Dinner Invitation

At the Sima clan estate in Wen County, not long after the Coalition and Dong Zhuo's forces had finished their opening skirmishes, the tension of a frontier contact zone was set aside for a brief spell of festivity.

"You've arrived, Young Master Do?"

I was the guest of honor. Today was the evening dinner Sima Lang and I had promised each other last time.

She was dressed in uncharacteristically splendid formal robes. Face powdered, lips painted with rouge — I couldn't shake the feeling she had gone full "meet-the-parents mode."

"I'm not too late, am I?"

"Mealtime hasn't started yet, so you've arrived right on schedule. But this person is…"

"Ah! Didn't you see her before at the Huai County office? This is Han Hao, who served as Commandant under Wang Guang."

I'd come straight from the Coalition main camp, so bringing Han Hao along had been the only option. Having left Wang Guang and even abandoned her office, she bowed to Sima Lang with hollowed, weary eyes.

"A pleasure! But why has Lady Han come with you…?"

"She was thoroughly disillusioned with Wang Guang and resigned her post. She's agreed to stay in Yawang for a while and help with my work."

"How ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fortunate. It's an honor to work alongside you, Lady Han."

"I… feel the same."

Han Hao looked thoroughly out of place at a gathering like this. Though if you asked me, this clan would probably take more of a shine to someone who'd risen to Commandant under a Grand Administrator than they would to me.

Sima Lang led us inside. Servants bustled about preparing food and whatever else was needed, and before long her younger siblings filed out in a neat line and stood before me.

"Do you… recognize all of them?"

"Standing in order like that, how could I not? Fu, Gui, Xun, Jin, Tong. Min's still too young to come out, I take it?"

"Still needs a wet nurse's care. But I'm glad you remembered every one of them."

Noticing they were lined up in order was already proof I'd memorized them all. Sima Lang squared her shoulders in front of her siblings, looking absurdly proud.

"Oh, and that Sinnong-beop I mentioned before is finished. Once we distribute it and put it into practice across the region, we're certain to see greater harvests."

Convenient timing — the new technique was complete. Sima Lang and Shang Lin both had skills that shaved political power for research, which was how they'd succeeded without help from Liu Bei or Lu Zhi.

"It's all thanks to you, Lady Sima. Without you treating it like your own work, I doubt we'd have managed it in a lifetime."

"There's no need to praise me so highly. Now that Lady Han has joined us, all that remains is to fatten Yawang and Wen even further."

"The war's still going, so who knows how things will turn out. At the very least, we have to try to keep the counties around here safe."

We traded a few words about work. Han Hao still looked uncomfortable as an uninvited guest of the Sima clan, yet she pricked up her ears and listened intently the moment county affairs came up.

Then the back of my neck started to burn.

I turned my head, and sure enough — Sima Yi was standing in the main hall, glaring daggers at me.

"Mm… I need to step out for a moment. Lady Han, would you mind showing her around in my place?"

"Of course. I'll leave Fu with you — follow her to the reception hall."

Sima Lang took Han Hao inside. I locked eyes briefly with young Fu, then casually drifted toward Sima Yi.

"What do you think you're doing? You're not planning to break our promise, are you?"

"I'll keep it. I only came first because of a prior engagement with your sister."

"When exactly were you planning to tell her?"

"After the meal, when we part ways. This is for your sake too. She went to all the trouble of preparing a feast — if I drop the bomb at the start, she'll definitely suspect you. I'm protecting sisterly affection here."

"Bullshit… Just shut up, eat, and get out. Meeting you was disgusting. Let's never see each other again."

"…"

Dismissing people right down to the last second. Sima Yi turned to leave on that note, but I still had one thing left to say.

"Thank you."

"…?"

The sudden remark must have piqued her curiosity, because she stopped. She didn't turn around properly to listen — just tilted her head slightly, as if to say spit it out and leave.

"Your strategy worked. If no variables had cropped up, we would have caught Xu Rong right there."

"I never expected much from an idiot like you. Screwing things up at that level is exactly your ceiling."

"You're right. I don't have the ability to steer an entire nation the way you do."

"Cut the flattery. If you thought this would change my mind now, you're badly mistaken."

"It's not flattery. I mean it. Xu Rong was a better general than you gave her credit for. And you found her opening with surgical precision. If you'd been born even ten years earlier, the Coalition might actually have been able to crush Dong Zhuo."

"…"

Sima Yi turned fully around. Not because the praise had pleased her. If anything, she was staring at me with even more contempt than before — the eyes of a queen looking down on a worm.

"What is it you actually want to say?"

"You said it before, didn't you? That Liu Bei, a mere county magistrate, was beneath your station. So how high does someone have to climb before they can command people like you?"

"I'm not idle enough to debate things that will never happen. Dream on. It will never come to pass."

"There's always a 'what if' in this world, isn't there? Even if it's just a fantasy, set the standard for me. I need a goal too, don't I?"

"…"

The reason I'd asked Liu Xie to place Liu ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Bei's post in Henei was standing right in front of me. This vast estate. The enormous wealth. The Sima name that stretched not only through Henei but across the entire Central Plains.

But the most important piece of all was you, Sima Zhongda. If I could find you faster than anyone and let that talent bloom, I was confident I could weather anything — even Cao Cao and Yuan Shao.

Step… step…

Sima Yi walked slowly toward me. She tipped her head about five degrees, then lifted the fan in her hand and tapped it lightly under my chin.

"There is none."

"Don't just say it's impossible no matter what…"

"I mean it literally. Even if the Son of Heaven himself summoned me, I have no intention of following him in earnest. Trailing behind someone, staring at the back of their head — that doesn't interest me."

"…"

With that, Sima Yi left. And I knew those weren't just words meant to needle me.

She follows no one. The specialization she has yet to awaken is almost certainly Traitor.

She will reign over others if she reigns at all. She will never bow her head.

A grand banquet had been laid out in the reception hall. The guests were only two: Han Hao and me.

By contrast, the seats were packed with the Sima clan's notables and the various estate captains. She Ying, who had helped me fight Xu Rong last time, occupied one of the lower seats as well.

"Young Master Do? This is our grandfather."

Sima Lang brought Han Hao and me to the highest seat and had us pay our respects. Her grandfather — Sima Fang's father, Sima Jun.

"It is an honor to meet you, Lord Sima. I am Do Yeop."

"Han Hao…"

White-haired, deeply wrinkled — and yet, thanks to that distinctive Sima bloodline, as tall as Lu Zhi and carrying a solid paunch. He smiled kindly and addressed Han Hao.

"Hohoho… Aren't you the one who served under Wang of Henei? What brings you all the way out here?"

"Well… Wang of Henei issued orders I could not accept, so I resigned my post of my own accord."

"Is that so? I hope we shall see more of each other. Hohoho…"

And that was it. He didn't ask me a single question — just turned his head and lifted his cup. Embarrassed, Sima Lang hurriedly poured wine into her grandfather's cup.

"Grandfather? Young Master Do here is a loyal subject of the Han who once attempted to assassinate Dong Zhuo."

"I know. You've been spreading enough rumors inside the clan yourself, haven't you?"

"Not only that — he seized the Huai County office with a mere thirteen riders. And not long ago at Henei, a surprise attack nearly surrounded and annihilated Xu Rong's army."

"I know that too. She Rong trained those boys well."

"…"

No matter what she said, he deflected it every which way, determined not to acknowledge me. Sima Lang was about to try again when I stopped her.

"Lord Sima seems busy. Shall we return to our seats?"

"Y-yes, perhaps we should."

We settled at a table prepared separately. Sima Lang kept her head bowed and apologized on his behalf.

"I'm so sorry, Young Master Do. Grandfather gave his permission, so I was certain he would receive you warmly…"

"From a grandfather's perspective, having someone with no office and nothing to his name as the guest of honor might not sit well. I probably would have done the same."

"But you're not someone who deserves that kind of treatment. I invited you, and then made you uncomfortable — I have no face left."

"Not at all. Come on, shall we have a drink?"

I decided enough was enough, picked up the wine jar, and poured into Han Hao's cup. Then one for Sima Lang.

When I finally moved to pour my own, Sima Lang snatched the jar away with a sharp motion.

"You mustn't pour your own, Young Master Do. Allow me."

"What? But if Lady Sima fills a cup here…"

Glug, glug…

Too late. Sima Lang poured straight into my cup as if she didn't care in the slightest that every member of her clan was watching.

Glare… glare…

The back of my neck went cold in an instant. Her younger siblings might not understand, but the clan elders and estate captains clearly found the scene deeply offensive.

And of course they would. Who would be pleased to watch the eldest daughter of the Sima clan cling to a man with no office like a tavern girl and pour his wine?

Mortified, I whispered low to her.

Lady Sima? This really isn't like you.

This is exactly like me. They all need to know where my heart is pointed.

…

So it hadn't been a simple mistake. A woman whose manners put anyone to shame wouldn't suddenly lose her mind like that.

Sima Lang had done it on purpose. She had poured wine in full view of Sima Jun and the clan elders who were snubbing me — a deliberate challenge.

Did she like me that much?

There was still time before the full moon. Even so, the sky was clear of clouds, and an unusually bright light washed over the clan courtyard.

Sima Lang and I stood side by side, just the two of us, watching that moon. It was the kind of night where the atmosphere carried itself without either of us needing to speak.

"Young Master Do? Starting tomorrow, I intend to stay at the county office again."

"What? What do you mean…"

"It means I am still a guest of Magistrate Yu. We never know when Dong Zhuo's army might cross the river again, so we have to fatten the county and prepare. I want to take part."

"…"

The reason Sima Lang was insisting on going to the office was obvious. She had felt the clan's coldness at dinner tonight and concluded that winning their proper blessing was impossible.

So she was trying a kind of rebellion. Really — nothing less suited to her.

All because of a nobody like me.

"Lang'er, won't you bring me some honey water?"

"Grandfather?"

At that moment, Sima Jun appeared behind us. He lumbered over on his heavy frame and demanded honey water for his hangover from his granddaughter.

"I'll send someone right away."

"Can't you prepare it yourself? You used to do it so readily. Now that you're grown, is that beneath you?"

"No! I'll bring it at once."

The look in Sima Lang's eyes as she left was uneasy. She was clearly wondering whether it was safe to leave Sima Jun and me alone.

The moment she vanished, a sudden solemnity settled over us. Since I already knew what Sima Jun was going to say, I struck first.

"I have conditions."

"And how do you know what I was about to say?"

"You were going to tell me to keep my hands off your granddaughter, weren't you? I'll do as you wish — but I expect something in return."

"You dare attach conditions to our clan? What a wretched creature… Fine. What do you want?"

Sima Jun snorted as if he couldn't believe I'd seized the initiative. Between him and Sima Yi, they were the top two people who didn't even see me as human.

"The land the Sima clan lent out for the Black Mountain bandits to use — just give it to us outright."

"Using land you borrowed without leave is already a crime worth tearing you apart, and now you want it for free?"

"Yes. And those thousand troops of She Rong's you lent me last time? I'll borrow them for one more month."

"Is there anything you won't say? Do you even know who I am? If I put my mind to it, burying you — and that lowborn woman Liu Bei — would be nothing at all!"

Sima Jun's jowls trembled with genuine fury. He was already thoroughly drunk; push him any further and a blood-sugar spike might drop him clutching the back of his neck.

"Even the Sima clan can't freely harm state officials, can they?"

"Is that the only method? I can shatter that pathetic reputation of yours in a single stroke. How long do you think a local official lasts without the cooperation of the gentry?"

Right. With the Sima clan's vast network alone, they could turn every powerful family in the area against Liu Bei.

"Do as you like. We won't just sit there and take it."

"Planning to imitate Wang Guang and attack our house? Then your master will never recover either."

"No need for anything that obvious. If the Black Mountain rabble, unable to forget their old habits, rose in rebellion and looted the nearest Sima estate first — who would suspect us? After that, if we spread the stolen wealth among the neighboring clans and bought their goodwill, do you think people would still keep faith with a Sima clan that's already dead and buried?"

"Y-you little— Have you gone completely mad? Are you threatening me?"

"Then you should have chosen your targets more carefully before threatening people. You learned the hard way a few years ago from those yellow-turbaned bastards — the man with nothing to lose is the most dangerous of all."

"…"

How much of a pushover did he take me for, to talk like that? If I put my mind to it, I could wipe out the Sima clan in half a day.

And he clearly didn't know — I'd been building my own reputation precisely to acquire the kind of gentry power they had. The one who'd helped me do it was his eldest granddaughter.

"You rotten bastard… Fine. Have it your way. Tell Lang today and get the hell out."

"Yes, sir."

Sima Jun left, still seething with displeasure. Sima Lang returned late with the honey water and looked around.

"Where's Grandfather?"

"He was tired and went in first."

"He didn't… say anything strange, did he?"

"…"

I gazed at her face ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in silence. A woman armored in courtesy and refinement — and yet far too fond of a rootless man like me.

But as of today, that ends too. I opened my mouth slowly.

"Lord Sima took a liking to me, actually. He said he tried snubbing me openly, but I handled it with such composure that it won him over."

"R-really? That's such a relief…"

Sima Lang never dreamed I was lying. She let out a sigh of pure relief. She trusted me so completely she didn't even think to doubt.

"He said he'd just give us the land lent to the Black Mountain bandits. And he told She Rong to lend us a thousand troops as well."

"He liked you that much? Our grandfather is quite exacting, you know. Then again, a man of your caliber isn't someone he could fail to recognize…"

"So there's no need for you to come to the county office."

"What?"

Sima Lang asked again, certain she had misheard. Looking at her — still bristling with trust in me, ears pricked — was hard.

"What I mean is… Lady Sima is no longer needed. I've gotten everything I wanted."

"Y-Young Master Do? I don't understand what you're saying."

"Honestly, I was a little surprised at how easily you believed me. Falling for me after being taken in by a staged act with Wang Guang — isn't that a bit careless?"

"W-what do you mean…"

Sima Lang's expression darkened by degrees. But if I didn't get crueler, I wouldn't be able to cut her free.

"Of course, using someone once and throwing them away isn't so bad. But honestly, you're not my type. A woman raised as delicately as Lady Sima just spreads her legs in bed like a stunned frog, twitches a bit, and it's over. That's far too boring, don't you think?"

"Ah… aah…"

Sima Lang couldn't close her mouth, unable to process the complete change in me. And then Han Hao arrived.

"Lord Do? Why did you call me over he—"

I seized her hand at once. Then I pulled her all the way against me and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"Lady Han is far better. Smarter than Lady Sima, better at her work. And above all, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moment night falls she turns ferocious and keeps me thoroughly entertained."

"Y-Young Master Do…"

Sima Lang crumpled under the shock and sank to the ground. Tears slid down her cheeks and glittered pitifully in the moonlight.

"We'll be going, then."

I dragged a completely bewildered Han Hao toward the exit. Behind us, Sima Lang's sobbing carried on the air, but I forced my ears shut and walked on, eyes fixed only ahead.