The Great Sima

Upcoming novel: After I Blessed That Calamity Child, She Became Invincible

[Blurb]

One blow to the head turned Liang Ying from a dowry attendant into the male favorite of Liu Bai, the third princess of Qi.

Though Liu Bai was the youngest daughter of Duke Ji of Qi, she lived alone in Lan Garden, shut away from the world. She had no more than three servants, never spoke, and would let no one near her. Everyone thought she was mute from birth. Her marriage had long been delayed, and although people had repeatedly offered her male favorites, none survived more than three days.

Liang Ying thought she was done for this time. But Liu Bai never laid a finger on her, and she couldn't even catch a glimpse of her.

The bamboo blind by the window remained closed. Her face was hidden; only the notes of her fingertips on the strings could be heard.

Little did anyone know that three years later, as a new ruler seized the throne of Qi in a bloodbath, he would take Liang Ying by the hand...

· Gao Xi's Umbrella ·

Rain poured down beneath the scorching sun. Liang Ying curled up on a stone bridge, her jade-white skin chilled to the bone. Tears and rain mingled as they streamed down her cheeks.

A paper umbrella moved above her, shielding her from the rain. She raised her eyes, and Gao Xi was standing beside her.

"By now, you should understand that some things are beyond human control."

"We were strangers once. Why shield me from the wind and rain now?"

She got up and pushed his hand away, but her vision went black and she collapsed. Feverish and unconscious, she did not wake.

Gao Xi carried her through the rain-soaked alley.

Drops fell from the umbrella like a beaded curtain, pattering endlessly on the ground, while warm murmurs sounded by her ear.

· Liu Bai's Zither ·

The final note of the clear melody faded. Liu Bai glanced sideways and saw Liang Ying already asleep against her shoulder.

She lifted her slender fingers from the strings and gently wiped the tear stains from Liang Ying's cheek, her eyes full of tenderness.

As she slept, Liang Ying wrapped both arms around Liu Bai's right arm, like a white rabbit nestled in her embrace.

Liu Bai smiled silently, returned her hands to the zither, and began to play again.

A smile rested on Liang Ying's sleeping face, peaceful and carefree.

"If I could, I'd want things to stay this way forever."

Hearing Liang Ying's sleepy murmur, Liu Bai's voice was as gentle as water. "Silly girl, don't you dare cry in front of anyone else."

· Shu Jiu's Lantern ·

The stars and moon gave no light. Lamps were out in every home, the streets were empty, and the darkness was so thick that nothing could be seen.

Dragging her battered body, Liang Ying was on the verge of collapse and could barely take a step. At last, her foot sank into a mud pit and she stumbled.

A lone lamp glimmered before her. A hand supported her at the waist from behind.

She turned her head, and Shu Jiu's worried face was close to hers.

"The road ahead is pitch-black. If you insist on going alone, you'll not only fall and end up covered in mud, you'll hurt yourself and be bruised all over. Why put yourself through that?"

"I chose this road myself. I don't regret it."

She struggled to her feet and took two steps back to put some distance between them. Liang Ying bowed. "Thank you, young master."

Shu Jiu took Liang Ying's hand and placed the lantern he was carrying into it. "If that's so, then take this lantern with you. As long as its flame does not go out, my heart will be with you."

The Great Sima also has a companion guide, The Great Sima Character Guide, for reference. If you'd like to sort out the relationships between the characters, feel free to consult it.

Blurb:

Sima Yi raised the ruler in his hand high above Sima Zhao, who was kneeling before him. "I outlasted three generations of Cao rulers and crushed Cao Shuang. And what have you done, brat?"

Sima Zhao looked up and shouted, "Mother!"

Zhang Chunhua's voice came from outside the door. "Son! Who's picking on you?"

Frightened, Sima Yi hid the ruler behind his back. "N-no one..."

After Sima Yi put down the ruler and left, Sima Zhao picked it up and raised it high over Sima Yan, who was kneeling beside him. "I toyed with the Wei emperor and even made Liu Shan surrender Shu. I controlled two-thirds of the realm. And what have you done, brat?"

Sima Yan looked up and shouted, "Mother!"

Wang Yuanji's voice came from outside the door. "Son! Who's picking on you?"

Frightened, Sima Zhao hid the ruler behind his back. "N-no one..."

After Sima Zhao put down the ruler and left, Sima Yan picked it up and raised it high over Sima Zhong, who was kneeling beside him. "I destroyed Eastern Wu and unified the realm. And what have you done, brat?"

Sima Zhong looked at the door, then at Sima You's memorial tablet beside him. Sucking on his finger, he replied, "Father, it seems you and I have squandered it all..."

The ruler slipped from Sima Yan's hand and fell to the floor...

Content warning: Because the story is long, the plot inevitably includes characters who aren't the protagonists. The chapter summaries indicate which character each chapter focuses on, while chapters marked "interlude" contain secondary storylines. Please choose what you'd like to read; feel free to skip any chapters you don't enjoy.

Premise: The Sima Clan's Road to Rebirth