Bonds Stronger Than Blood
After Zhang Liang and Han Xin, the distinctions between men and women had gradually softened compared to previous eras. Even a woman could sometimes lead a household, a sign that patriarchal views had significantly waned.
In the old days, the very notion of male superiority hadn't even existed—prioritizing men was simply taken for granted. But over centuries of a nation's history, countless women had risen to official positions and taken charge of families, slowly transforming society.
Yet one thing remained unchanged, no matter how sexual hierarchies shifted.
The authority of a group's leader—a general—was absolute, whether in a nation, faction, or family.
This held true for the Sima clan as well. No matter how exceptional Sima Yi was as a woman, she was still just a family member. She, too, had to obey the clan head, Sima Bang.
Sima Bang's face looked somewhat stern. At his arrival, even Sima Hui's expression hardened, but he strode inside as if the academy were his own home.
It could be called rude. Yet he acted as if his impudence were perfectly natural, pulling Sima Hui and Sima Yi aside for a private talk.
Thanks to that, I was left fidgeting anxiously, utterly unable to guess his intentions or what they might discuss.
"Why would someone who hasn't visited in years suddenly show up now?"
Sima Yi was the child Sima Hui had brought here. Separated from her family as a little girl, she'd fled the chaos to Jingzhou and been raised by distant relatives she'd never met. Only now could she smile freely, having become an indispensable part of Suyeon Academy.
"What if he suddenly tries to take her away?"
"Master."
Zhuge Liang gazed at me calmly from her chair.
"Why are you so anxious about your disciple leaving?"
"What?"
"Even if the head of the Sima clan comes to take his daughter back, that's the clan head's decision. If he decrees it, she must obey—it's the law and the proper way, isn't it?"
"What a profoundly conservative, Confucian answer!"
Her words made my chest tighten.
"You're right. For a mere girl to defy the clan head's command is unthinkable. But thinking of the sorrow she'll endure in the process tears at my heart."
"...Master?"
"How can I send off Yi with a smile when she hasn't fully realized her aspirations?"
In a much earlier kingdom—before the incident in the western capital—I would have thought only of the gains.
Finally, one disciple graduates! Now I've forged a good connection with the Sima clan of Henei. They'll be a huge help down the line!
A bright student among my Suyeon Academy graduates. A girl who might one day rise to a high office despite her gender.
If Sima Yi left with Sima Bang for Henei, I would have parted with a smile, exchanged occasional letters to maintain ties—for the day I might need the Sima clan's aid.
"It might be presumptuous, but Yi doesn't want to leave this place."
"Why? Didn't you say yourself she has nothing left to learn under me?"
"It was just something I said—and it's true to an extent—but she's not ready to venture out into the world yet!"
Sima Yi wasn't ready to leave. Neither was she prepared in her heart, nor were Sima Hui or I.
Family isn't defined solely by blood. Sharing hardships and joys in the same space, relying on one another—that makes a family too.
That's why sworn brotherhood exists. Though not bound by blood, I already considered Sima Yi and Sima Hui as family.
Before I knew it, Suyeon Academy had become an irreplaceable treasure to me.
The same went for Sima Yi. I hadn't heard it directly from her, but she surely felt the same.
"Yes, she'll have to leave someday. But not now. Not socially, temporally, or ethically. Specifically..."
"To cut to the chase."
Zhuge Liang spoke in her usual even tone.
"You're not saying she shouldn't leave for those reasons. You're listing those reasons because she shouldn't leave."
"...You're right."
Her words hit the mark. I racked my brain for excuses to keep Sima Yi at Suyeon Academy, but really, I just opposed her leaving—and dredged up every justification for it.
"Why oppose her departure so fiercely?"
"Well..."
I was at a loss for words. I couldn't even articulate it to myself.
I... toward Sima Yi...
"Hah."
...No, even if I knew, there was no reason to tell this cheeky little one.
"Because I haven't taught her everything I want to yet. And she still has much she wants to learn from me."
"What is it?"
"You don't need to know, kid."
Thwack. I flicked Zhuge Liang's forehead in mock indignation. She clutched her head, glaring at me with complicated eyes.
"Why hit me?"
"Because I felt like it."
"...Pardon?"
"Sometimes you just do what you want without reason. Drop the habit of overthinking everything logically. The world can't be lived on reason alone. You have to surrender to emotion now and then."
"Sounds like the logic of drunks."
"Think that if you want. Remember what I said when we first met? That I'd show you the world."
I placed my hand on her head again, ruffling her hair wildly.
"The world has all sorts of things like this."
"...What a strange world."
Yeah, she's still too young to get it. I tickled the grumbling Zhuge Liang's scalp while waiting for the Sima clan drama to resolve.
And then.
"...Hmph."
Sima Bang burst out the door, huffing furiously as if he might spit at me, then stormed outside.
"Hey, wait..."
"Let him go."
Sima Hui blocked me. But was it really okay to just stand by? The man was heading straight for the stables to mount up and leave.
"What on earth happened?"
"It's better if you don't know the details. Just the short version."
Sima Hui patted my back.
"He wanted to take Sima Yi back to Henei. I bought us five years."
"......."
My worst fear had come true, but the best possible outcome had emerged.
* * *
"Master, you're dying to know what I discussed with Father, right?"
"Of course. What could you have said to make him that furious?"
"Something a father would naturally rage over... heh heh heh."
Sima Yi smirked slyly, nudging my side with her elbow.
"You didn't..."
"His daughter, whom he came to drag back to Henei, flat-out refuses to go. Wouldn't that piss off any father?"
"...Can't be helped."
Who could stop a father from reclaiming his daughter in Jingzhou? But if the daughter herself refused?
From Sima Bang's position—unable to stay here long—he had no choice but to rush back to Henei. Bandits still roamed nearby, and Zhang Ji and Guo Si's men from Chang'an were plundering far afield. Delaying days in Jingzhou arguing with his daughter? No clan head would risk that.
"Master Sima Hui helped a ton. It's no exaggeration to say she convinced him."
"I should treat her to a grand feast soon."
"No need between us. Heh heh. But a special dinner out wouldn't be bad."
Between us. The words carried a subtle weight.
"By the way, what was that about five years?"
"...Father wants me in an official post. After all this time at Suyeon Academy, he figured I'd serve as a bureaucrat in Henei—learn and cultivate myself there."
"An official position? Phew."
Relief. It wasn't about an engagement—
"Whoa, you just relaxed, didn't you? Why? The master who's itching to see his disciples in high office?"
"Hush."
"Sad because your disciple's leaving? Heh heh, if that's it..."
"Sima Yi."
I grabbed her shoulders. Startled by my sudden closeness, she stepped back, but I braced one hand against the wall, locking eyes with her.
"Do you really think you've learned everything?"
"...My, is there still something I haven't learned?"
"Obviously. Five years. Perfect timing. There's so much I need to teach you before you become an official."
"Five years... I'll stay as long as I've already been here, Master."
Tap. Sima Yi tilted her head forward, pressing her forehead to mine. Our faces were so close I could feel her breath. We stared straight into each other's eyes.
"Disciple, I still have so much I want to learn from Master. Teach me more."
"Of course. Don't even think of leaving until you've learned it all. You are... my disciple."
"Your disciple... Hmph, fine. Who knows what'll happen later."
Sima Yi grinned and slipped aside.
"Oh, right—could I meet Mother sometime?"
"Mother? Who? My adoptive mother?"
"Yes. To secure those five years, I might need a little help from the Cai family."
"If it's that, I'll handle it myself—"
"No."
Sima Yi turned and headed for the door.
"I need to speak with Mother directly."