Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 218 Taking the Table for the Feast (3)

In an ordinary courtyard in Yongnian Lane, Luoyang City.

The owner of this place, Jia Chong's ex-wife, Li, was looking with great interest at the tall and handsome Shi Shouxin, and the very slender, even somewhat thin, Wei Xiu beside him.

She was very familiar with this couple. Just a few months ago, these two had come to her door to invite her, and then they had gone to the Jia mansion together, sending Jia Bao off to the Prince of Jin's mansion for his wedding in a grand and lively manner. These events remained fresh in Li's memory.

"Young Master Shi, that old dog Jia Chong has already told me about that matter."

Li nodded at Shi Shouxin.

"I've come today simply to ask Madam Li if Xiu Niang can stay here for a few days."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Li Shi and said, without mentioning Jia Yu at all. At this moment, Jia Yu was indeed living in this courtyard, but he did not leave the side room, and perhaps he did not know that Shi Shouxin had come.

"We owe you a lot for what happened with Jia Bao last time, thanks to Xiu Niang. Since Young Master Shi has asked, you can stay here as long as you like."

Mrs. Li waved her hand gently, with a smile on her face.

"In that case, thank you, Madam Li. I have official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

Shi Shouxin bowed and took his leave decisively, turning around and leaving without any reluctance.

Li stepped forward gracefully and respectfully saw him out of the courtyard, her manners impeccable.

After Shi Shouxin left, a bewildered Wei Xiu looked at Li Shi helplessly and said, "This...that, what, how...how did it..."

She couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time, and was at a loss for what to do because of Shi Shouxin and Li Shi!
Where is Jia Yu? Where is Madam Zhong?

Let's meet up!

They never mention it no matter how hard we try!
At this moment, Wei Xiu was completely devastated.

She thought that Shi Shouxin had come to tell Li about Jia Yu becoming the concubine and then bring the matter to light.

As for Wei Xiu staying here, it's just a side job, like storing luggage. She's just a piece of luggage that can talk, eat, and sleep!
As it turned out, Shi Shouxin's statement about "letting her stay temporarily" really just meant letting Wei Xiu stay, and there were no other complications.

"Xiuniang, I'll have the servants arrange a side room for you."

Li looked at Wei Xiu and said calmly, neither arrogant nor obsequious, but with a polite and respectful but not friendly attitude.

Wei Xiu nodded blankly and followed a maid to the backyard.

After she left, Madam Li sighed and muttered to herself, "What an old dog! He wouldn't say it himself, but made me say it."

Somewhat helplessly, she turned and walked into a side room.

Li looked at Jia Yu, who was sitting at the table with his fingers intertwined and a nervous expression on his face, and couldn't help but laugh.

"Everyone's here, but you're hiding. How long can you hide?"

Li looked at Jia Yu and said sarcastically.

"Mother, what do you think?"

Jia Yu asked in a low voice, his face filled with anticipation.

"Sigh, I'm not good enough for her."

Mrs. Li shook her head and sighed, looking disappointed.

Jia Yu's face also showed disappointment, but he asked somewhat timidly, "I heard from my father that this Lord Shi holds a very high official position. Would it be inappropriate for me to refuse?"

"I meant you're not good enough for him, that's why I didn't bring it up."

If this guy were any less capable, I might have let you meet him today.

Li smiled bitterly, feeling helpless.

The young and handsome Jia Yu immediately beamed with joy, stepped forward, and hugged Li's arm, asking, "Mother, is what you say true? Is she really such a good person? So Father really is thinking of me!"

Looking at Jia Yu, whose mood had immediately changed, Li struggled to pull her arm out of his soft, thick "big white rabbit" breasts, but didn't know what to say.

"I hope it's a blessing. I'm just waiting for Mr. Shi to bring up the matter of taking you into his family."

There was no room for shirking responsibility. Shi Shouxin was already a close confidant of Sima You and the governor of Qingzhou; his future was limitless.

Li muttered to herself, a hint of worry and gloom flashing across her face. Of course, it wasn't because she was worried about Jia Yu's marriage.

With Jia Chong around, Lady Zhong is not someone who can be easily manipulated.

What worried her was that Shi Shouxin's attitude today was a bit off.

Under normal circumstances, even if Shi Shouxin were as thin-skinned as he is, he would have mentioned it today. Not to mention that Li Shi also brought up the matter of Jia Chong's letter, which already implied that the other party should speak first.

However, Shi Shouxin simply handed Wei Xiu over to Li.

This is very unusual.

Lady Li was the daughter of Li Feng, a woman from the top bureaucratic circle of Cao Wei. Her political acumen far surpassed that of the naive Jia Yu. Lady Li seemed to have sensed some unusual political trends.

For example, a change of dynasty is just around the corner!

"You shouldn't go out for the time being."

Li looked at Jia Yu and placed her under house arrest.

"I understand, Mother. By the way, when will Master Shi arrive? I must be able to meet him."

Jia Yu hugged Li Shi again and said coquettishly.

The younger generation in a family is always more likely to receive favoritism. Jia Yu was Li's youngest daughter, and her mother gave her more love than her eldest daughter, Jia Bao.

"Let's wait a while."

As Li stroked Jia Yu's smooth hair, her smile gradually faded, turning into sorrow.

Things are not that simple!
Jia Chong, you old dog, are you really working for the benefit of our daughter, or are you doing it for your own power?

Li asked herself this question quietly.

……

At the Silitai government office, Shi Shouxin met the assistant sent to him by Sima Zhao, who was also an old acquaintance: Shao Ti, the former West Cao Yuan of the General's Mansion!

During the campaign against Shu, he served as Sima Zhao's messenger, holding a position far superior to Shi Shouxin. However, now, as the military governor of Sili, the second-in-command, his status is actually lower than Shi Shouxin's.

"Commander Shi, the Prince of Jin has ordered me to assist you in your duties."

Shao Ti bowed respectfully to Shi Shouxin.

Shao Ti wouldn't take the other party's position as commander of the central army seriously, and even if Shi Shouxin wanted to use his military power, he wouldn't have the opportunity.

However, the position of Commandant of the Capital Region was one that Sima Zhao had specifically emphasized, instructing Shao Ti to do everything in his power to help Shi Shouxin.

"Commander Shao, could you bring here files from the last ten years?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Shao Ti and asked, without any formalities, adopting a businesslike attitude.

"Ten years?"

Shao Ti was taken aback; he couldn't quite figure out what Shi Shouxin was up to. Ten years' worth of case files—that would practically fill half the signing room!
Because many of the records were made on bamboo slips, they were quite large in size.

"Do you think this is inappropriate? Or do you think the Prince of Jin's important matter is unimportant?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Shao Ti and asked, his tone already somewhat cold.

"Please rest assured, Lieutenant Shi, I will take care of it immediately."

Shao Ti bowed respectfully and left the signing room without hesitation.

Soon, four or five minor officials from the Silitai (Imperial Censorate) brought bundles of files here.

There were bamboo slips, silk scrolls, and paper scrolls; the list alone was a thick stack of silk books!
While these people were moving things, Shi Shouxin casually examined the list, searching for one familiar or unfamiliar name after another. Shao Ti watched coldly from the side, without saying a word.

The case files were all brought over, and Shi Shouxin slowly reviewed them, not saying a word to Shao Ti for an hour or two.

For Shao Ti, time was passing agonizingly. Several times, he was about to ask, but the words caught in his throat.

Shao Ti knew what Sima Zhao desired, so he didn't want to do anything that might offend Sima Zhao at this time.

Only after the oil lamp was lit in the signing room did Shi Shouxin pick up his pen, spread out a large sheet of paper on the table, and begin to write something carefully, word by word.

It was finished in no time.

Shi Shouxin stood up, stretched, and then looked at Shao Ti, asking:
"I'm going to the Prince of Jin's residence now. You will wait here at the Silitai. No one is allowed to enter this room without my order. No one is allowed to touch or peek at anything inside without my permission."

You handle this matter, and if anything goes wrong, you'll be held solely responsible, okay? If there are problems, I'll hand it over to someone else.

Shi Shouxin looked at Shao Ti and asked, his voice carrying an air of authority without anger.

"A higher rank can crush a person, especially when it comes to changing dynasties!" Shao Ti bowed respectfully to Shi Shouxin again and said, "Please rest assured, Commandant Shi, if anything goes wrong, I will bring you my head."

"Okay, I'll go to Prince Jin's residence now."

Shi Shouxin walked straight out of the signing room, where the sky was already full of stars.

He arrived outside the Silitai government office and was just about to leave when he saw four men dressed in gray robes with swords at their waists come up to him and kneel down on one knee.

"This humble servant, Ma San, has been ordered by the Prince of Jin to obey Mr. Shi's orders. The four of us are responsible for protecting Mr. Shi's safety and preventing any villains from causing trouble."

One of the middle-aged men with a long face stepped forward and bowed. Their identities were obvious and needed no further explanation.

"Let's go to the Prince of Jin's residence."

Shi Shouxin gave a deep order and headed directly east. This place was very close to the Prince of Jin's residence, and they arrived in no time.

They entered the Prince of Jin's residence without hindrance and arrived at Sima Zhao's study. As expected, this powerful minister was not resting and was still working.

"You went to the Silitai to report on your duties, right? How did it go?"

Sima Zhao placed the brush in his hand on the brush holder and looked at Shi Shouxin to ask.

"Please take a look, Your Highness. This is my plan."

Shi Shouxin stepped forward, placed a plan he had written at the Silitai government office on the table, then took two steps back and stood straight without saying a word.

"Let me take a look first."

Sima Zhao nodded. He liked people like Shi Shouxin who were efficient and never played games.

Upon seeing Shi Shouxin's proposal, Sima Zhao's expression changed slightly, and he fell into deep thought. After reading it once, he repeatedly looked at it, his brows sometimes relaxing and sometimes furrowing.

"Tell me, what are your thoughts?"

Much later, Sima Zhao put the plan aside and asked.

"The officials in the imperial court are all people who crave stability."

Now that Cao Huan is the emperor, they enjoy high-ranking positions and generous salaries. When the Prince of Jin becomes emperor, they will likely continue to enjoy the same high-ranking positions and generous salaries.

"If I may be so bold as to suggest, then wouldn't the Prince of Jin have been emperor for nothing...?"

Shi Shouxin looked at Sima Zhao and spoke with unwavering conviction and firm gaze.

"That's the truth."

Sima Zhao nodded slightly. Although he did not praise Shi Shouxin verbally, he had already accepted Shi Shouxin's plan in his heart.

"Can you tell me who you plan to target first?"

Sima Zhao asked curiously, "In fact, many times, not expressing an opinion is itself a form of expression."

Seeing Sima Zhao ask this question, Shi Shouxin felt much more at ease!

He had even prepared his words of persuasion, but he didn't expect Sima Zhao to be so unpretentious.

Perhaps, after Sima Fu stepped forward and caused trouble, this person did become a little clear-headed and no longer had the illusion that "everyone should obey me unconditionally".

"The best candidate is none other than Wang Kai, the brother-in-law of the Prince of Jin."

Shi Shouxin offered a name that Sima Zhao had absolutely never considered before.

"Shi Gandang, are you trying to make fun of me?"

"I've entrusted you with such an important task; isn't it inappropriate for you to be so casual about it?"

Sima Zhao smiled bitterly, a hint of anger flashing across his face.

"Your Highness, this is the strategy by which Liu Bang enfeoffed Yong Chi."

If the brother-in-law of the Prince of Jin can be arrested, then there is no one in Luoyang who cannot be arrested.

As for why they arrested him, the current emperor is Cao Huan, and the country is the Great Wei. Who knows why they would do this?
Before the founding ceremony, the Prince of Jin need not answer this question; it is a matter of the previous dynasty. After the establishment of the nation, all that had happened before was the work of the brutal Cao Wei regime.

It has nothing to do with you.

"The Great Jin Dynasty has been established, and the Celestial Empire governs with grace. When the time comes, Your Majesty can simply restore order. If the ministers are dissatisfied, how about we tie up Cao Huan and give him a good beating to vent our anger?"

Shi Shouxin smiled, confident that Sima Zhao understood everything he was saying!

What should you do if your cat sleeps during the day and then keeps you awake at night?
Shi Shouxin's solution was: since we can't kill the cat, then we'll keep it from sleeping during the day, and when it gets tired at night, it'll fall asleep on its own.
Instead of worrying about losing sleep because of the ministers' antics during the founding ceremony, we should make sure they can't sleep now!
Instead of reflecting on your own actions, you should make trouble for others!
"Oh My God!"

Sima Zhao stood up and quickly pulled Shi Shouxin to sit down next to him, his face showing excitement.

"Tell me, how confident are you?"

Sima Zhao leaned closer and asked in a low voice.

"If the Prince of Jin is willing to relinquish power, then we are 100% certain. If the Prince of Jin is unwilling to relinquish power, then we are 50% certain."

Shi Shouxin made a confident and assured statement.

"Go for it! If we're going to capture Wang Kai, we can do it as early as tonight! But there are too many people and too many eyes in this prison, and I'm afraid there might be some unexpected complications..."

Sima Zhao hesitated slightly.

"Shi Chong wanted to build the Golden Valley Garden. I heard that he had already built many houses and farms there, which could be used as a prison."

Anyway, there's no fear of anyone escaping. With the elite guards watching over them, nothing will happen.

Shi Shouxin offered his advice.

"Then you shall take action tomorrow! Lead the men from the Silitai to arrest Wang Kai!"

As for the other matters, I'll handle them here!

Sima Zhao nodded slightly, his face showing excitement. For the sake of his grand ambition of changing the dynasty, he was willing to let his brother-in-law suffer a severe beating.

"Then I will return to the Silitai to make preparations."

Shi Shouxin bowed to Sima Zhao and then left the study.

He breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped outside.

Heh, you old bastards in Luoyang, are you ready for the storm?
At this moment, Shi Shouxin felt a surge of pride.

Although he won't get a promotion this time, he can still give those high-ranking officials and noble families in Luoyang a good beating!
That feels so good!

As Shi Shouxin left the Prince of Jin's residence, a small problem suddenly occurred to him: the political situation in Luoyang was currently calm, so what excuse could he use to get back at someone?
Things have to be done smoothly, without being undignified. Or, how about a grand affair like "The King and the Horse share the world"?

A wicked smile appeared on Shi Shouxin's face.

(End of this chapter)