Crown Prince's support; this is also a path to advancement."

Shi Shouxin said with a sigh.

Shi Bao's face showed a mocking expression, but he still shook his head helplessly and finally sighed, "That's how the world is. Liu Lang is just going with the flow."

Clearly, although Shi Bao did not agree with Shi Chong's scheming approach, they were, after all, a family, and he was happy to see it happen.

In an era where family interests come first, right and wrong must be weighed from the overall perspective, and there is no absolute right or wrong.

Shi Chong, like a worm, schemed and built a network of connections to jump on Sima Yan's fast track. Who says this isn't the path to promotion? Not everyone is like Shi Shouxin, who dared to fight back against Zhong Hui's rebellion.

With the unification of the world in sight, where can we conjure up military achievements to allow those who are lagging behind to climb to the front?
Whether it was organizing parties or taking drugs, these were not his hobbies; everything he did was for "progress"!
Although Shi Shouxin did not agree with this behavior, he understood why they did it.

People die for wealth, birds die for food! There's nothing new under the sun!

Or rather, Shi Chong always lived with great clarity; he was this kind of person from the very first day I met him.

He's a pretty frank person.

While Shi Shouxin was lost in thought, he heard Shi Bao say, "I should be transferred to Huainan soon, and the position of Commandant of the Capital Region will probably be taken over by someone else. It's better for you to leave Luoyang sooner rather than later. Once I go to Huainan, I won't be able to help you with things in Luoyang."

Shi Bao only said that he would leave, but did not mention that Shi Chong and the rest of the Shi family would leave, which was obviously related to the family's plans.

With Shi Chong in the capital and Shi Bao away, this arrangement was not problematic.

Shi Shouxin nodded without saying anything. Shi Bao wasn't looking for any hints from him; he was just bored and making conversation.

Shi Bao could see clearly what Shi Chong was like, and he could also sense that his era was slowly fading away.

The two chatted casually for a few more minutes, and then Shi Shouxin said to Shi Bao, "It's getting late, Godfather, you should rest early. I'll take my leave."

As he left Shi Bao's study, he saw Xi Gou waiting outside the door.

A maid said to Shi Shouxin, "Young Master Shi, this way please. I will take you to a side room to rest."

"Well, lead the way."

Shi Shouxin nodded and followed the maid, winding his way through several doors.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of hoes digging in the soil not far away, and Shi Shouxin immediately stopped.

"Young Master Shi, what's wrong with you?" The maid asked, turning around in confusion when she saw that Shi Shouxin had stopped moving.

"Take me over there to have a look."

Shi Shouxin pointed in the direction from which the sound came.

The maid had no choice but to carry the lantern and lead the way, and soon they arrived at the orchard in the Shi family's courtyard.

Two servants were digging a pit, and something was wriggling inside a burlap sack next to them; it looked like a person!

"What are you doing digging holes in the orchard so late at night?"

Shi Shouxin looked at the two of them and asked, his tone stern.

"He is Shi Shouxin, Alang's most promising adopted son."

The maid quickly explained to the two men.

The two servants quickly bowed to Shi Shouxin, one of them explaining, "We were just following Liu Lang's orders to deal with disobedient servants, that's all."

After he finished speaking, he pointed to the sack on the ground, and the person inside struggled even more violently.

"Open it and let me see."

Shi Shouxin said coldly.

The two servants dared not disobey and could only do as instructed.

The sack was opened, and Fengniang, whose hands and feet were bound and whose mouth was stuffed with rags, was struggling violently inside.

His expression was a mixture of shock and anger.

"So you're just going to bury them alive?"

Shi Shouxin retorted, his tone unfriendly.

Another servant argued, "Sixth Master's order was to bury him alive; we were just following orders."

"Alright, alright, leave this to me. If there are any problems, I'll talk to Liulang. It's none of your business."

Shi Shouxin casually gave instructions to his two servants.

The two were as if they had been granted a pardon, and naturally, they could no longer continue digging the pit.

Shi Shouxin said to Xigou, "Leave the Shi residence now and take this young lady home."

He then turned to the embarrassed maid and asked, "Would it be alright to use the Shi family's carriage?"

"No problem, no problem, I'll arrange it right away."

The maid chuckled awkwardly.

At this point, Fengniang stopped struggling and just looked at Shi Shouxin with a puzzled expression.

After the maid left, Shi Shouxin had Xigou untie the ropes binding Fengniang and sighed, "Don't think that just because Shi Jilun has treated you with some courtesy, you can act recklessly. Today you offended Sima Lun. In any other place, you would have died on the spot, without even the chance to be buried alive."

If he had said this yesterday, Fengniang would never have believed it. But with today's harsh reality before her, even the most foolish person would have come to their senses.

"Ah Lang, how are you going to explain this to Shi Chong?"

Fengniang asked in a low voice, probably because she was embarrassed and didn't even say thank you.

"I plan to recruit craftsmen to create some rare and precious jade pieces in the future, and I need their help."

So I invited you to come and take a look; it's nothing serious.

You don't actually think you're important to Shi Chong, do you?

Shi Shouxin countered with a question.

Fengniang didn't answer, or rather, she didn't know what to say. Before this, Shi Chong had been like a gentle and humorous older brother, giving her whatever she wanted without ever treating her like a servant.

However, tonight, Shi Chong ordered his servants to bury her alive, and every word still echoed in her ears, like steel needles piercing her heart.

At this moment, the fairy tale in Fengniang's heart came to an end, and all she could see were hideous man-eating monsters!

Soon, the maid returned and told Shi Shouxin that the carriage had stopped in front of the Shi residence. As for the curfew, there was no need to worry, as arrangements had already been made in advance.

After all, Sima Yan could have left the Shi residence. Would the soldiers under curfew really go to investigate Sima Yan? That was certainly impossible.

"Xigou, take her away. I'll be spending the night at the Shi residence."

Shi Shouxin gave instructions to Xigou.

Without a word, Xigou took Fengniang's hand and led her away.

After everyone left, the maid said to Shi Shouxin, "Young Master Shi, this matter is really inappropriate. Sixth Master forbids his servants from disobeying him, and he has already killed more than one or two people."

"Just tell the truth, and you won't be punished."

Shi Shouxin replied indifferently and followed the maid to the bedroom.

Sure enough, a young woman with a dignified yet beautiful appearance was sitting on the bed in the bedroom.

Shi Chong is still Shi Chong; all these years have passed, and his habits haven't changed at all.

When the woman saw Shi Shouxin, she wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her sleeve and said softly, "I will serve you, my lord, tonight."

Seeing her reluctant expression, Shi Shouxin sighed and said, "I am Shi Bao's adopted son, so I am practically a member of the Shi family. The servants and servants of the Shi family are also practically my servants. Since you are unwilling, you can rest in this room for the night. I won't say anything afterward, so no one will know that you did not serve me in bed, right?"

"My name is Hui Niang..."

The woman seemed a bit tongue-tied, and after thinking for a while, she only managed to say her name. Fortunately, she knew to ease her emotions, so she picked up the wine pot on the table and poured wine into her cup.

When he raised his arm, the bright red marks on his arm were clearly visible.

Shi Shouxin, who was extremely familiar with military tactics, immediately recognized the marks as those made by a leather whip!
Shi Shouxin pressed her hand down and said, "I'll go get you some medicine for your injuries."

Hui Niang opened her mouth, but in the end she didn't say anything and watched Shi Shouxin leave the room.

(End of this chapter)