84 Sima Xiuyuan's Thoughts

◎Sima Hong, I beg you, please stop talking.◎

The Marquis of Dingyuan and his wife, along with Zhang Jun, were already standing at the door waiting for the princess's arrival.

Unexpectedly, the princess got off the carriage with an angry expression, buried her head and rushed into the mansion, as if she hadn't seen them at all.

Immediately afterwards, she saw Sima Hong, dressed in white, stepping down from the carriage with a satisfied smile on his lips.

Zhang Tian, ​​having been through similar experiences, immediately turned pale when he thought of the look on his niece's lips.

That brat Sima Xiuyuan, he actually dared to do such a frivolous thing to Qi Gu in broad daylight, he's simply audacious!

He wanted Jun'er to marry Qi Gu. He liked Qi Gu very much, and having Qi Gu marry into his family would be a way to compensate her for the hardships she had endured all these years.

What's the meaning of Sima Hong suddenly appearing out of nowhere?

He acknowledged that Sima Hong's talent for governing the world was indeed boundless, but their Sima family was a century-old clan with a long history and a grand presence.

He had long been familiar with Sima Taigong's pickiness. His father had some connection with Sima Taigong, and he had heard some things about the Sima family from his father.

Marquis Dingyuan shook his head inwardly, thinking that Qi Gu and Sima Hong were not a good match.

As for Sima Xiuyuan, he liked him, but he was really not a good match for Qi Gu. In his heart, he felt that Sima Xiuyuan bore too much responsibility for the honor and disgrace of the entire Sima family, and it would be difficult for him to be his wife.

Despite Sima Xiuyuan's outwardly refined and aloof demeanor, his father, Sima Taigong, was extremely strict with him. When his father was alive, he once commented that Sima Taigong was the most harsh and stern man, and he cared deeply about the honor and disgrace of the Sima family in the eyes of the world. His obsession with this had become a demon in his heart, which was not a good thing.

My father said that Sima Taigong no longer had the seven emotions and six desires of ordinary people; he only cared about the honor and disgrace of the Sima family. He was going too far, and my father did not like Sima Taigong.

The father had a high opinion of Sima Xiuyuan, saying that the boy had clear eyes, was a bit cold, but had a broad mind and a deep mind, but was more clear-headed than Sima Taigong. He said that the boy would become the leader of the Sima family and a pillar of the Jin Dynasty.

That was when the conflict between Jin and Yan was about to end. My father disliked Sima Taigong, but he still wanted his younger sister, who was about to become empress, to find a way to bring the Sima family into the fold.

First, the Sima family, disheartened by the events of the previous dynasty, had withdrawn from the world. Now that the world is at peace, they desperately need an opportunity to prove themselves, and they will certainly do everything in their power to help the Great Jin.

Secondly, the Sima family, as a famous aristocratic family of the previous dynasty, had a great influence among the aristocratic families. If the Sima family could be used by His Majesty and the Empress, then the Great Jin would gain more than just the loyalty of the Sima family.

Thirdly, in his father's view, Sima Hong was a talent cultivated by the Sima family to govern the world. He had met the boy before and found him to be very intelligent and capable of great things.

At that time, His Majesty was about to take the entire country into his hands. Conquering the country was easy, but maintaining it was difficult. Such a vast country needed talented people to govern it.

The Sima family is the most suitable candidate, and they have been waiting for the right opportunity.

After listening to her father's words, the younger sister advised the emperor to invite the Sima family to serve in the government.

Finally, with her younger sister's insistence, the Sima family was born.

Sima Hongcai is only in his early twenties this year, yet he has already been appointed Right Minister of Works, and it is only a matter of time before he becomes Grand Minister of Works.

This young man does indeed have many unique insights into the ability to govern a country. His sister has already told him about his proposal for "private salt and iron commerce."

After listening, he clapped his hands in admiration. If this plan succeeded, the national treasury would have no worries about income. With a full treasury, military pay would be guaranteed. With military pay guaranteed, how could the Xiongnu dare to invade easily?

His Majesty is quite hesitant now, but his younger sister has already decided to take back the salt and iron management rights. Sima Hong and the Zhang family are now on the same side, and they should be closer to the Sima family.

But as close as they were, Zhang Tian never imagined that he, Sima Xiuyuan, would be so close!

Before he and Prince Yi left the capital, they heard that Sima Taigong intended to make the two daughters of the Gao family his wives.

At the time, he thought that only the Gao family of Hexi, who were on par with his family, could catch the eye of this Sima Taigong.

If it weren't for his sister's foresight in arranging a marriage between her and the eldest daughter of the Gao family for his nephew, Sima Taigong would probably have sought a marriage for his beloved grandson long ago. But didn't the Gao family also have a second daughter? He always thought that a marriage alliance between the Sima and Gao families was only a matter of time.

How come the Sima family has changed their minds and wants to form a marriage alliance with the royal family after only half a year? This is not like Sima Taigong's temperament.

Hmph, thinking of this, he curled his lip and glanced sideways at Sima Xiuyuan. "So he's from a noble family and a peerless young master? I underestimated him before!"

General Zhang glanced at his son, who was grinning like a fool with his big white teeth, and felt disgusted. If Sima Hong really had that intention, how could his foolish son possibly win against him?

He finally understood why Sima Xiuyuan had looked at him and his son with such a cold gaze at the palace banquet that day.

Sigh, it's still the father who has to lend a hand to his son!

Marquis Dingyuan winked at his son, Zhang Jun, who, puzzled, asked, "Father, you... have sand in your eyes?" Ha, I think you've got sand in your head!

General Zhang shook his head. Zhang Jun, puzzled, asked, "Father, is your face twitching?"

Marquis Dingyuan slapped his son on the back, and Zhang Jun felt his internal organs tremble. His father's slap was no joke.

Lord Zhang gritted his teeth and whispered, "Go, catch up with Aunt Qi and ask her why she's angry. Then have a chat, talk about everything, and share your thoughts. Do I really have to teach you this?"

Zhang Jun stared, mouth agape: "Huh?" His father, who had always only taught him how to lead troops into battle, was saying things that Zhang Jun truly didn't understand.

Sima Hong had already climbed the steps and stood in front of the father and son. "Aunt Qi is a little angry with me. I'll go see her."

Seeing Sima Hong surpass him, General Zhang rubbed his forehead and said, "If someone like you can get married, I'll take your surname!"

Zhang Jun quipped, "Father, you share the same surname as me, hehe." Marquis Dingyuan was so angry that he was almost in awe.

Then came Zhang Jun's cry of pain...

As Qi Gu entered the mansion, she realized that her uncle, aunt, and cousin had been waiting for her at the door.

She was completely caught off guard by Sima Hong's sudden kiss. How dare he treat her so lightly!

One slap wasn't enough; she should have slapped him again—no! Ten slaps would have been enough!

This person has now completely disregarded propriety, integrity, shame, and status.

It's infuriating! One day, she'll definitely have Fu Lian put a sandbag over his head and give him a good beating to vent her anger.

A slight stinging sensation came from her lips. Qi Gu touched them lightly with her fingertips. "Damn Sima Hong!" she cursed inwardly. "Why did he bite me? Now everyone has seen it!"

Thinking of his lips touching hers just now, Qi Gu's face turned even redder. Even though they were married in their previous life, Sima Hong had never been so intimate with her except in bed.

Just as he was seething with anger, he heard Sima Hong say from behind, "Slow down, the Marquis of Dingyuan and his wife are still waiting for you."

Qi Gu turned around abruptly, her eyes still moist. When she saw Sima Hong, anger flared up and quickly dried the ambiguous mist in her eyes, leaving only a surge of rage with nowhere to go. "Sima Hong, you! Stay away from me from now on!"

"I can agree to everything else, but this is the only thing I'm afraid I can't do." Sima Hong stared at Qi Gu with his deep eyes. Qi Gu, you can't escape, you will eventually marry me.

Qi Gu sneered. Sima Hong was just a better-looking hypocrite, a beast in human form but with a heart of stone. How come she didn't discover he was this kind of person in her past life!

Qi Gu, her evil intentions rising, said, "Sima Hong, come here, I have something to tell you." Sima Hong has no humanity left, why should she still treat him like one?

Sima Hong had no suspicions. Qi Gu grabbed one of his wrists, rolled up her sleeve, and bit down hard.

Sima Hong did not resist or pull his hand away, letting Qi Gu bite him, even smiling and looking extremely happy.

Qi Gu frowned as she bit into it, yet he seemed to be enjoying it.

Unbeknownst to her, in Sima Hong's eyes, she looked like a fawn baring its fangs, seemingly seeking revenge against the enemy. However, because she was so kind and gentle, she was actually quite adorable in the eyes of the "enemy."

It was rock hard, impossible to bite, and even if you bit it, it wouldn't hurt; in fact, it looked quite happy.

Qi Gu loosened her teeth, spat twice, shook off his hand, and looked up to ask, "Aren't you in pain?"

Sima Hong looked at the two rows of marks on his wrist, leaned close to Qi Gu's ear, and said in a seductive tone, "Qi Gu, you should bite harder, bite through my flesh, bite through my bones." He held up the gleaming teeth marks in front of Qi Gu, "I'll just treat this as a little game between you and me."

Qi Gu pushed Sima Hong aside, glanced around, and thankfully no one was looking at them. She said with suppressed anger, "Sima Xiuyuan, shut up! Have you no shame? Where is your manners and upbringing? Where is your pride? Look at yourself! You should really let Grandfather Sima see his good grandson in such a shameless state!"

He even threatened, "If you dare to be so shameless again, I'll stab you with a knife and see if you still dare to be so casual..."

"Okay, I won't resist, as long as you calm down," Sima Hong said good-naturedly.

A tall figure blocked Qi Gu's view, staring intently at her as if trying to capture her heart and her entire being. Qi Gu was so frightened by his blatant gaze that she took a half-step back.

"What are you trying to do? This is my uncle's residence. You'd better have some self-respect!"

After Qi Gu finished speaking, she felt it was absurd that these words would one day come out of the air from above her, and to Sima Hong no less. This showed how much Sima Hong had changed.

Is this still Sima Hong? He's completely different from the one in the previous life. No, there are still some similarities. The look in his eyes when he was in bed with her, which was filled with something unpleasant, is exactly the same as the look he has now when he looks at her!

Sima Hong stared at Qi Gu's bitten lip, and something unknown welled up in his eyes, almost bursting out. He reached out to touch the bitten spot.

Qi Gu dodged repeatedly, but how could he let her escape? He gently touched the wound on the corner of Qi Gu's mouth with his fingertips, "Does it hurt? Let Doctor Ye find some medicine to apply for you, okay?"

"Sima Hong, please stop talking." This is her uncle's residence; she doesn't want them to misunderstand!

Sima Hong looked at Qi Gu's aloof manner and thought of how the Marquis of Dingyuan wanted her cousin to marry her. A dark shadow flashed in his eyes. Qi Gu said he was crazy, and he thought he really was crazy.

[Author's Note]

Qi Gu: Who's going to control Sima Hong who's gone mad? I'm at my wit's end! [Cracking face]