Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 20 There are gods three feet above your head.

Mangshan Mountain, north of Luoyang, has been a tacitly accepted burial site for emperors and generals since the Han Dynasty. A few shovelfuls of dirt here could easily unearth the tomb of a king or nobleman from some dynasty.

Perhaps because they were too arrogant and committed many immoral acts during their lives, they feared their graves would be desecrated after death. Therefore, the tombs of Sima Yi and Sima Shi are extremely small, even smaller than those of some Han Dynasty kings and nobles.

The cemetery was small, with simple mounds of earth, lacking even the tombs commonly found among princes and nobles during the Tang Dynasty. It can be said that Sima Shi and his son were buried in a very simple manner.

Surprisingly, Sima Shi's tomb was overgrown with weeds and looked rather haphazardly maintained. In contrast, Sima Yi's tomb was kept very clean.

These little schemes are truly thought-provoking.

Shi Shouxin mentally criticized Sima Zhao, and roughly understood why such a thing had happened.

This general, in order to consolidate his power, was meticulous in everything he did, grabbing whatever he could get his hands on. His deliberate neglect of Sima Shi's tomb was also a way of hoping the world would forget that there was actually a struggle for direct line succession between the brothers!
Without the title of king, the succession of power always lacked a layer of legitimacy. The position of Grand General was appointed by Cao Wei; how could Sima Zhao pass it on to his heir apparent, Sima Yan?
Instead of Sima You, who was adopted by Sima Shi?
Sima Zhao had repeatedly stated that his rule was merely a temporary measure and that he would definitely return power to his elder brother's lineage in the future! His words still resonate, but the person involved has probably forgotten about them by now.

Therefore, for Sima Zhao, the matter of usurping the throne may not seem urgent on the surface, but in reality, it was already a matter of life and death.

Shi Shouxin was once again certain that Sima Zhao's determination to conquer Shu was exceptionally firm; even if he had only a 30% chance of success, he would still give it a try!
Yang Huiyu had a maid bring him pen and ink, and wrote the eulogy directly on a flat rock next to Sima Shi's tomb.

The brushstrokes are fluid and elegant! The handwriting is beautiful and graceful!

As he watched, a strange feeling suddenly arose in Shi Shouxin's mind.

The eulogy written by this "Lady Sima" made no mention of how much she missed her late husband or how loving they had been. Instead, she used her pen like a knife to meticulously record the "great achievements" of Sima Shi.

What about killing one's own wife for the greater good, sacrificing one's own happiness for the family and giving up marriage and love, suppressing the "rebel army" in Huainan, and slaughtering the "traitors" who sympathized with the Cao family, etc.

From the perspective of the Sima family members, these were undoubtedly achievements. But to outsiders, they were not achievements, but rather "evidence" of Sima Shi's ingratitude and perverse actions!
Yang Hu, who was standing to the side, also changed his expression slightly. He was about to step forward to stop Yang Huiyu, but then he stopped in his tracks.

Fine, let her vent if she wants to. Anyway, Sima Zhao won't interfere.

My older sister has suffered so much these past few years. Her life is almost devoid of other flavors, except for one word: bitterness, which she cannot erase. Even unrelated strangers can smell the bitterness emanating from her.

You know you can't say it, you want it but you have to endure it, and you can't talk back when someone criticizes you.

Who knows how much suffering she endured?
Yang Hu sighed softly and watched Yang Huiyu write the eulogy without saying a word.

After finishing the eulogy, Yang Huiyu seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, a smug smile spreading across her face, tinged with a mischievousness and an almost imperceptible cunning.

When Shi Shouxin saw this absurd scene, he even felt that the body inside the other person was not that of a mature and dignified widow from a noble family, but rather a mischievous little girl of eight or nine years old.

Then one day, the girl dealt with the vicious dog that often barked at her, hid in her own yard, and made a little face at the dog.

Sima Shi and his wife must have had a very bad relationship! It was like they were sworn enemies!

Shi Shouxin secretly laughed at Sima Shi for not knowing how to cherish women. This "Lady Sima" was stunningly beautiful and didn't look old at all. In her youth, she must have been incredibly charming.

“I want to talk to my late husband. Why don’t you all go sit in the pavilion over there?”

Yang Huiyu pointed to a pavilion not far away where people could rest while sweeping tombs. Yang Hu gave Shi Shouxin a wink, and the two bowed to Yang Huiyu before taking their leave.

When no one was around, Yang Huiyu slowly walked to the tombstone and gently stroked it with one hand.

"Before you poisoned Xiahou Hui (Sima Shi's first wife), she had long anticipated that this day would come. She mentioned it to me, but she just didn't believe you would really do it. She was too foolish, or maybe you were just too good at pretending before."

"You're really ruthless. She bore you five daughters, and you just killed them like that? You didn't hesitate at all!"

Yang Huiyu paced back and forth in front of the tombstone, as if she were talking to someone.

"Not only do I know about this, but Wang Yuanji (Sima Zhao's wife, who had a very good relationship with Sima Zhao) also knows about it. Her mother, Lady Yang, was a member of my clan. We have always been very close. We had a good relationship even before she married Sima Zhao."

After I married you, Wang Yuanji once reminded me that you were ruthless, cold-hearted, and more terrifying than a poisonous snake, and that I must be careful and cautious in my words and deeds.

Actually, I've always felt that although the general has a terrible reputation, when it comes to ruthlessness, he's not even worthy of carrying your shoes.

Yang Huiyu spoke in a detached tone, not at all like she was speaking to her husband.

"My life is ruined by you. Do you know how I've survived all these years?"

Do you think I'll forgive you if you die? No way! I will never forgive you!

I'm not here today to complain to you; I just want to tell you something.

Her tone was laced with resentment. Yang Huiyu leaned close to the tombstone, lowered her voice, and continued with a smile:

"Let me tell you a secret! That night I felt like I was floating on clouds, about to become an immortal! It was so exhilarating, especially being able to humiliate you, it made me tremble with excitement."

Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

Sima Shi, you hypocrite! You executioner!

You know, I could have resisted back then, but I didn't. I chose to lie down and enjoy it, only regretting that the night was too short.

Do you understand how utterly shameless and promiscuous your supposedly virtuous and kind wife is in the eyes of others, especially in bed with that other man? She's still not ashamed at all; on the contrary, she's proud of it! She has absolutely no regrets!

Are you angry? Do you want to come back as a vengeful ghost tonight and seek revenge? Then come on then!

If you dare to come, all the wronged souls you slaughtered will stand behind me. They have a lot to settle with you!
I'm waiting for you!

Yang Huiyu laughed wildly, cursing and gesturing wildly until tears streamed down her face.

No matter how she vented, she couldn't erase the resentment in her heart, but it did give her a taste of the thrill of revenge.

After dancing around Sima Shi's grave for a while, Yang Huiyu composed herself and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the tears on her cheeks.

The madness on her face vanished, and she regained her dignified and beautiful appearance, exuding a noble and aloof air, looking dignified and unapproachable.

Yang Hu and Shi Shouxin, who were in a distance, were not in the mood to talk. They just watched as Yang Huiyu muttered incessantly in front of Sima Shi's tomb, as if he had gone crazy.

"Master Yang, your sister may be overly grief-stricken. Wouldn't it be better to have her examined by a physician in Luoyang?"

Shi Shouxin, looking troubled, suggested that as an outsider he shouldn't speak, but he felt that this "Madam Sima" was not in a very good mental state.

Simply put, he's somewhat like a mental patient.

"Uh, no need for that, let's go take a look."

Yang Hu smiled bitterly, saying that there were many things he couldn't tell Shi Shouxin. If one didn't know those unspeakable past events, one naturally couldn't understand why Yang Huiyu had gone mad.

The two men stepped forward. Yang Huiyu did not look at Yang Hu, but instead looked Shi Shouxin up and down.

It made someone's skin crawl.

"Shi Gandang, I remember you! Aren't you the swordsman who guarded the emperor's carriage back then?"

Yang Huiyu asked in a cold tone, her malice barely concealed.

Yang Hu's expression changed drastically, and he felt a chill run down his spine, realizing something was wrong.

Yang Huiyu, the elder sister, deeply resented Sima Shi, but she harbored no hatred towards Sima Zhao. On the contrary, Yang Huiyu was grateful for Sima Zhao's secret favors over the years.

Yang Huiyu's adopted son was Sima You, the second son of Sima Zhao, and also Wang Yuanji's child.

Shi Shouxin once severely criticized Sima Zhao!
"It is indeed I, Madam. You flatter me."

Shi Shouxin bowed and spoke, his heart filled with unease. He knew, of course, that the "Lady Sima" before him must have a good relationship with Sima Zhao. And what he had done back then, to put it bluntly, was a slap in the face to Sima Zhao.

He should thank Sima Zhao for sparing his life!
“Uncle, wait over there. I have some questions for this Shi Gandang about the past.”

Yang Huiyu said with a stern face, her expression somewhat gloomy.

Yang Hu wanted to refuse, after all, Shi Shouxin was his friend, and he had put aside his official duties to come here to help today. He shouldn't let his friend make a fool of himself.

But Shi Shouxin shook his head at him.

"Then, sister, to make a long story short, I must go to Hedong on official business and must leave today."

Yang Hu offered a reminder, then stepped back to a distance and averted his gaze.

After Yang Hu had retreated some distance, Yang Huiyu pointed to Sima Shi's tombstone, looked into Shi Shouxin's eyes, and asked, "What's your opinion of this person?"

As she asked the question, she secretly glanced at Shi Shouxin's tall and straight figure, secretly pleased with him, but she didn't show it on her face at all.

Huh? What, how do you explain this? This is your husband!
Shi Shouxin never expected that Yang Huiyu would ask this question.

Fortunately, Shi Shouxin didn't understand why Yang Huiyu would ask such a question, but he did know how to answer it.

He was about to speak when Yang Huiyu sharply reminded him, "There are gods watching over you! Think carefully before you speak! Don't try to brush me off with nice words!"

What's wrong with you?

Yang Huiyu's sudden self-centeredness left Shi Shouxin feeling bewildered, but he was still worried that Yang Huiyu might be a threat to him.

Shi Shouxin is no longer alone; he has a loving wife and two children. Yang Huiyu's identity, if she were to slightly suppress him, could trigger a chain reaction.

Who knows how much trouble that will cause? It's completely unnecessary to get into a fight with a woman out of spite.

He pondered for a moment, considering Yang Huiyu's various behaviors before and after, and then mustered his courage to say:

"Nothing in the world is more poisonous than Gu."

What is Gu? A worm in a dish is called Gu.

In this small world where the sky is round and the earth is square, all kinds of poisonous insects and snakes can only feed on each other: the big eat the small, the poisonous eat the tender, and the strong eat the weak.

The one who emerges victorious is the Gu.

It combines the strengths of many schools of thought with their wickedness, making it extremely ruthless.

When the lady asked Mr. Shi what he thought of Sima Shi, Mr. Shi could only say that he was a living Gu poison.

He is the most ruthless, the most vicious, the most cunning, the most cold-blooded, ruthless, and has no bottom line in his actions.

The Grand General is now in power only because Sima Shi is too defiant of Heaven, and Heaven had no choice but to take him down. If Heaven hadn't taken him down, the Grand General would never have had a chance to speak.

I, Shi, do not know how Madam felt back then, or perhaps she had her own thoughts. But death absolves all debts, and to speak of such things at Sima Shi's grave is rather offensive. This is merely a jest of mine; Madam, please take it with a grain of salt.”

Shi Shouxin commented slowly, feeling that his assessment was fairly fair, even though the Sima family wouldn't listen.

Yang Huiyu remained silent, even unsmiling, which made the atmosphere on the scene heavy.

"Ugh!"

With a long sigh, Yang Huiyu stroked the tombstone and said, "Have you heard what others say about you? You did so many bad things in your life, and now what good has come of it?"

It was rare to hear someone speak the truth, so Yang Huiyu glanced at Shi Shouxin and nodded in agreement.

Actually, before that affair happened, although she harbored resentment, she simply didn't want to cause any trouble.

Remarriage is impossible, and no one would dare to take her in.

She couldn't bear the humiliation of having male lovers, and no one dared to sleep with her either.

Exposing Sima Shi's disgraceful behavior to outsiders is not only unnecessary, but also very dangerous.

Yang Huiyu treated her adopted son Sima You as her own son, selectively forgetting those past events. She let time gradually dilute her hatred, allowing her life to "achieve its full potential."

Yang Huiyu has been acting all along, and after many years, she no longer knows whether her words and actions are her true feelings or a mask of pretense. Since she's been acting for so long, she might as well keep acting.

That's what Yang Huiyu thought in the past.

As a result, that night, she was completely overwhelmed by the man in front of her.

Even if it's self-deception, those things still happened.

She couldn't deceive herself; many of her feelings were genuine, direct, and something she had to face!
There was no longer any so-called merit; she was merely an old maid who had tasted the sweetness of love and experienced the wonders of intimacy. She was no longer a sacred noblewoman, nor the widow of Sima Shi, but simply an ordinary woman.

A poor man.

So the hatred that had accumulated over so many years could no longer be suppressed, and it burst forth from her body, causing her to lose control and go mad.

Yang Huiyu took out a milky white mutton fat jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Shi Shouxin, saying, "To accompany the emperor to his death is to be loyal to the country. How can you not be rewarded? This jade is for you."

Shi Shouxin didn't want to accept it, but Yang Huiyu said angrily, "This was part of my dowry back then, and I've cherished it close to my body for many years. If you don't accept it, I'll really get angry!"

At this moment, she even had a bit of a girlish demeanor on her face.

Shi Shouxin had no choice but to carefully place the jade pendant close to his body and bow in greeting. He couldn't understand why Yang Hu's sister valued him so much; to say that this woman had taken a liking to him... he wasn't that narcissistic.

Seeing that Shi Shouxin had accepted the gift, Yang Huiyu's anger turned to joy. She said calmly, "This matter must not be mentioned to anyone else, including your uncle!"

"Please rest assured, madam."

Shi Shouxin immediately patted his chest and made a solemn promise.

"You can call me Huiyu from now on, or you can call me Lady Yu."

You absolutely must not call me "Madam," I never want to hear those two words again! No matter the occasion!

Yang Huiyu gave a very serious warning.

Shi Shouxin nodded, thinking to himself: This Yang family girl must hate Sima Shi to the core, otherwise she really wouldn't have done such a thing.

Soon, Yang Hu walked over from a distance. He didn't see clearly the jade pendant that Yang Huiyu gave as part of her dowry, but he could sense that there was something amiss between his elder sister and Shi Shouxin.

There was a strange...sense of tension.

"Go to Hedong, we don't need you here anymore."

Yang Huiyu coldly instructed Shi Shouxin that after he left, Sima Shi's second wife got into the carriage with Yang Hu and did not travel with Shi Shouxin.

After holding back for a long time, Yang Hu finally asked cautiously, "What does elder sister think of Shi Shouxin?"

"It doesn't matter, I don't care what kind of person he is."

Yang Huiyu said this with a lie, but in her heart she was thinking about how to get to know Shi Shouxin better in the future.

(End of this chapter)