Wu Zhi might have looked like this now, but in his youth, he too had been dashing and debonair, as graceful as a jade tree in the wind.
Naturally, his daughter could hardly have turned out poorly.
Wu Yu was very pretty, with phoenix eyes, a high nose, and a face as white as snow. Paired with her small, vermilion cherry lips, she was a feast for the eyes.
Her tone, however, was icy, giving her the overall air of a cold beauty.
But that name...
Wu Yu... I might as well be called Wu Qiu.
Xiahou Xian grumbled inwardly.
But what exactly did Wu Zhi mean by this?
My principal wife has already been decided. Could Wu Zhi possibly be willing to let his daughter become Xiahou Xian's concubine?
Surely not. Surely not.
Unsure what to say, Xiahou Xian glanced toward Wu Zhi, waiting for him to speak.
Wu Zhi smiled. "Fengming, I have no other intention. It's just that I previously told my daughter about your father's proposal to join our families in marriage."
"She often brought it up, wanting to know what sort of man you were."
"As it happens, we had an opportunity today, so I thought I would let the two of you meet."
"Ah..." Wu Zhi sighed deeply. "What a pity. A talented young man and a beautiful young woman, yet you were not destined for each other."
Was he really planning to marry his daughter off as a concubine? The more Xiahou Xian listened, the more something seemed amiss.
He was just about to respond when Wu Zhi patted his shoulder. "From today onward, you two are acquainted. Please look after her in the Capital."
"Of course," Xiahou Xian replied.
At last, he understood Wu Zhi's intention.
Wu Zhi was no fool. He knew how many detestable things he had done over the years, and he could foresee his family sinking into an irreversible decline after his death.
While he was still alive, he was unlikely to lower himself by marrying his daughter to Xiahou Xian as a concubine.
But what about after he died?
Who would want a woman from a fallen family?
Earlier, he had actually been very willing to form a marriage alliance with the Xiahou family.
After all, no one else was approaching him.
Who could have known that an imperial marriage decree would charge out halfway and intercept them? That was why he had been so furious.
So be it. Things had come to this, and he only wanted to leave his family a few more paths of retreat.
The next day, Xiahou Xian set off back to the Capital.
The two spent another dozen or so days traveling south. On this particular day, heavy rain fell from the heavens, leaving the roads muddy and difficult for their carriage.
Shi Feng therefore suggested staying for a while in Wen County, in Henei Commandery.
Wen County was already close to Luoyang. Crossing south over the Yellow River would bring them to Mengjin in Luoyang.
Though close to the Capital, it lacked the Capital's prosperity and was instead a quaint little county town.
Shi Feng found an eatery, planning to fill their bellies there before looking for a posthouse where they could rest.
Once inside, the two chose seats beside a window.
Before all their dishes had even arrived, however, a Great Han suddenly slammed his palm onto their low table.
"Hey! This seat is taken!"
Xiahou Xian looked up in confusion. "What do you mean?"
The Great Han gave a grunt and raised his chin. "Cut the nonsense! This is Young Master Zhao's exclusive seat. Everyone here knows it. Only you two are blind."
"Young Master Zhao? Who is he?" Xiahou Xian asked unhurriedly.
The Great Han had no patience for explanations. As he spoke, he bared his arms and moved to overturn the table.
Seeing this, Shi Feng was about to draw his saber, but Xiahou Xian stopped him.
He had noticed a man appear behind the Great Han. Just as the Great Han was about to act, that man seized his wrist.
"Who are you?!"
The man gave no answer, simply holding the Great Han's wrist and attempting to overpower him with sheer strength.
Unexpectedly, the Great Han burst out laughing. "You think you can play the righteous hero with those spindly arms and legs?"
He reversed his grip, seized the man's wrist, and, with a little force, flung his scrawny opponent aside.
The man lay on the floor with a muffled groan, his eyes still fixed fiercely on the Great Han.
Xiahou Xian was dumbfounded by this performance...
He had roared at the sight of injustice, only to be subdued by the villain on the spot...
"Brother Zhao! Are you all right?" Suddenly, another voice came from outside.
The newcomer was none other than Sima Shi!
And the one who had been tossed into the corner like a filthy rag was Sima Zhao.
Even as he lay on the floor, Sima Zhao was still shouting, "You dog of a servant, borrowing your master's power to bully others! Tell your Zhao Ping to come here. Today, I'll lay down some rules and teach you bastards who lord it over the countryside a lesson!"
Sima Shi did not go to help Sima Zhao up. He merely looked at the Great Han and said coldly, "I won't pursue this with you. Fetch your master. Tell him Sima Ziyuan of Henei awaits him here."
Though the Great Han could not read a single character, he had spent years serving in Henei and had certainly heard of the Sima clan of Henei.
Sensing trouble, he slunk away.
Only then did Sima Shi help Sima Zhao up, saying patiently, "Brother Zhao, you act so rashly. How can you ever accomplish great things like this?"
"Brother, I simply couldn't stomach it! Those local strongmen use their power to bully others. Our Sima family's reputation, built over so many years in Henei, is being ruined by these parasites."
"Of course I know that. But your methods are far too immature."
Sima Zhao nodded, then smiled again. "Oh, it's fine, it's fine. With you here, brother, I have nothing to fear."
The two exchanged a few more words before Sima Shi finally noticed Xiahou Xian and Shi Feng watching the show from the sidelines.
"Isn't this Fengming?" Sima Shi asked in surprise. "What brings you to Wen County?"
Sima Shi pulled Sima Zhao over. "Brother Zhao, come pay your respects to Brother Fengming."
Sima Zhao bowed with his hands clasped, and the brothers joined them at the table.
Xiahou Xian only told them that he had gone to Hebei on official business, saying nothing further.
As for Sima Shi and his brother, they were back in their ancestral home in Wen County because the anniversary of their grandfather Sima Fang's death was approaching.
Since Sima Yi was supervising the fighting at the front, their uncle Sima Fu had brought the two home to pay their respects.
Sima Zhao had heard that local strongmen had recently been bullying men, seizing women, and running rampant through Wen County.
Normally, such things were commonplace throughout Wei State, and everyone had grown accustomed to them.
Sima Zhao, however, could not tolerate it. He believed that Wen County, and indeed all of Henei, was known throughout the land because of the Sima family's prestige. He would never allow anyone to run amok on his family's turf.
Sima Zhao had yet to come of age and was young and hot-blooded. Sima Shi, several years his senior, was clearly much steadier.
They chatted for a while longer before Young Master Zhao finally arrived.
"Oh! Isn't this Brother Ziyuan? The flood has truly washed into the Dragon King's own temple!" Young Master Zhao wore a fawning smile and carried quite a few rare treasures, clearly hoping to smooth things over.
As he spoke, he suddenly slapped the Great Han on the back and barked, "You dog of a servant! Open your eyes and look! These are the two sons of Lord Sima, the General of Agile Cavalry! However many lives you had, they wouldn't be enough to pay for this. Kneel and apologize to the two young masters!"
The Great Han knew when to bend and when to stand tall. After all, he was only a servant. He immediately dropped to his knees with a thud, his movements quite practiced.
Sima Zhao then pointed at Xiahou Xian and introduced him. "This is Xiahou Fengming, son of Grand Princess Qinghe. He was the one your servant offended in the first place."
At this, Young Master Zhao thought, Good heavens, just what sort of people has this dog of a servant offended?
First the Sima clan of Henei, then the Xiahou clan, relatives of the imperial family. His head spun, and he cursed, "Kowtow harder!!!"
"Enough, enough. This brave fellow's head is already split and bleeding. Let him off," Sima Shi said.
Young Master Zhao hurriedly bowed in thanks, then roared at the Great Han, "Thank Young Master Sima!"
"Thank you, Young Master Sima!"
At that moment, Sima Shi stared at Zhao Ping and spoke in a quiet, drawn-out tone.
"Mm... Now it's your turn to kowtow."