Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 167 The Way of the Dog

Hui Niang had whip marks on her arms, but it was clear that they weren't just on her arms.

Shi Shouxin brought over some wound medicine, a kind of golden-yellow external medicine called "Ruyi Golden Ointment". Shi Bao was a general, and since external injuries were very frequent in the army, it was impossible for him to lack such medicine.

Shi Shouxin placed his hand on Huiniang's belt. The young woman, who was not good with words, placed her small hand on his, her expression showing a hint of hesitation. But she quickly let go and let her hands hang down as if she had resigned herself to her fate.

Shi Shouxin untied her belt, and the light green ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) slid down smoothly.

Hui Niang's skin was very fair, but her naked body was covered with red marks. It looked shocking.

"Sigh, if you don't want to serve the emperor, just find someone else. There are so many women in the household, Shi Jilun is being too ruthless."

Shi Shouxin couldn't help but complain, and then unceremoniously applied the Ruyi Golden Ointment to Hui Niang's wounds with his fingers.

The room was filled with the warmth of spring, needless to say.

"Both of my brothers rely on Shi, so I really can't refuse."

Hui Niang sighed softly.

Shi Shouxin's hand trembled slightly, but he pretended to be nonchalant and continued to apply the ointment to Hui Niang's skin.

After the ointment was applied, Shi Shouxin helped Huiniang get dressed. The young woman glanced at him with some surprise, seemingly astonished that he hadn't taken her to bed and made advances towards her.

However, the woman immediately lowered her eyes and looked down, seemingly lost in thought.

The two fell into a long silence, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

"Even if the wife of the household is not doing well, she should not be reduced to serving a stranger in bed."

"You are Shi Chong's wife, how did things turn out like this?"

Shi Shouxin sighed softly and asked.

Hui Niang's face showed shock, and after a long while she murmured to herself, "No wonder Shi Jilun said that his sworn brother Shi Shouxin was exceptionally intelligent and had keen insight. After meeting him today, I can see that his reputation is well-deserved."

"Then let me guess again."

Shi Shouxin nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and said:
"Shi Chong had many women around him, including some of the most beautiful women in the world. But over the years, he had no children, and none of the women around him had even conceived. I am also a married man with children. Putting myself in his shoes, I naturally know that there must be something wrong here."

If I'm not mistaken, Shi Chong should be sending you to serve him in bed tonight, as a way of verifying his intentions.

He probably hasn't touched you in a long time. If you get pregnant, it can only be my offspring, which basically confirms that Shi Chong cannot have any descendants.

I think he will adopt his elder brother Shi Qiao's son Shi Chao in the future, and then he will live life to the fullest.

If you're not pregnant either, then he can use the excuse of having no heir to divorce you. I guess he's disliked you for a long time, otherwise he wouldn't have kept you out of the picture after the wedding.

Shi Chong is an opportunist, and your family should have been a good match for him. However, your family has fallen on hard times, so it is inevitable that Shi Chong would look down on you.

He's currently obsessed with currying favor with the Prince of Jin's heir, and his bright future is clearly visible. He could just kick you aside and find a new wife, like Jia Chong's daughter.

See, did I guess right?

Shi Shouxin asked with a smile.

Hui Niang's lips parted slightly, too shocked to speak.

In fact, Shi Shouxin not only got it right, but he even analyzed the reasons that she hadn't figured out.

She didn't want to sleep with another man tonight, so Shi Chong whipped her with a leather whip, and he whipped her naked.

This kind of injury looks scary, but it actually heals very quickly, but it hurts!

Hui Niang's father and grandfather were both very successful during the Cao Wei period, but her grandfather died young and her father lived off his family's wealth. Now, at this critical time of dynastic change, their family's position is likely to be relegated to a lower position.

Now it's their family currying favor with Shi Bao and relying on him, not the other way around.

Therefore, in Shi Chong's view, this marriage was somewhat unnecessary. If he could marry Jia Chong's daughter or Wei Guan's sister, the situation would be completely different, and it would be much more helpful to him than it is now.

Women are just marriage partners, not people you like; they're just extras.

Shi Chong would find the woman he truly loved himself. When it came to marriage, all he valued was family background.

Moreover, Hui Niang's personality was probably somewhat dull, which would not have pleased Shi Chong.

Shi Shouxin knew Shi Chong's character well; there was nothing he wouldn't do for scheming and profit!
"Shi Langjun's intelligence surpasses that of Shi Jilun."

Hui Niang sighed.

Shi Shouxin also sighed and said:
"To Shi Chong, I am neither one of his own nor an outsider."

If his brothers, such as Shi Qiao, were to make a move on you, Shi Chong would probably worry about chaos in his household, and he wouldn't be able to deal with you if something happened.

If outsiders were allowed to get involved, they might spread rumors that Shi Chong was infertile.

Only someone like me, who is usually tight-lipped and is also Shi Bao's adopted son, is someone he can truly trust.

If something goes wrong, Shi Chong can still distance himself from the situation, saying that you seduced me and kick you out. He doesn't need to worry about me revealing this secret.

This situation is truly... indescribable.

Shi Shouxin knew very well that ever since he entered this house and closed the door, he had already started an affair with Huiniang.

No matter what he did, in Shi Chong's view, the result would be the same.

Shi Shouxin never expected that his trust in Shi Chong would lead to the latter going to such lengths to betray him.

Of course, Shi Chong would also say: "Brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes." We're so close we're practically inseparable, I've even lent you my wife, and you still complain our relationship isn't strong enough?

There was no way to say it; they were left with a bitter pill to swallow. Afterwards, Shi Chong, Shi Shouxin, and Hui Niang would never mention it, and would keep the secret until their deaths!

Shi Chong would not divorce his wife, Hui Niang would not reveal that the child in her womb was Shi Shouxin's, and Shi Shouxin would pretend not to know that Hui Niang was Shi Chong's legal wife.

In short, afterward, act as if nothing ever happened.

Such an absurd yet logically coherent event, with its cause and effect laid out before us, makes one marvel at how utterly ridiculous this world is.

"Young Master Shi, you should have just pretended to be stupid and treated me as Shi Jilun's concubine, then none of this would have happened."

Hui Niang looked at Shi Shouxin with a resentful expression, blaming him for speaking too frankly.

You know it in your heart, why say it out loud? Everyone's pretending not to know, what's the big deal about a little fuss in bed?
"Sigh, I'm a bit of a masochist; I don't feel comfortable until I understand things."

Besides, pretending not to know when you clearly know is suspicious and could be considered a form of sexual exploitation.

Now that we've laid everything out openly, it's just a matter of a word from you; I absolutely won't force you.

Shi Shouxin smiled wryly, but his attitude was very sincere and his words were convincing.

"You've seen it, you've touched it, what else can I do?"

As Hui Niang complained, she pressed Shi Shouxin's large hand against her chest. Things had already come to this point; could it possibly stop now? Wasn't she afraid Shi Chong would kill her to silence her?
The arrow is already on the string and must be released!
Hui Niang's eyes were watery, and she leaned closer involuntarily. With her eyes open, she slowly pressed her red lips to Shi Shouxin's lips.

"Never mind, let's just consider it a fleeting dream," Hui Niang thought to herself, closing her eyes.

In an instant, their emotions found an outlet, and their reason turned into chaos, like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and thus they burned fiercely.

……

Early the next morning, while Hui Niang was still asleep, Shi Shouxin got up and left the Shi residence, walking home.

However, as soon as he reached his doorstep, he saw a middle-aged man in a brocade robe waiting there, who seemed to have been there for quite some time.

"Hey, isn't this Lord Sima?"

Shi Shouxin smiled with delight and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

The person who came was certainly not Sima Lun, the "Lord Sima," but Sima Liang, the fourth son of Sima Yi!
"Oh, Shi Gandang, Shi Gandang, you're finally back."

Sima Liang tugged at his sleeve, his face full of excitement, and said, "Quick, quick, let's talk in the study. I have something important to tell you!"

What important matters could a leisurely prince like you possibly have?

Shi Shouxin calmly broke free from his pull, then nodded slightly and led Sima Liang into the courtyard.

It was unclear whether Fengniang was asleep due to the fright she had experienced the previous night; in any case, all that was seen was Xigou sweeping the yard. Shi Shouxin ignored him and led Sima Liang directly into the study.

After the two were seated, Sima Liang handed over a letter.

"The King of Jin asked me if I could adopt a son into the lineage of the King of Jing."

"Life was going so well, why the sudden talk of adoption?"

Sima Liang asked with a puzzled look.

Shi Shouxin knew that the person in front of him was not a smart man, at least not one who had inherited Sima Yi's intelligence. He was pondering how to explain things to this fellow.

Seeing that Shi Shouxin remained silent, Sima Liang took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, handed it over, and said, "Young Master Shi, Mr. Shi, please give me some advice. This is the list of gifts to thank you for."

Clearly, after the war to conquer Shu, Shi Shouxin's reputation and status rose accordingly, and Sima Liang's attitude towards him became much more humble.

"To be honest, Sima Gong was really caught in the crossfire in this matter."

Shi Shouxin sighed and pretended to be heartbroken.

"How can you say that innocent bystanders are being harmed?"

Sima Liang asked in a low voice. He had studied Shi Shouxin's deeds for a long time and felt that the other party was an honest person, which was why he came to ask.

"The King of Jin has always wanted Sima You to return to his ancestral line, but if that happens, the line of King Jing will have no heir."

So first, Sima Gong adopted one of his sons, and then Sima You was removed.

In that case, it would be a win-win situation for the Prince of Jin.

Shi Shouxin patiently explained, giving Sima Liang a reason he couldn't refute.

"So that's it."

Sima Liang was somewhat dejected. Giving his son to his deceased brother, who was also his half-brother, would make anyone uncomfortable.

More importantly, they can no longer inherit any political resources from Sima Shi.

Sima You's background combined with Sima Shi's title was a winning combination, keeping Sima Yan awake at night.

But being Sima Liang's son and having the title of Sima Shi meant that... it was a useless thing.

What's the use of having such a title? It's impossible to command a large following.

Sima You was Sima Zhao's eldest son, a full sibling of Sima Yan, and that's the crux of the matter. Being family, he was more easily accepted.

Sima Shi's status as the eldest son of the emperor was merely a matter of legitimacy in terms of etiquette and law, thus justifying his ascension to the throne.

Succession from brother to brother is never legitimate. Sima You's ascension as Sima Shi's eldest son was a combination of moves that even Sima Yan feared!
Did Sima Liang have this political resource?

If that were the case, why would Sima Zhao have set his sights on him?

"So, things are settled then?"

Sima Liang sighed and asked. At this moment, as Sima Yi's fourth son, he also felt that he was bound by the ways of the world.

When others asked him to adopt his son, he had no means of resistance whatsoever.

"There is a way."

Shi Shouxin pondered for a moment.

Upon hearing this, Sima Liang's eyes lit up.

He placed his hands on Shi Shouxin's shoulders and asked, "Is there any way?"

"One word: delay! I think it's only natural that Sima Gong would suddenly fall ill and be bedridden due to the unpredictable weather in spring."

Since you are ill, it would be disrespectful to your sons to be adopted out.

This is how we refuse the Prince of Jin.

Shi Shouxin said with a smile.

Sima Liang nodded; it was indeed a good idea. But before he could be happy for more than a few seconds, he asked with a bitter face, "That makes sense, but illness is only temporary, it can't last a lifetime, right? Even the most serious illness will eventually be cured."

"Sima Gong can wait for the right opportunity. I think Sima You's return to his clan will most likely end without any progress."

Shi Shouxin comforted Sima Liang.

"That's the only way."

Sima Liang sighed.

Shi Shouxin pondered Sima Liang's affairs, increasingly feeling that the day Sima Zhao would change the dynasty was drawing ever closer, and he could clearly hear footsteps.

That feeling is so real that it can be judged by the things that happen to different people and by their behavior.

The story of the State of Jin is about to begin!

After seeing Sima Liang off, Shi Shouxin sat in his study, deep in thought.

Sima Zhao proposed that Sima You return to his ancestral home; Sima Yan held a banquet to win over his young followers; Shi Chong sent his wife to breed a child in order to exchange wives; and Sima Liang's son was adopted by Prince Jing. All these events proved that the Cao Wei dynasty was about to become a thing of the past.

Everyone wanted to occupy a better position when the State of Jin was founded.

"Damn it, what kind of dog world is this!"

Shi Shouxin couldn't help but swear.

(End of this chapter)