Has the Han Dynasty been restored today?

Luoyang, the General's Mansion.

"Has His Majesty truly granted Father the title of Grand Commandant?" Sima Shi asked solemnly upon hearing this from his younger brother, Sima Zhao.

"How could it be false? Minister Wei (Wei Zhen) told me this himself." Sima Zhao laughed heartily: "Minister Wei also said that the imperial carriage must first stay in Xuchang temporarily before returning to Luoyang. After returning to the capital, Your Majesty will issue the imperial edict."

As he spoke, Sima Zhao chuckled smugly, "Brother, you don't know, but when I was in Qiao County, I met with the generals of the central army and told them everything about how Father forced Zhuge Liang to his death and then repelled the Shu army. Cao Zhaobo (Cao Shuang) and others personally praised Father's great achievements, and Lord Jiang (Jiang Ji) even asked me to congratulate Father!"

Sima Shi, with a deep and thoughtful expression, looked at his smug younger brother and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Sima Shi is 27 years old and Sima Zhao is 24 years old. They are the two sons of Sima Yi who have reached adulthood.

Sima Shi had previously been implicated in the extravagance scandal and was barred from holding office by the court, thus spending his days in seclusion at home in Luoyang. His second son, Sima Zhao, was able to accompany the army on its expeditions and serve by Sima Yi's side.

Only family members know their own affairs.

In Sima Shi's eyes, his younger brother Sima Zhao was not very steady in his actions, his emotions were easily displayed, and he was somewhat frivolous.

In Sima Zhao's eyes, his elder brother Sima Shi, being imprisoned and unable to hold office, was gloomy, calculating, and always thought the worst of everything.

The two brothers had been close since childhood, so how could they not know each other well? On the surface, they were friendly and respectful to each other, but they both knew the truth in their hearts.

Sima Shi couldn't directly advise his younger brother, so he forced a smile and said, "Zishang, you'll rest in Luoyang for one night and leave tomorrow, won't you? I'll write a letter later and give it to you tomorrow morning. You can take it to Father on your way."

"Alright," Sima Zhao replied with a smile.

Sima Zhao was so optimistic because he thought his elder brother Sima Shi was often pessimistic and even overly conspiratorial.

Sima Shi, on the other hand, did the opposite.

Sima Yi, the father, served three generations of the Cao family. Whether it was Cao Cao, Cao Pi, or Cao Rui, none of them were easy to get along with. Especially the current emperor, Cao Rui, who was decisive in his decisions but even more suspicious than his father and grandfather. He had a non-Cao family member leading an army of over 100,000 in Guanzhong. As soon as the Shu army retreated, he ordered Xiahou Xian and Qin Lang to lead the central army back to Henan. His wariness could not be clearer!

Should the title of Grand General be changed to Grand Commandant?

With Zhuge Liang dead, it's like the rabbit being killed and the hunting dog being cooked – this is probably just a scheme to seize my father's military power and force him back to Luoyang. Without military power, he's like meat on a chopping board; how can he be cut up? He'll be at the mercy of others.

My father is leading troops in the field, and I am not allowed to serve in the government. If my father were to return to the capital to retire, wouldn't I be imprisoned for life?

Absolutely not!

That night, Sima Shi stayed up half the night in his study, writing and revising several times before finally finishing the letter. He laid it flat on the table to wait for the ink to dry, and then lay down fully clothed on the small couch next to it.

The letter meticulously analyzed the situation in the court, explaining the principle of "the rabbit is killed after the hunt," and also mentioned rumors in Luoyang that the emperor was ill for over a year and had repeatedly invited alchemists to the palace this year. It urged Sima Yi not to relinquish his important military power in Guanzhong, but to protect himself outside the capital and wait for the opportune moment. The letter suggested that the Sima family might not be inferior to the Cao family...

The next day, as dawn broke.

The loud crash of shattering dishes instantly woke Sima Shi from his sleep.

He opened his eyes, sat up, and what came into Sima Shi's view was his wife, Xiahou Hui, standing in front of the desk.

From Sima Shi's perspective, Xiahou Hui's eyes were fixed on the letter on the table, his mouth was covered, and his body was trembling, while the rice porridge scattered on the ground was still steaming...

"Hui'er." Sima Shi forced a smile and called softly, "What's wrong, Hui'er?"

Seeing that Xiahou Hui did not respond, Sima Shi leaned on the couch and stood up. His hand, which had just touched Xiahou Hui's sleeve, was suddenly pushed away by her.

When Xiahou Hui turned to face Sima Shi, Sima Shi saw eyes full of disgust, two lines of tears, and an expression he had never seen on his wife's face before.

"I……"

Sima Shi felt dizzy and was about to speak to explain when he was interrupted by Xiahou Hui's choked voice: "Sima Shi, your father's family has been favored by three generations of officials and has reached the highest ranks of the court. I have also borne you five daughters. What have the Cao and Xiahou families done to wrong your family?"

"Hui'er..." Sima Shi grabbed Xiahou Hui's shoulders.

Xiahou Hui continued, "Why do you want the Sima clan to replace the Cao clan? How can the Cao and Xiahou clans be treated like pigs and dogs? Why did you advise your father to hold military power? What exactly are you trying to do?!"

"Watch your words!" Sima Shi roared in anger, abruptly covering Xiahou Hui's mouth and staring intently into her eyes.

Those eyes, which were usually full of love, were now filled with hatred.

Sima Shi's hand was pushed away by Xiahou Hui with all her might. Xiahou Hui immediately cried out, "Sima Shi, how... how did you become such a person?"

Sima Shi's eyes were now filled with coldness. He stopped pushing and shoving, instead taking two steps back to create a distance of more than half a zhang between himself and Xiahou Hui. He lowered his voice and slowly said, "Hui'er, you didn't just meet me today... What the Cao family can do, the Sima family can certainly do as well. If I succeed, I can also be like Yao and Shun. People say that a woman should obey her husband after marriage, but I am already like this, my heart is as hard as iron and cannot be changed. Are you still willing to follow me?"

"I..." Xiahou Hui looked as if she had seen a monster. In her shock and anger, her voice trembled uncontrollably: "Although I am a woman, I know loyalty and filial piety. I... I do not wish to obey."

After saying this, Xiahou Hui staggered backward, retreating towards the door.

Sima Shi stared intently at Xiahou Hui's face, as if making a decision.

One moment, two moments, three moments.

Just as Xiahou Hui was about to turn around and open the door to leave, trembling, Sima Shi strode forward, grabbed Xiahou Hui's hair, and pulled her to the ground.

"Sima Shi..."

Xiahou Hui clutched her head, wincing in pain as she collapsed to the ground, her eyes wide with terror: "I will obey, my husband, I will obey you..."

Seeing Xiahou Hui fall, Sima Shi said nothing more. He turned around, took a small bottle from a wooden box under a wooden shelf in the room, and walked towards Xiahou Hui step by step with a blank expression.

The footsteps were heavy and continuous, like a death knell.

"My husband... I'm willing to obey you... I'm willing... mmm... mmm..."

The medicine in the bottle was poured into his mouth. Xiahou Hui struggled with all his might, but the strong and healthy Sima Shi pressed him down with his knee, covered his mouth, and pinned him to the ground, unable to move an inch.

Finally, everything went silent.

Sima Shi stood up with a livid face, trembling like a leaf. He turned around and added a line of words to the silk on the table before putting it in a box. Then he walked out of the room, closed the door, and walked step by step toward the front yard.

"Sir." Sima Shi walked to the front yard and saw his younger brother Sima Zhao, who was preparing to leave. He slapped the letter box into Sima Zhao's hand and said coldly, "This letter must be read by Father himself."

"Understood." Sima Zhao nodded, and was about to ask his brother why he looked unwell, but found that Sima Shi had already turned and left.

Sima Zhao felt utterly bewildered.