Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 12 Prologue 12 Each Gets What They Deserve (Part 2)

Shi Chong was not mistreated at all, and after a series of power struggles, he finally returned home happily and was treated like a hero.

Shi Bao held a grand banquet at his residence, inviting many people from the general's mansion to welcome Shi Chong. This high-profile event was exactly what Sima Zhao wanted to see, in order to mitigate the negative impact of his regicide.

People like Jia Chong, Ruan Ji, and Zhong Hui all showed him great respect, and when they arrived, they "carried his sedan chair."

One of the guests, Minister Pei Xiu, was known to outsiders for his expertise in physiognomy. He even predicted that Shi Chong would surely "become rich and noble" in the future, with unlimited potential.

Amidst the excessive praise from this group, Li Yin, who has always disliked socializing, was absent due to his reclusive nature. It is said that he played a significant role behind the scenes in the power struggle that led to Shi Chong's release.

Li Yin did not attend the banquet at the Shi residence. It was unclear whether it was because he disapproved of the Heavenly Dragons praising each other or because he disliked getting involved in trouble.

It was already past midnight when the guests left.

Shi Chong, however, didn't drink much. He went directly to Shi Bao's study for a private discussion. Shi Chong's current status and demonstrated abilities were sufficient for him to participate in the core secrets of the family.

"The matter of Shi Gandang is now being handled entirely by Yang Hu, and we are not allowed to interfere."

I heard that someone values ​​the imperial decree bestowing marriage upon him by the Duke of Gaogui Township and wants to bring about this marriage.

I estimate that he is out of danger and will have no difficulty winning the heart of the beauty, but if he thinks he can use this to rise to prominence, that's pure fantasy.

With Jia Chong and the Grand General around, they're bound to suppress him for life.

Shi Bao sighed.

This adopted son will definitely remain an adopted son. However, it will probably be difficult to control him as a "retainer" as before.

In other words, Shi Gandang can help the Shi family in the future, but it is no longer a matter of course for him to do things for the Shi family unconditionally.

Moreover, Shi Gandang had been the one running around taking care of everything this time, and Shi Chong had even picked the peaches, which meant that the debt of gratitude for saving his life had already been repaid. From now on, they would have to settle the score for future interactions.

The two sides simply still have a godfather-godson relationship.

Therefore, whether Shi Gandang could become Shi Chong's advisor depended on his own wishes and Yang Hu's plans.

"By the way, Shi Gandang's wife is the one from the Li family..."

Shi Chong asked, somewhat incredulously. The Li family's wife was breathtakingly beautiful; how could Shi Gandang have managed to win her over?

"You're right, it's that one. Li Yin has already made it clear that the marriage is still a done deal."

Shi Bao said with emotion.

Shi Gandang is really lucky; this marriage is practically a windfall.

"How did he do it? Even if that young lady is in love with him, Li Yin is not someone to be trifled with. How did he manage to do it?"

Shi Chong looked utterly incredulous. He was trying to steal a woman from Sima Yan! How could he possibly explain such an act?

He couldn't understand it, nor could he comment on it. He could only say that everyone has their own aspirations, and as long as they're happy, that's all that matters.

"Where there's a will, there's a way."

Shi Gandang was willing to risk his life for this marriage certificate, so even if Li Yin were a stone, he should be moved, let alone that young lady.

If you were to risk your life for a woman in the future, she would follow you without hesitation.

Shi Bao sighed and said that it was not that he could not understand the Li family's thoughts.

Cao Mao's imperial edict of marriage circulated within a very small circle. Although it affected only a few people, those affected were all highly influential.

For example, Li Yin, and Empress Dowager Guo.

For example... Sima Yan.

It's definitely not a pleasant feeling to have your favorite luxury bicycle forcibly locked up and taken home.

It's quite frustrating.

Sima Yan only wanted to ride it for fun, but someone else bought it with money and wouldn't allow anyone else to touch it.

In this situation, it was rare for Sima Yan to be unable to utilize his "money power".

If he were willing to fight with all his might, he would naturally win. Who could win against Sima Yan when it came to winning a wife?

However, if he only wanted to play around, then it was definitely a lost cause. Li Wan's background wouldn't allow Sima Yan to cause any trouble.

If Sima Yan were to divorce his principal wife, Lady Yang, and marry Li Wan, he could indeed bring the beauty home, but he would likely lose his position as heir apparent, which he was naturally reluctant to do.

When you become emperor, wouldn't it be great to build a harem that can hold five thousand beautiful women? Why ruin your future for a woman?
Shi Chong instantly sensed Sima Yan's helplessness.

"The world has truly changed. Even the emperor can be killed in the street by powerful ministers. Will the instigator of this have no descendants?"

Shi Gandang is right; the Sima family's reign is unlikely to last long.

Shi Bao sighed, his face full of regret.

To be fair, Sima Yi might be seen by many as heartless and ungrateful, but Shi Bao cannot be said to be like that, because Sima Yi was the great benefactor who promoted Shi Bao.

“Father, while I was in the prison in the Yeting Palace, I thought about this carefully. A thought suddenly struck me, and I realized that there is something that is actually quite interesting.”

A mysterious smile appeared on Shi Chong's face. He walked over and sat down next to Shi Bao, seemingly wanting to show off to him.

"Sit down and let's talk in detail."

Shi Bao pointed to the soft cushion beside him, in high spirits. This encounter had brought the father and son even closer; their teamwork this time was truly perfect.

A strange light flashed in Shi Chong's eyes as he whispered in Shi Bao's ear:

"Father, it doesn't really matter who becomes emperor in the future. As long as they are on friendly terms with us, we won't object!"

If we are strong enough and have a wide enough network of connections, we can unite with other families to control the government.

It doesn't matter if the emperor is still a member of the Sima clan, or even if some member of the imperial clan holds power, but we can decide how the government should be governed.

And...who can become an official.

If we nod, those who want to be officials can rise; if we shake our heads, they will fall.

Our words carry more weight than the emperor's, so why should we fight for that position?

Why should we follow Sima Zhao's example and usurp the throne? Why should we become power-hungry ministers who create trouble for no reason?

They've made Luoyang a mess!
As long as we have many important positions in the court, as long as scholars write poems praising us, as long as the generals of the imperial guards are our friends, have marriage ties with us, or are even members of our families.

So let whoever wants to be emperor be emperor.

We hide behind them, have food and games, get promoted and make money while lying down, and live life to the fullest as we please. Isn't that wonderful?

We are not just the Shi family, but perhaps also the Jia family, the Li family, the Xun family, the Chen family, and so on.

"As long as we are united, what can the emperor do to us?"

This! Is this something a subject should say?
Shi Bao stared wide-eyed at Shi Chong in disbelief, wondering if his young son had had his brain replaced.

"Are you plotting a rebellion?"

Shi Bao retorted, his tone unfriendly.

“Father, how can you say that your son is plotting rebellion?”

I am not a newcomer to serve the Emperor; I am the most loyal of all!

I have never had any intention of usurping the throne, and I have never had any interest in the position of emperor. I wouldn't even take it if it were given to me!

I only want the common people and servants to work in front, while the emperor and officials reap the harvest for us, and we, the sons of noble families, can just sit at home and wait for them to bring us the spoils, taking the largest share.

This government office belongs to the Sima family, but the people who control it behind the scenes belong to our family, as well as many other like-minded aristocratic families.

The Shi family alone certainly couldn't do it, but as long as we unite, support and flatter each other, we can divide up the official positions in the court and let our family members rise through the ranks with their eyes closed.

How is this treason?
How could the child's idea be wrong?

"Every man for himself, or heaven and earth will punish him. I didn't mean to overthrow the Sima family!"

Shi Chong spoke arrogantly about his "fallacies and heresies," which sent chills down the spine of Shi Bao, who was listening quietly to him.

"You're right, it's just that my thinking is out of touch with the times."

After a long silence, Shi Bao sighed, a desolate smile on his face, tinged with bitterness and helplessness, but he did not rebuke Shi Chong. Because Shi Chong was absolutely right.

Every word is true; this is very likely what the world will be like in the future.

Especially after the Sima clan murdered the emperor in the street, they had to share a lot of power with their supporters who were also from aristocratic families.

In exchange for these people working in officialdom and implementing the national policies they set.

If this trend continues, the future will be exactly the world that Shi Chong just described.

It must be said that Shi Chong gained a great deal by personally entering the game and acquiring fame.

His personal experience of life and death made him realize the helplessness and limitations of being the emperor.

Afterwards, Sima Zhao was pressured by members of powerful families, which resulted in Shi Chong getting out of prison without losing a single hair on Sima Zhao's head.

This made Shi Chong realize the infinite fun of the aristocratic games and the powerful strength of aristocratic families sticking together!
That's right, they are very strong when they unite, while the Sima clan, which has lost the support of the people, is the weak one!

In fact, a dark seed has been planted in the heart of every member of the aristocratic family, waiting for the right time to take root, sprout, and grow into a demonic tree that can cover the sky and block out the sun!

At this moment, Shi Bao felt immense panic and helplessness. He knew that he himself had unknowingly become one of these people!
Even if he doesn't play this game, there are plenty of aristocratic scions who would want to!

Shi Bao glanced at Shi Chong and felt that there was an indescribable eeriness and evil about that handsome face.

Familiar yet unfamiliar.

……

In a prison within the Yeting Palace, Yang Hu handed him a bamboo slip containing Shi Gandang's household registration information. It showed that Shi Gandang was no longer a "retainer" belonging to the Shi clan, but a small, self-sufficient landowner with one hundred acres of land outside Luoyang.

There are still a few tenant farmers on the farm.

"You, you, I don't know what to say to you. It is only natural for a man to make achievements and establish a career, but I have never seen anyone risk their life for a woman before. It is not worth it at all."

Yang Hu teased Shi Gandang, who was lying face down on a bamboo bed, his buttocks bruised and battered, the injuries looking horribly gruesome.

But actually no bones were broken, it just looked scary.

"Thank you, Lord Yang, for showing mercy..."

Shi Gandang said weakly, having no strength left in his body.

"You should thank me, but there's a proper way to do military beatings. It's not about how many blows you get."

If you want to kill someone, you can kill them with just one stroke of the military rod.

If the intention is merely to give a minor punishment as a warning, then even a hundred lashes would only require ten days of rest before the person is able to walk again.

Which type do you think you are?

Yang Hu laughed.

He was a very talkative man and greatly admired Shi Gandang. Take, for example, the phrase "Today is the day to uphold righteousness and die for justice"—not just anyone could utter that.

"Well, let me be frank with you. You've offended the Sima clan. If you're not very capable, you'll only be able to work as a scribe copying documents and drawing maps under my jurisdiction."

I am the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, and you are my subordinate. Unfortunately, you have no rank or grade and are not part of the imperial staff. I am the one who pays your salary and you work in the Imperial Household Department.

You should be grateful you can still write and have received an education; otherwise, no matter how many lives you had, you wouldn't have been able to keep up with all that trouble.

Yang Hu spoke at length, but the core meaning was actually only one thing: I didn't save you for nothing; I expect you to be my helper.

"Thank you for your appreciation, Lord Yang. I will certainly do my job diligently, but only after I am released from prison."

Shi Gandang said slowly, as he was exhausted from talking.

"Okay, then take good care of your injury."

Yang Hu nodded, got up and left.

Shi Gandang sighed, his buttocks hurting so much he almost fainted.

Jia Chong is right. Coming here, you'll be lucky to escape with your life. I wonder if Shi Chong will suffer in there. Probably not.

After all, they are Celestial Dragons.

Suddenly, Shi Gandang realized that someone was taking off his pants!
Just as he was about to turn over, he suddenly heard the person in his blind spot warn him in a clear and cheerful voice, "Don't move, I'm here to apply medicine for you!"

It was Li Wan!
"Why are you here? Ouch... Be gentle."

When his wound was touched, Shi Gandang winced in pain and couldn't help but complain.

"Sorry, sorry, this is my first time, I'm not very good at it yet. Just bear with me, you'll get better later."

Li Wan applied the ointment to Shi Gandang's buttocks, laughing as she did so.

Are you embarrassed? No, no need.

"I am your wife, a marriage ordained by the Emperor. Don't be shy."

Li Wan laughed so hard she nearly fell over, but her hand trembled and touched Shi Gandang's wound, causing him to break out in a cold sweat from the pain.

"Don't scold me! Don't scold me! I'll apply the medicine to you properly right now!"

Li Wan realized she had gone too far and quickly apologized before carefully applying the medicine to Shi Gandang. After applying the medicine, both of them were covered in sweat.

One was the pain, and the other was the extreme tension.

"Next time, let's have someone else do it..."

Shi Gandang glanced at Li Wan and smiled helplessly.

"How can that be? I am your lawfully wedded wife, the one whom the Emperor bestowed upon us."

"My lord is ill, and it is only natural for me to apply medicine to you."

Li Wan reminded him with a hint of smugness, and then reminded him again, fearing that Shi Gandang might not remember.

Shi Gandang thought for a moment and sighed. After all, this girl comes from an official family. To have achieved this much is already extremely rare. There's no point in complaining.

Even the poorest official's daughter wouldn't be capable of performing tasks like applying wound medicine. Li Wan, however, didn't hesitate to visit him in prison and personally apply the medicine; this woman is truly kind.

"Thank you. I feel much better."

Shi Gandang looked at Li Wan with sincere eyes. Li Wan, who had been laughing non-stop just moments before, immediately blushed and couldn't speak.

However, she quickly found a topic to discuss and couldn't help but complain:
"Ah Lang, you don't know yet, but all the things you did were taken by Shi Chong."

No, no, that's not right.

I've heard many people say that Shi Chong was brave and fearless, full of wisdom, and had a deep mutual respect with the emperor. But I heard from my father that those things were actually done by you. It's just that those words you shouted in public, and that poem, have all been attributed to Shi Chong.

The stories those scions of noble families are hearing now don't even mention you; it was all planned and carried out by Shi Chong.

Shi Chong is now enjoying both fame and fortune, and is known for his loyalty and filial piety. He has also become the magistrate of Xiuwu County. In a few years, he will be promoted to a higher position, and his future is limitless.

As a result, you got a beating, your buttocks were bruised and battered, and you lay in prison like a dead fish.

Sigh, you're making me want to cry.

As Li Wan spoke, she shook her head and sighed, seemingly believing that Shi Gandang had suffered a huge loss this time!

Shi Gandang suffered a loss, which meant Li Wan suffered a loss!

It's so infuriating!

Li Wan couldn't help but curse the Shi family in her heart for their shamelessness. The reputation Shi Gandang had earned through risking his life had been stolen just like that!

"If I don't take this chance, how can I marry you?"

Why bother saying all that? I don't care, and you don't need to care either.

Shi Gandang spoke of it casually.

"You idiot, if you want to marry me, come to my door more often! I never said I wouldn't marry you, why are you playing with fire!"

Li Wan grasped Shi Gandang's large hand, lowered her head, wept, and choked back tears as she complained.

(End of this chapter)