Prologue 8: After This Battle, I'll Return Home to Get Married

Late at night, the main hall of the Li family residence was still lit by torches. A young man bearing a striking resemblance—about seventy percent—to Li Wan’s features was chatting casually with her. This was Li Gu, the eldest son of Li Yin, who had just rushed back to Luoyang from Xingyang Commandery earlier that day.

His return to Luoyang was prompted by certain matters related to the Grand General’s Mansion.

Since Sima Zhao had decided to take action and push forward the change of dynasty, he naturally arranged for trusted lieutenants to control the key government offices. Li Yin and his offspring were thus brought from the provinces into the political center.

“Father is being detained at the Grand General’s Mansion tonight, isn’t he?” Li Gu asked anxiously, noticing Li Wan’s distracted demeanor. His sister was usually strong-willed, no less than a man, and impervious to persuasion or coercion.

As soon as he arrived home, he had heard that their father, Li Yin, had gone to the Grand General’s Mansion two days ago and had not returned, only sending a message by messenger. Li Gu was far less composed than his sister.

“Brother, don’t say detained like that—it sounds harsh. It’s just the usual upheaval of a regime change. The Grand General is cautious and fears leaks, so he trusts no one and keeps some cards close to his chest.

Father said there would be a court assembly tomorrow, so it should be then. He’ll definitely come back tomorrow,” Li Wan responded casually, unconcerned, though inwardly she wondered why Shi Gandang hadn’t come to see her these past two days.

Wasn’t he supposed to formally propose? Why no news at all?

Li Wan cared only about her own life’s affairs and paid no mind to the turbulent political storms outside. Bored these days, she would have welcomed a chat with Shi Gandang even if he just dropped by.

“The imperial summons really isn’t a baseless rumor. This world is about to undergo great change again, sigh!” Li Gu’s face grew grave at Li Wan’s words, letting out a long sigh.

Unlike his sister, he did not take such matters lightly.

Li Gu had been recalled to official duty in Luoyang not because of outstanding achievements in the provinces, but because his father, Li Yin, was a trusted confidant of Sima Zhao—an extremely influential one at that.

Li Wan would not enter officialdom and did not need to worry about political affairs, nor could she influence them. Li Gu, however, was deeply entangled in the official world, where caution was paramount.

Different identities bred different mindsets.

As the two chatted idly about the amusing tidbits of Luoyang, several of Li Gu’s servants arrived, escorting a young man in a gray cloth robe into the hall.

“Sir, this man was lurking by the gate and even tried to climb over the wall to enter. We caught him and await your orders,” a servant bowed respectfully to Li Gu.

Li Gu was about to speak when Li Wan quickly stopped everyone. “He’s not a thief, not a thief. Brother, leave it to me,” she said.

“Miss, shouldn’t we know who he is first?” Li Gu exclaimed, shocked. Catching a suspicious man lurking outside at this hour and her not taking it seriously was utterly unreasonable.

“He is your future brother-in-law!” Li Wan snapped at Li Gu impatiently, pulling the harmless-looking Shi Gandang away.

After they left, Li Gu and his servants exchanged glances. Li Gu, annoyed, shouted at the servants, “What are you all staring at? It’s so late—aren’t you supposed to be sleeping instead of catching mice?”

At the master’s roar, the servants scattered like startled birds.

Li Gu propped up his chin, puzzled. When did he suddenly gain a prospective brother-in-law? His father Li Yin had never mentioned this.

Meanwhile, Li Wan led Shi Gandang to the woodshed, where only one torch flickered dimly.

In the firelight, Li Wan’s delicate face looked particularly enchanting. She closed the door and lowered her voice to complain, “Can’t you just enter openly during the day? Sneaking in after dark like a thief—if you weren’t a thief before, you’d become one now!”

Though complaining, her heart was full of joy, and a smile spread uncontrollably across her face.

Shi Gandang said nothing but took out a piece of yellow silk from his sleeve and handed it to Li Wan.

Looking at the bright, spring-flower-like girl before him, he smiled and said, “I went to petition the emperor for a marriage decree these past two days—this is it. Is this enough for a proposal?”

Li Wan took the decree, and under the faint light, read its contents. A surge of mixed emotions welled up inside her, words stuck in her throat.

How could someone be so foolish? Meeting once and already petitioning the emperor for a marriage decree?

Her heart brimmed with sweetness and excitement. Like Shi Gandang, she lost her usual composure, her mind like mush, devoid of any judgment.

Seeing Li Wan remain silent, Shi Gandang continued, “Uh, if I don’t come back, hide this decree and become Sima Yan’s concubine. Don’t ask why—just know I’m going to do something big now!”

Li Wan still said nothing, only quietly grasping Shi Gandang’s hand.

She understood well what an imperial marriage decree meant for a woman from an official family like hers. The price paid to obtain it needed no explanation.

This so-called “big matter” must be truly significant.

“I must return to the Luoyang palace tonight, the sooner the better. Take care of yourself and do as I said,” Shi Gandang sighed. The two held hands tightly, gazing deeply into each other’s eyes without a word.

Actually, Shi Gandang felt that a kiss at this moment wouldn’t be resisted, but he restrained himself. Since this was about marriage, there was no need to imitate Sima Yan.

He couldn’t escape now; kissing wouldn’t solve anything.

Outside the woodshed, Li Gu peered through the door crack, worried for his sister: “Hurry up and kiss already—what’s the hesitation?”

Long after, Shi Gandang and Li Wan only shared a restrained embrace before quickly parting.

Li Wan sighed, reluctant, and said, “Then… go early and return early. Tomorrow I’ll show Father the marriage decree. Then we’ll follow the proper procedure.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to die,” Shi Gandang vowed solemnly.

They opened the door just as Li Gu, who had been spying the whole time, appeared.

Shi Gandang bowed to him and strode off, disappearing into the night.

“Sister, well…” Li Gu was at a loss for words. He couldn’t ask if they hadn’t kissed despite the atmosphere.

Li Wan glanced at him and silently handed over the marriage decree hidden in her sleeve for him to inspect.

No amount of argument could rival the power of this silk scroll.

Li Wan was no child; she could see who was sincere and who was not.

After carefully reading the decree, Li Gu gasped and returned it, completely convinced.

No woman could resist such a pursuit. Li Wan’s resistance was normal, and any other woman would have succumbed.

The power of this decree was overwhelming.

“Brother, would you go this far for a woman? What about your wife? How much effort did you put into marrying her?” Li Wan asked, fixing her hair while looking at Li Gu.

Li Gu avoided her burning gaze, hesitated, then let out a sigh.

Honestly, he couldn’t do it.

His future brother-in-law had gone all out for this marriage.

To pursue a woman so fiercely was rare indeed.

In other words, with such connections, securing an official position would be effortless. Why waste it on a woman? Once he had high rank and riches, any woman would come to him.

Even if Cao Mao was a puppet emperor, an imperial marriage decree was not easily obtained. To Li Gu, Shi Gandang was wasting his political capital on a trivial matter.

He cursed inwardly, thinking Shi Gandang had been blinded by a woman.

“Looks like my brother-in-law isn’t ordinary—he’s truly devoted his heart to you,” Li Gu said with some admiration, sighing. He sensed his sister was lost, even if physically present, her heart had been stolen.

Their family had suffered a great loss!

Having access to imperial favors like this could greatly benefit the clan.

Still, Li Wan’s charm was truly astonishing.

No wonder some fool had petitioned for an imperial marriage decree for her!

Though strange, Li Gu felt Li Wan and Shi Gandang were strangely well-matched.

Both were the type who acted boldly without regard for consequences, following their hearts.

“That’s right! Don’t you know my standards? Ordinary men can’t satisfy me.

He got me the imperial marriage decree—if I don’t marry him, I’ll never marry!” Li Wan said spiritedly, her braided hair almost dancing.

Sima Yan kept pestering her, yet he never sought such a decree. Sincerity is relative.

At this moment, Li Wan was certain she hadn’t chosen wrong.

...

“You smell like a woman,” Shi Chong said, sniffing Shi Gandang with a puzzled look near the simple record office’s door.

Shi Gandang glanced at him, too lazy to explain how he had just been in an embrace with Li Wan, and replied helplessly, “Sixth Brother, do you have time to care about that now?”

“I’m just nervous and trying to make conversation.

We have a big day tomorrow—I can’t sleep.

If I’d known I’d be this anxious, I might’ve gone to find a woman for fun.

Now I regret it,” Shi Chong said with a bitter smile, showing his trembling forearms, unable to stop shaking.

Many are unafraid of death, facing a blade without flinching.

...

But if one knows the exact date of death, and it’s close at hand, the mental pressure can crush a person.

On the day before execution, death row inmates who usually boast of fighting ten men can break down crying and screaming.

Shi Chong was practically thick-skinned; another would have collapsed into tears.

According to plan, at dawn, Cao Mao would ride the imperial carriage with hundreds of cannon fodder to the record office gate. Then Shi Chong and Shi Gandang would board the carriage beside the driver, holding ceremonial batons and banners.

After that, their fate would be left to Heaven.

All strategies would be exhausted then, leaving only “destiny.”

Neither planned to wear armor; in a group assault, even iron armor wouldn't help much—better to rely on wits.

“These days, our lord should go home to find some concubines to bear heirs. If he dies, the family line would end,” Shi Chong lamented, sighing deeply.

Shi Gandang recalled that hours ago he had already settled his marriage, and a wave of emotion surged.

If not for the eldest brother-in-law’s arrival, he might have spent the night in the woodshed entangled with Li Wan, lost in passion.

He was human, not a machine. Facing disaster, the urge to indulge wildly assaulted his reason like a tide.

Li Wan probably felt the same.

Because if he didn’t survive this ordeal, tonight’s indulgence might be their last sweet memory.

Why not give in fully?

Why wait until death to regret never having loved fiercely?

If Li Gu hadn’t been spying outside, they probably would have already begun.

“No matter if we survive this, our names—no, your name, Sixth Brother of the Shi family—will be firmly etched in history.

Future generations reading this chapter will know that when the Sima clan wielded absolute power, someone dared draw a sword for the emperor!

When all ministers dared not speak of loyalty and righteousness, someone stood guard with a righteous sword by the emperor’s side!

While the world is full of cowards, only you, Sixth Brother, are a hero!” Shi Gandang gripped Shi Chong’s shoulder solemnly.

Yet inwardly he scoffed: though stirring, this speech was ultimately futile.

This was but a play on the street; everyone was actor and audience alike.

Perhaps moved by Shi Gandang’s passion, Shi Chong’s trembling ceased.

He took a deep breath and nodded, “Yeah, at worst, we die!”

“Right! Everyone dies once—some lightly as a feather, some heavily as Mount Tai!” Shi Gandang clenched his fists and continued, “If it can be as heavy as Mount Tai, then what’s death? A true man must live boldly!”

“Well said! We must live boldly!” Shi Chong also clenched his fists, exhilarated like he’d been injected with adrenaline, invincible.

But soon, he wilted again.

Grabbing Shi Gandang’s sleeve, he whispered, “Gandang, can you be honest? How sure are we? Not that I don’t trust you, but this... this is a big gamble.”

You only regret now? I thought you were brave! Shi Gandang thought disdainfully but continued to encourage him:

“You win by fighting!

Fighting involves sacrifice!

Cao Mao is the emperor and isn’t afraid—why should we be?”

“No! I’m afraid of dying!” Shi Chong said, lying sideways on a narrow cot like a dying dog, ready to think of nothing as Cao Mao’s group approached, clutching the imperial banner.

No matter whether you stick your neck out or hide it, it’s a death sentence. Tired of fighting, just give up.

Seeing Shi Chong close his eyes and pretend to sleep, Shi Gandang nearly laughed aloud.

“You were much fiercer in your past life,” he murmured softly beside him.