Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 177 Auspicious Wife and Noble Daughter
Chun Tao's condition was already extremely dire, but she was still alive. To put it even more cruelly, because the "human pig" method involved some medical technology, Chun Tao could even survive in this state for a few more days.

To the point that even dying is impossible!

"I'll send you on your way, so you won't suffer anymore."

If you agree, just nod.

Shi Shouxin, who was kneeling on the ground, stood up and spoke to Chuntao, who could hear but could neither speak nor see.

The狰狞 ​​(zhengning, meaning ferocious or hideous) head nodded slightly, and everyone around felt a pang of sorrow.

Shi Shouxin raised his sword, ready to slit Chun Tao's throat.

However, Zhao Xiangfeng was one step ahead, drawing his short knife from his waist and swiftly slashing down, leaving a bloody mark on Chun Tao's fair neck.

With her head tilted to the side, Chun Tao left this world that had been exceptionally cruel to her.

"Ah Lang, my knife is faster."

Zhao Xiangfeng spoke to Shi Shouxin, her face expressionless, as if she were accustomed to life and death. She had grown up in Zhao Family Fortress and had seen just as many dead people as Shi Shouxin.

That was also a harsh living environment.

Upon seeing this, Wei Xiu suddenly turned pale and fainted in Hui Niang's arms.

"Take her to the bedroom to rest quickly."

Shi Shouxin gave instructions to Huiniang, and then took his tools and went to dig a pit in the cemetery not far from his own house.

Together with several of his tenants, he placed Chun Tao's body into a coffin that he had just sent someone to buy in Luoyang, and then buried her.

Finally, a tombstone was placed on the grave.

The stone tombstone simply reads "Tomb of Chuntao" without any explanation, and it's unlikely that anyone will ever visit her grave in the future.

After finishing all these things, Shi Shouxin returned home, took the guqin that Ji Kang had given him, and placed offerings in front of Chun Tao's tomb.

"Chuntao, you serve people with your dance, so I will bid you farewell with a song."

There is only this life, no next life. May you rest in peace.

Shi Shouxin sighed and began to play the zither.

That laughter reminded me of my flowers.

It blooms quietly for me in every corner of my life.

I once thought I would stay by her side forever.

Today we have departed, lost in the vast sea of ​​people.

......"

Shi Shouxin played the guitar and sang, his heart filled with bitterness.

He couldn't even protect a dancer. If he hadn't made Chun Tao serve Xi Gou, and if he hadn't refused to take her in because he disliked her as an "escort," how could this young woman have died?
Of course, it wasn't just Shi Chong who killed Chuntao, but also this damned system of slavery.

Everything Shi Shouxin is doing now is merely to ease his conscience; it doesn't change anything at all.

After finishing the piece, Shi Shouxin gently stroked the tombstone and said:

"You died because of me, and I will bear this karmic burden."

I owe you this life, and it will be repaid to your younger brother. I will give him a chance to improve himself.

I'm sorry, that's all I can do for you.

When Shi Shouxin returned home, it was already afternoon. He summoned the physician Wei Fan to examine Wei Xiu. After taking her pulse and prescribing medicine, the cause of her fainting was the same as before: weak constitution and sudden fright.

Wei Xiu woke up without any problems, but her body couldn't be fully recovered in just a day or two.

After Wei Fan left, Sima You brought the Su brothers to visit again. However, after thanking him for his righteous help, they talked about the official business Shi Shouxin had been doing in Qingzhou, and that the Su brothers would be setting off with Shi Shouxin in a few days.

After finishing their business, Sima You left. Not long after he left, Wei Xiu's father, Wei Shi, arrived, bringing Wei Xiu's dowry with him.

However, the dowry was pitifully small, which was not the kind of treatment that an only daughter from a wealthy family should receive.

Shi Shouxin felt slightly surprised, but did not ask any further questions.

Wei Shi ordered the dowry to be left and left without seeing Wei Xiu. Upon hearing of Wei Xiu's illness, she didn't even suggest visiting her unconscious daughter.

Shi Shouxin had a vague feeling that something was amiss. Wei Shi's attitude had changed drastically, from obsequious to arrogant. Moreover, the timing was delicate, coming exactly after Sima You's wedding the day before.

Since the incident of Chun Tao being turned into a human pig this morning, there has been constant commotion and no peace has been reached.

Without a moment's respite.

After a busy evening, Wei Xiu finally woke up. Shi Shouxin lit an oil lamp on the bedside table, sat down beside the bed, and quietly held Wei Xiu's small hand without saying a word.

"If your father wanted to take you back, would you be willing?"

Seeing that Wei Xiu on the bed had opened her eyes, Shi Shouxin suddenly asked.

"I don't want to."

Wei Xiu spoke, her attitude very firm.

"why?"

Shi Shouxin asked in confusion.

"He took me back so he could make me someone's legal wife. What's the point?"

Wei Xiu sighed.

The marriage of Shi Shouxin's wife was something that his uncle Wei Guan strongly advocated for, but it may not have been something that Wei Shi was willing to do.

Wei Shi only has one daughter, how could he be willing to let her become a wife?

"Isn't it good to be the legal wife?"

Shi Shouxin immediately became interested.

Wei Xiu replied, "If I hadn't come here, I would definitely have preferred to be the principal wife. But after seeing that human pig... I still prefer to spend my life with a real man. Whether or not one becomes the principal wife depends on fate. If it's not meant to be, you can't force it."

She looked at Shi Shouxin, her eyes filled with an indescribable tenderness.

The two kissed naturally. When they separated, Wei Xiu was panting and her cheeks were flushed. She pulled Shi Shouxin's hand out of her clothes.

She pouted and gave him a reproachful look.

Her face was radiant, radiant with the beauty of love.

Is my father going to cause trouble?

Wei Xiu straightened her clothes and asked meaningfully.

Shi Shouxin nodded and said, "In my experience, trouble will soon arise, surrounding you. Probably in the days before I leave Luoyang."

Wei Xiu immediately became interested, and like a child, she wrapped her arms around Shi Shouxin's neck, kissed his face a few times, and whispered in his ear, "If I had said it didn't matter, or that I could go back with Father, would you have let me go with him?"

"Uh, no, that won't happen. Once you come to my family and become the middle wife, even if you leave standing up, or even if you lie down forever, you'll be buried in my family's cemetery."

But if you had said that, I might not trust you as much as I do now.

Shi Shouxin spoke casually, but Wei Xiu had no doubt that he meant what he said.

"Hmph, you're quite domineering."

Wei Xiu said something coquettish, but the two had already fallen onto the bed and started getting intimate.

Wei Xiu, a lady from a prominent family, squinted her eyes, wrapped her arms around Shi Shouxin's waist, and murmured, "I'm already your woman, how could I let another man touch me? Do you think I'm a fool?"

These words ignited the emotions between the two, and the oil lamp was immediately blown out.

The dry firewood on the bed, when met with a raging fire, could blow the roof off.

If Shi Shouxin hadn't been worried that Wei Xiu's body couldn't handle it, he would have devoured her until there wasn't a bone left tonight.

They didn't know how much time had passed when the two, who were sleeping soundly in each other's arms, were awakened by a knock on the bedroom door.

It was pitch black inside; it must have been past midnight!
"You lie down, I'll go take a look."

Shi Shouxin, wearing his pajamas, opened the bedroom door.

Outside the door stood Zhao Xiangfeng, yawning, holding a lantern in his left hand and a knife in his right, looking very alert.

Beside her stood a tired-looking man who appeared weary from his journey—it was none other than…Wei Guan!
"Why has Wei Gongtai come here?"

Shi Shouxin looked surprised; Wei Guan's arrival at this moment was completely unexpected.

"Is that Uncle?"

"I'm lying naked on the bed," Wei Xiu cried out, her voice filled with joy. Thankfully, the room was dark; otherwise, her alluring demeanor would have been on display for others to see.

Compared to her own blind father, Wei Xiu preferred her uncle Wei Guan.

The man she loved was someone Wei Guan strongly recommended, which is how she got him. "Go into the study and say there's something important."

Wei Guan simply nodded to Shi Shouxin, completely ignoring Wei Xiu.

The two entered the study, and Wei Guan looked at Shi Shouxin with a half-smile and asked, "You and my niece seem to get along quite well."

Shi Shouxin chuckled twice and changed the subject, asking, "Lord Wei, what brings you here after your long journey?"

"That is certainly a big deal."

Wei Guan sighed and took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

It reads: "Wei Shi Xiuniang brings good fortune to her husband; whoever marries her will become a marquis with ten thousand households!"
Shi Shouxin was speechless. How was he supposed to explain this?
If I get my hands on Wei Xiu, does that mean I can become the Grand Commander? Who would believe that if I told them?

Haha, you know what, there are actually some idiots who would believe this kind of nonsense if you told them! There are quite a few idiots like that these days.

It's clear that feudal superstition can kill people!

"What did Wei Gongtai say? And what does that prove?"

Shi Shouxin inquired.

Since Wei Guan has come, he is not here to joke or tease; there must be something important to discuss.

"This is a character written by Pei Xiu for someone. In other words, Pei Xiu told that person that he would probably be depressed and unsuccessful in his life, and only by becoming the principal wife of a woman named Xiu Niang from the Wei family could he become a marquis with ten thousand households in the future."

"Don't you know who Pei Xiu is?"

Wei Guan countered with a question.

Everyone here is a smart person, and after hearing these words, a conspiracy seems to be gradually coming to light.

There's nothing new under the sun; beneath the beautiful exterior lies nothing but demons and monsters!

Pei Xiu's wife was surnamed Guo, and she was the younger sister of Guo Huai.

Pei Xiu was skilled in divination and character analysis, and was renowned for it.

His words can convince some people.

Wei Xiu, a woman of the Wei clan. If Sima Yan could bring her over, it would mean bringing Wei Gongtai over as well.

The crucial question now is... who exactly is the person Duke Wei mentioned?

Shi Shouxin quickly discovered the core issue in this matter through a series of interpersonal relationships.

Wei Guan stroked his beard and laughed:

"How fortunate Wei Xiu is to have a husband like Shi Langjun to rely on."

"Let me give you a hint: while we were participating in the campaign against Shu, the imperial court actually had other plans, such as those in the south..."

Wei Guan spoke meaningfully, clearly feeling much more at ease than before.

He enjoys working with intelligent people like Shi Shouxin; it's comfortable, worry-free, and they understand things immediately!
"To the south, it's either adjacent to Jingzhou or Jiangdong."

Chen Qian of Jingxiang is not like that; he's a cunning old fox who always avoids trouble.

That's the Huai River region.

Shi Bao is my godfather, that goes without saying, it couldn't be him.

That is… General Who Conquers the Barbarians, and Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs North of the Yangtze River, Wang Shen!

Shi Shouxin said with a tense expression.

But soon his expression changed, and a strange feeling arose in his heart.

It's hard to say exactly when Wang Shen was born, as Shi Shouxin hadn't paid much attention to him before. But there's no doubt that Wang Shen is at least fifty years old this year!
Wei Xiu is only seventeen years old!

With an age difference of over thirty years, how come Lao Niu is in such good health?
"You guessed half right. Wang Shen has everything now, what does he need Xiu Niang for!"
This person is Wang Jun, the thirteen-year-old son of Wang Shen!

Pei Xiu analyzed the characters for Wang Jun! And he stated this with absolute certainty.

Wang Shen came to the Wei residence to bring up this matter. I just returned today and heard that Wei Shi had already agreed to Wang Shen's request, so I rushed here to explain to you.

Wang Jun was an illegitimate child. Wang Shen had no other children, and seeing his health deteriorating day by day, he wanted to pave the way for Wang Jun's future.

Wang Shen's attitude is unusually firm now.

Wei Guan sighed.

Shi Shouxin was taken aback, then a cold smile appeared on his face.

These old bastards are shameless! They'll make up any lame excuse to achieve their goals!
Who is Wang Shen?
He was one of the "two kings" who betrayed Cao Mao. He was once a close advisor to both Cao Fang and Cao Mao!
Wang Shen and Pei Xiu are putting on a show together!
Sima Yan's faction recruited Wang Shen, with Pei Xiu acting as the middleman and Guo Huai as the mastermind behind it all!
However, Wei Guan had his own ideas; he didn't want to get involved in the political vortex so early.

They think that getting a woman will make them a high-ranking official? How could these people even think of that!
Just as Shi Shouxin was about to speak, he heard Wei Guan say quietly:

"I've heard that Shi Sima is already the governor of Qingzhou, holding the title of acting general and general who pacifies the barbarians. It seems he's not far from becoming a marquis with ten thousand households."

Look, you've only had Wei Xiu for a few days, and you're already enjoying such a successful official career.

I think Pei Xiu's move is extremely ruthless; Wang Shen, who is deeply concerned for his son, might not be so skeptical.

Isn't this all your doing? You set me up! How did Wei Xiu end up here? Wasn't it all your doing?

Shi Shouxin cursed Wei Guan inwardly for his shamelessness, but there was nothing he could do.

At this moment, he truly understood what it meant to be a scoundrel!

Sima Yan is now openly expanding his power, and those around Sima Zhao, such as Jia Chong and Pei Xiu, are all being won over by Sima Yan!

Not to mention Yang Xiu, who was giving advice behind the scenes!

Sima Anshi's team is very capable. Although their members may not be united, they certainly have a strong lineup!

Given Sima Yan's arrogance, is it possible that he... discovered that Sima Zhao had a health problem?
A terrifying conclusion suddenly popped into Shi Shouxin's mind.

He looked at Wei Guan with a horrified expression, only to see the other nod and say, "The Prince of Jin's high profile suggests that the Prince of Jin is having some health problems. Therefore, the Prince of Jin is turning a blind eye to this."

Wei Guan's arrival late at night was actually somewhat similar to Shi Shouxin's thoughts.

Neither of them could possibly stage a coup.

Or perhaps they never imagined that Sima Yan would do anything outrageous after ascending to the throne.

I just want to live a peaceful life and wait for the political situation to stabilize before making any decisions.

Today, while reviewing the accounts, we discovered that great minds think alike.

Compared to this, Wang Jun's desire to make Wei Xiu a child bride is insignificant.

"I will enter the city now and inform the King of Qi."

Shi Shouxin stood up to leave, but Wei Guan stopped him.

"There is no King Qi now, only a man named Sima You."

Moreover, it's possible that someone is setting a trap.

They might be trying to trick you, or they might be trying to trick Sima You.

In short, it's better for us to stick to the status quo and deal with all changes as they come.

I've come here today to advise you not to act impulsively, whether it's about Wei Xiu or the Prince of Jin.

"Don't move!"

Wei Guan said with a solemn expression, "This old fox has already sensed that things are not going well in Luoyang."

Or rather, it was Shi Shouxin's strong support for Sima You's forced marriage that brought certain things that should have been hidden to the surface!
Shi Shouxin personally escorted Wei Guan to the door. After returning to her bedroom, Wei Xiu, still half-asleep, saw Shi Shouxin had lit an oil lamp. She yawned and asked, "Did Uncle say anything to Alang just now?"

"Nothing special, just that if you get the man you want, you'll be granted a title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households in the future."

Shi Shouxin said nonchalantly, "This is the truth."

"seriously?"

Wei Xiu immediately perked up, climbed out of bed, and didn't care that she had exposed herself.

"Of course it's true. You're Madam Zhong, what good would it do me to lie to you?"

Shi Shouxin said irritably, already crawling into bed.

"Hey? Ah Lang, tell me, what exactly happened?"

Wei Xiu pestered Shi Shouxin, who then had no choice but to recount Pei Xiu's prediction.

After hearing this, Wei Xiu sneered, "These people are shameless. They're just trying to form cliques, but they're using this kind of excuse."

"So you should think about what to do if your father comes here tomorrow and starts crying, making a scene, or threatening suicide. What if he scolds you for being unfilial?"

After saying this, Shi Shouxin blew out the oil lamp and went to sleep.

(End of this chapter)