Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 18 No Need to Mention the Past

The room was pitch black, filled with the smells of alcohol, sweat, and other strange, unidentified odors.

After drinking and engaging in sexual activity with "Li Wan" several times, Shi Shouxin was so exhausted that he fell into a deep sleep.

However, the woman lying next to him was not Li Wan, whom he thought was asleep.

In the dim light streaming through the window, the silhouette of a slender and graceful figure was visible.

The woman sighed deeply, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She got out of bed and went to the table, where she lit the oil lamp with a tinderbox. Then she held the lamp and went to the bedside, looking at Shi Shouxin's face.

He possessed a rugged yet handsome appearance, and was remarkably young. His muscles, honed through two years of dedicated training, were sharply defined and exuded a masculine beauty.

She has a slender figure, but is not thin.

She breathed a huge sigh of relief, a blush creeping onto her face, and all her worries vanished.

She gazed at Shi Shouxin, who lay on the bed, still hungover, and couldn't help but smile. The smile carried a hint of sweetness, and her usually cool face suddenly softened under the oil lamplight, becoming as beautiful as a blooming orchid.

She fell asleep at night without locking the door, and the brute pounced on her and kissed her without saying a word. She didn't even have a chance to speak before he kept kissing her... and she couldn't help but start kissing him back.

The woman dressed and fled the room as if escaping, glancing at the small room by the door as she did so.

Sure enough, the personal maid who should have been on duty here was fast asleep in bed! This type of building structure, with rooms of different sizes, was specifically designed to house the personal servants of nobles.

Unexpectedly, someone took advantage of the loophole.

She went into the small room and saw that damned little maid fast asleep on the bed, drooling and grinning foolishly.

The woman was both angry and amused.

"Get up quickly, we're going to the General's Mansion now."

She shook the maid awake and whispered the instructions.

The maid woke up to find the surroundings barely bright, the sky already faintly white, and she could see human figures.

"Madam, isn't it too early to set off now?"

"It's too early! Quickly tell the driver to set off!"

The woman, addressed as "Madam," reprimanded her in a low voice. However, when the maid got up, the Madam made her help herself, which she found very strange.

Because the lady's health is not bad, in fact, it can be said to be very good. She absolutely does not need anyone to help her walk.

The maid didn't think too much about it. After the group got into the carriage, they headed towards the General's Mansion.

Soon, the lady was sitting opposite this powerful minister of Wei in Sima Zhao's study.

Sima Zhao looked at the woman in front of him, whose face was filled with an indescribable languor and fragility, revealing a hint of allure and a distinctly feminine charm.

A ripple of emotion stirred within him, and a flicker of greed flashed in his eyes. He quickly suppressed his desire, no longer wanting to delve into these trivial matters.

Sima Zhao bowed to the woman and said, "Sister-in-law, when did you arrive in Luoyang? It's so early in the morning, why don't you rest a little longer?"

It turns out that this woman was Sima Zhao's sister-in-law, Sima Shi's third wife, and Yang Hu's older sister, Yang Huiyu!

"I just went to see my uncle (Yang Hu's courtesy name), but he wasn't at home. He's probably on night duty at the yamen. I had nothing to do, so I came here to chat with the General."

Yang Huiyu smiled, her appearance not only dignified, but also exuding a mature and confident beauty.

Sima Zhao suddenly felt that his elder brother Sima Shi was really wasting his talents, but his brother had been dead for many years, and there was no point in talking about it, so he decided not to mention it.

Damn it, someone this pretty would be my concubine, why is she keeping herself alone?

Sima Zhao cursed inwardly.

"Please speak, sister-in-law."

Sima Zhao suppressed his distracting thoughts and spoke solemnly.

He held Yang Huiyu in high esteem, the reasons for which are difficult to explain in a few words, and this was one of the reasons he valued Yang Hu. Frankly speaking, Sima Zhao treated the Yang family much better than Sima Shi did.

"I have heard that the General intends to attack Shu. There is much discussion in the streets, but I do not know if it is true or not."

Yang Huiyu asked softly, her expression calm.

Sima Zhao nodded, without denying it.

"My uncle longs to be sent to a distant post and make contributions on the frontier; it has always been his unfulfilled wish. I wonder if, if the General were to launch a campaign against Shu, my uncle could also participate?"

Yang Huiyu laid out her ultimate goal, no longer beating around the bush. Everything was for Yang Hu; she sought nothing else.

Her life had been too bitter, and her only remaining thought was of her younger brother, Yang Hu; nothing else was worth her lingering affection.

Calling Yang Huiyu a "brother-supporting demon" is not an exaggeration.

Of course, Yang Hu was aware that Sima Zhao harbored some feelings for his young widowed sister-in-law. She used this ambiguous relationship to help Yang Hu advance in his official career.

If someone calls her a scheming bitch, she won't talk back; she's just a "scheming bitch" who only cares about her younger brother.

"Sister-in-law, let me just say it directly."

This campaign against Shu is extremely dangerous, and there is no guarantee of success.

There is much discussion in the court now, and no decision has been made yet.

If the opportunity were truly presented, I would certainly send my uncle to serve in the army that was conquering Shu.

However, it's too early to say for sure; it depends on the situation.

Sima Zhao politely declined Yang Huiyu's offer.

Upon hearing this, Yang Huiyu looked disappointed and nodded, no longer pleading.

Repeating something three times makes it as bland as water; as long as the meaning is conveyed, that's enough. Sima Zhao will not agree to something no matter how much you beg.

She stood up, bowed to Sima Zhao, and said, "In that case, I will return to my uncle's house for the time being. If the General has any orders, please send someone to inform me."

"I'll see my sister-in-law off."

Sima Zhao stood up, only to find that Yang Huiyu's walking posture was very strange. Not only was she walking cautiously, but she also seemed to be... limping and unsteady.

"Is my sister-in-law unwell? Does she need the imperial physician's treatment?"

Sima Zhao asked with concern and immediately stepped forward to hold her in his arms and support her.

Yang Huiyu's expression stiffened for a moment, then he raised his hand to stop Sima Zhao from stepping forward, coughed lightly and chuckled dryly, "It's just a journey, nothing serious, General, please don't worry."

She then turned and left the General's Mansion. Yang Huiyu ordered the coachman to drive the carriage outside the city. After circling around for a long time, past noon, she figured the man she had slept with the night before should have left by now. Only then did she arrive at Yang Hu's house.

At this moment, Yang Hu also returned. He looked like he had been drinking all night and was already fast asleep in his bedroom.

Yang Huiyu was only one year older than Yang Hu, but as the eldest sister, she was like a mother to him. Seeing Yang Hu like this, Yang Huiyu didn't want to wake him up, so she could only sit alone in the main room and doze off.

As soon as I closed my eyes, all I could think about was lovemaking.

They were all messy, disgusting, and embarrassing scenes that made people blush.

She savored the events of the previous night, the passion and impulse, the indulgence and pleasure—something she had never experienced before.

My mind wandered aimlessly, my body felt weak, and drowsiness kept creeping in.

Yang Huiyu had mixed feelings about this incident. However, she felt no hatred; in fact, she was somewhat grateful to the impulsive man.

Although Yang Huiyu's mind went blank from the kiss, she still had the ability to resist.

She only started cooperating with that young and unfamiliar man because of some unspeakable reasons.

She dozed off for a whole day. When Yang Huiyu woke up, she saw Yang Hu silently reading a book by her side, with a pile of bamboo slips already stacked on the table.

It was obvious that they had been waiting for a long time.

The siblings shared a deep bond, and Yang Hu, seeing how hard Yang Huiyu was working, couldn't bear to wake her.

"Sigh, I'm getting old. Once I fall asleep, I can't wake up."

Yang Huiyu opened her eyes and sighed, muttering to herself in an ominous tone.

Yang Hu glanced at her and smiled, "Sister, you are still as dignified and beautiful as ever. How can you say you've aged?"

"Alright, let's get down to business. Today I went to the General's mansion and discussed the expedition against Shu with the General."

Yang Huiyu was only halfway through her sentence when she saw Yang Hu looking at her expectantly.

She shook her head helplessly and said, "Judging from the General's words, it's not the right time to attack Shu yet. The General is still hesitant. I feel there are quite a few risks involved, so it's better if you don't get involved rashly." "To get rid of the influence of the Duke of Gaogui's affair, the General is eager to attack Shu, and it's only a matter of time."

Yang Hu said in a deep voice, he was very confident and believed that his strategic vision could not be wrong.

While the imperial court didn't say it aloud, it was secretly making solid logistical preparations for the campaign against Shu. As the saying goes, "an army marches on its stomach," and now that the supplies were already in place, how far could the arrival of the army be?

"The general is soft-hearted and may not let you participate in the campaign against Shu. Forget about it."

Yang Huiyu offered her advice, her tone already somewhat stern.

This was the first time Yang Hu had heard someone say that Sima Zhao was "soft-hearted".

He looked incredulous, opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Sima Zhao's intentions are obvious to everyone, so let's not dwell on it. Isn't it crystal clear what kind of person Sima Zhao is?
No one knows a younger brother better than his older sister. Just by looking at Yang Hu's expression, Yang Huiyu knew what her younger brother was thinking.

She couldn't help but sigh, and then she recalled many unbearable memories. The more she thought about it, the sadder she became, and finally she covered her face and burst into tears!
When Yang Hu saw his sister crying, he was so frightened that he didn't know what to do. He quickly comforted Yang Huiyu and blamed himself, saying, "I haven't taken good care of you, sister. Please don't mind."

He handed her a handkerchief, which Yang Huiyu took, wiped the tears from her face, and shook her head.

These things are none of your business.

When my father betrothed me to Sima Shi, I had a bad feeling. Although I objected, I couldn't stop it.

I just never expected it to turn out like that.

Yang Huiyu seemed eager to confide in him at this moment, and she continued, "Several months after our marriage, Sima Shi was always busy with official duties and did not share a bed with me at all. Later, I was shocked to hear that Wu Shi, who had entered the family not long before but was deposed by him, had suddenly died at a young age, and I was even more worried. I was very careful when speaking to the servants at home."

She called her husband, Sima Shi, by his given name, but addressed her brother-in-law, Sima Zhao, by his official title. The reason for this is quite intriguing and worth listening to.

Yang Hu nodded slightly, signaling Yang Huiyu to continue.

The fact that Wu was first divorced and then died suddenly was indeed strange at the time and aroused a lot of controversy.

After poisoning his first wife, Lady Xiahou, Sima Shi first arranged for Lady Wu to remarry. However, not long after, he immediately divorced her and arranged for Yang Huiyu to remarry. Yang Hu himself had been married before, so he knew this was highly unusual.

For example, the young couple Shi Shouxin and Li Wan, whom he knew, would stick together whenever they had the chance, and their relationship was so good that they almost wanted to wear the same clothes.

Wu's wife was newly married, and her relationship with Sima Shi was probably at its most intense.

However, Sima Shi actually divorced his wife!
For a prominent family to divorce a wife comes with political consequences, and the Wu family is no ordinary family!
As Yang Hu was lost in thought, Yang Huiyu continued, "Later I learned that Sima Shi had been wounded on the battlefield and was no longer able to have sex. When Wu learned of this, she demanded a divorce, and then Sima Shi..."

Yang Huiyu stretched out her palm and made a chopping motion.

Yang Hu's pupils suddenly contracted.

Sima Shi was able to kill his first wife, Xiahou Shi, the woman who had borne him five daughters, the woman whom he deeply loved in the eyes of outsiders.

Therefore, it is not surprising that Wu was killed to keep the secret.

Of course, death is acceptable, but not in the Sima family. First, divorce, then kill, and finally arrange a marriage alliance with the Yang family.

This smooth combo has a very Sima family style.

Low-key, despicable, and ruthless.

"If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, since it has nothing to do with me. What's unbearable is that Sima Shi often tests me. His words are often full of hidden meanings, and if I'm not careful, I could face utter destruction."

For example, after your father-in-law Xiahou Ba fled to Shu, Sima Shi asked me if your brother would also go with him. If so, he could send people to protect him along the way to prevent any accidents from happening.

At the time, I swore that you would not flee to Shu, and if you did, you could take my life first to vent your anger. That's how our Yang clan escaped this calamity. There are too many similar stories to remember now.

Yang Huiyu revealed a secret from back then, which shocked Yang Hu so much that he was speechless. He had never heard Yang Huiyu mention this before.

One can imagine that if Yang Huiyu had been a little more naive and agreed to Sima Shi's "good intentions," his family would probably have been wiped out.

"Sister means..."

Yang Hu suddenly realized something unbearable, even shameful.

"Yes, I have remained chaste for many years, enduring criticism from outsiders that I cannot have children, all to keep this secret."

Yang Huiyu suddenly lost control of her emotions and couldn't stop sobbing!

"For Sima Shi's sake, for the sake of the Sima family, I have to live a life of widowhood, and I can't even tell outsiders! Others laugh at me for being a hen that can't lay eggs, and I can't even talk back!"
What did I do wrong again?!

The day Sima Shi died, I locked myself in my room and laughed uncontrollably. Everyone in the Sima family thought I'd gone mad with grief. But I wasn't sad at all; I was relieved! I was truly happy! Sima Shi's death was a good thing!
That day I was free! I no longer had to endure Sima Shi's constant probing and coercion!

Yang Huiyu roared, her face contorted with rage.

Because she kept her mouth shut, and because she suggested adopting Sima Zhao's son, Sima You, she indirectly helped Sima Zhao secure his position.

Therefore, Sima Zhao held Yang Huiyu in high esteem, at least in appearance. He almost never refused any request made by his sister-in-law.

There is never love or hate without a reason in this world. Everything has a cause and an effect.

This demonstrates Yang Huiyu's political wisdom, but it is also a helpless act of sacrificing himself for the sake of his family.

The family prospered, but who could this old spinster confide her sorrows to?
She didn't feel ashamed at all about last night's "accident"; on the contrary, she felt a sense of relief.

She finally experienced being a woman, and knew what it was like. Normally, even if she sought male companions, which man would dare touch her?

When that man called out another woman's name in her ear, Yang Huiyu felt a pang of jealousy. She was jealous of the woman named "Wan Niang".

Why is it that other women's husbands love their wives so much, while that beast Sima Shi...

Thinking of this, Yang Huiyu felt an unquenchable hatred!

Her youth was ruined by Sima Shi!

Last night, while making love in bed, Yang Huiyu was filled with the pleasure of having gotten her revenge!

That feels so good!
Sima Shi, I finally let myself go this time, bringing you an indelible shame!

I'm finally no longer some submissive, obedient girl!

Now I want you to know that even if you are fierce and ruthless, even if your Sima family is powerful and influential, I can still make you shamed!

It was precisely because of this mindset that she readily cooperated when the young man made advances towards Yang Huiyu. If she hadn't wanted to, how could that man have possibly succeeded!

If we had just called for help, we could have escaped!
But she chose to... lie down and enjoy it.

At this moment, Yang Huiyu only wished that the whole world would know that she had been played by a man she didn't even know, and was now experiencing ecstasy in bed!

She wished the whole world would know that Sima Shi's legal wife was unchaste, promiscuous, and dissolute!
As long as Sima Shi loses face, she doesn't care whether she loses face or not.

A lose-lose situation is better than a win-lose situation!
For so many years, as an old maid, she endured the criticism of not being able to have children. She sacrificed for her family and for the greater good. She became a pitiful figure and a moral exemplar in the eyes of others.

And then what did she gain? Beneath those empty titles lies the cruel reality of an innocent woman, Zhaohua, growing old!
She's really had enough!

However, all of that came to an end last night.

Yang Huiyu was so happy at that moment that she wanted to burst into song!

The feeling of being a woman is truly something that can only be experienced, not described. Especially since she could also humiliate Sima Shi at the same time! It completely boosted Yang Huiyu's emotional value!

A shy smile reappeared on Yang Huiyu's face; she didn't think about punishing the servant who had caused all of this.

Otherwise, given the heinous act of having her virginity taken by a strange man, she would have killed the maid to vent her anger. How could she possibly let that foolish servant live?

She didn't hate the maid for her negligence; instead, she believed it was fate, a reward from heaven for her years of hard work, and a blessing of a romantic encounter.

That man was so handsome, so good-looking, so young. Sleeping with him doesn't seem like... I didn't lose out.

Seeing the constantly changing expressions on Yang Huiyu's face, Yang Hu sighed, "Sister, you've had such a hard time all these years. If only you weren't a daughter-in-law of the Sima family, remarrying wouldn't be so difficult. I hate that I can't help you, sister."

"No, you've already helped me a lot."

Yang Huiyu recalled the romantic affair of the previous night and said meaningfully.

Of course, this kind of revenge can only be carried out in secret; it's impossible to tell anyone.

It's a bit of a pity.

An "interesting" thought suddenly flashed through Yang Huiyu's mind. If she couldn't show off in front of the living, then showing off in front of the dead shouldn't be a problem, right?
Thinking of this, she immediately perked up and decided to go to Mangshan the next day to sweep Sima Shi's tomb, and also to tell her ex-husband about this romantic affair and show off a bit.

Returning home in glory is like wearing fine clothes at night! What could be more satisfying than taking revenge on Sima Shi by personally recounting my romantic escapades at his grave?

Yang Huiyu was in a great mood.

Moreover, she also wanted to secretly find out who the man she had slept with that night was. This wasn't the end of the matter—he had recklessly slept with her!

(End of this chapter)