"What has happened," Diao Chan asked softly, her eyes narrowed, "do not delay the appointed time!"
"Madam, a beggar has blocked our path. I shall go and drive him away!" the coachman said hurriedly. This was crucial for the survival of the Chu King's estate; not a moment could be spared.
"Wait!" Diao Chan leaned out slightly, casually took out five *qian* in loose silver, and threw it into the beggar's hand. "Originally, I should have given you more, but too much might make you unable to keep it from those with ulterior motives. Go!"
The beggar hastily threw the silver into the carriage and shouted a few incoherent sounds.
"So he's mute. Send someone to get him some clean clothes and make proper arrangements. If he has nowhere to go, he can be taken in by the Chu King's estate. Would you like that?" Diao Chan asked gently. The mute man hastily shook his head.
"Then what do you truly want?" Diao Chan rubbed her temples, feeling helpless. "Tell him that he will help you settle things later!"
The beggar shook his head like a rattle drum. Seeing Diao Chan about to leave, he hurried to follow, but his legs were no match for the carriage. Soon, a distance grew between them.
"He's still following?" Diao Chan asked softly.
"Yes, Madam. If you ask me, you're too kind-hearted. Just giving him a bit of silver and sending him away would have sufficed. You shouldn't have lingered so long, lest you delay something important!" the coachman grumbled softly.
"Hm?" Diao Chan hummed. The coachman immediately stopped talking. Diao Chan then murmured to herself, "I have a feeling the King is not dead. This is also considered accumulating merit for the King."
In a blink of an eye, the carriage arrived at the palace gate. The coachman hurriedly brought down a small stool. "Madam, according to the rules, carriages cannot enter. You must walk in yourself!"
Diao Chan remained motionless and said nothing for a long while. Then, she sighed heavily, her gaze sharp. "Regardless of any damn rules, just drive the carriage in. Whatever happens, the Chu King's estate will take responsibility."
The palace gate guards saw it was the Chu King's estate carriage. Although Ye Feng was dead, his influence lingered like a dormant tiger's. No one dared to stop them. The two exchanged a knowing glance and pretended not to see.
After the carriage was far away, one guard patted his chest. "Fortunately, brother, you are so resourceful. Otherwise, we two would be in trouble!"
"You owe me a drink!" another guard said excitedly. "But the King of Chu is gone. Who else dares to gallop a carriage in the palace? Aren't they afraid that someone above will fly into a rage and raid the Chu King's estate?"
"Be careful!" the other quickly covered the guard's mouth. Seeing no one around, he whispered, "I heard that the person inside the carriage is the Chu King's wife, that Diao Chan. She's here to make the Emperor compromise today!"
"You say the King of Chu is dead, how dare she? If it were me, I'd hide away and never show my face again!"
"Brother, you don't understand. Currently, on Liang Province's territory, the Emperor technically holds power, but there's still the Third Army, firmly controlled by the Chu King's estate. I fear all of us combined are no match for them."
"No wonder I thought something like this was happening!"
The two chatted for a while. Seeing the clan leaders entering, they quickly bowed and stood respectfully, watching the group enter.
"Let me ask you, has the Chu King's wife entered?" the leading clan leader asked loudly.
"A carriage entered just now, it should be from the Chu King's estate, but whether it was truly the Chu King's wife inside, we young lads can't say for sure!" the guard said obsequiously. "Is something big about to happen!"
"Hahahaha!" The leading clan leader unprecedentedly patted the guard's shoulder. "For you, this is a tremendous piece of good news. As long as the carriage entered, half the matter is settled!"
Diao Chan's insistence on entering by carriage was for this very reason: firstly, to not lose face for the Chu King's estate, and secondly, to show her determination to these old foxes!
Seeing the clan leaders and Lu Zhi enter the Golden Hall in procession from inside the carriage, Diao Chan gently called out to the coachman and said slowly, "Is the General's side prepared?"
"All preparations are complete. Ten thousand men are stationed to the west, and the rest are similarly deployed. If the aristocratic families and Emperor Ling make the slightest wrong move, they can be executed immediately!"
"Good," Diao Chan lightly touched her sword, "Remember to instruct Lu Bu. Though one should not doubt those one trusts, one should also be wary of those who might betray them from behind."
"Madam, have you discovered something?" the coachman asked anxiously. "Shall I inform the General directly?"
"Do your duty. I will enter the hall only after everyone else has gone in!" Diao Chan frowned, staring at the Golden Hall. Although she had made flawless arrangements, she still felt something was about to happen.
"I hope it's just my illusion," Diao Chan sighed softly. After the bronze chime rang steadily five or six times, she slowly ascended the steps.
The eunuch saw the Chu King's armor and was suddenly stunned. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Diao Chan and breathed a sigh of relief. Although they were all from the Chu King's estate, Diao Chan was clearly much easier to deal with. He extended a hand, smiling.
"Madam, the court officials are deliberating. How can a woman like you enter? I'm afraid it will be difficult for this servant to explain. Why not return now, and this old servant will pretend this never happened!"
The eunuch's condescending tone ignited Diao Chan's fury. She drew her treasured sword and said coldly, "I'll give you one more chance. Speak clearly. Can I enter today or not!"
"Rules are rules. Don't make it difficult for this servant!" the eunuch said hurriedly. He had heard that after Ye Feng's death, Diao Chan had become a madwoman, and she might actually kill him. Glancing back, the eunuch seemed to see Emperor Ling smiling at him.
Anger flared from his heart, and wickedness surged. He leered at Diao Chan, "The King of Chu is dead. Little beauty, why persist? Why not follow me, and you'll still have glory and wealth!"
"Have you decided on this?" Diao Chan caressed her sword. "Originally, I had some acquaintance with you eunuchs, but now it seems the tree has fallen and the monkeys have scattered. Never mind."
"Madam, what are you saying? We are merely following orders!" the eunuch said slowly. "If Madam does not comply, perhaps..."
"Even if the King of Chu died unjustly, I am still the King of Chu's wife, a hero's wife of the Han Dynasty, and I will not allow you to defile me!" Diao Chan roared. "Rebellious subjects, you court death!"
The eunuch had thought Diao Chan wouldn't act, which was why he fearlessly tried to touch her. But the next moment, Diao Chan's sword pierced him through and through.
The eunuch's eyes widened as he fell. Diao Chan flicked the blood from her sword and slowly entered the Golden Hall, only to find everyone staring at her. She slowly wiped the blood from her face.
"How did Ye Feng take in such a woman!" Emperor Ling leaned forward, mocking.
Diao Chan remained silent, gently gesturing to her maid to set up a chair. "My body is heavy, and I fear I might harm the fetus after such exertion. I trust His Majesty will not blame me!"
Emperor Ling's teeth itched with anger. He had thought that with Ye Feng gone, he could smoothly control the Third Army and restore the Han Dynasty. But he hadn't expected Diao Chan and the young Ye Feng. His face instantly darkened.
"My lords, are you just going to stand by and watch this person disregard the law and provoke me? Who is willing to kill this person!" Emperor Ling said solemnly. "If successful, I will reward them handsomely!"
Although the words were spoken, the Golden Hall was silent. Everyone was unwilling to be the first. Or rather, the promises Diao Chan and Ye Feng had made them were too enticing, not worth offending them.
"Why do my ministers hesitate!" Emperor Ling's tone deepened. He lightly tapped the table. "Can the Han Dynasty not find a loyal and upright official!"
Seeing Emperor Ling's impotent rage, Diao Chan covered her mouth and smiled. "This Madam has no other business today. I only wish to ask Your Majesty, do the promises made to the King of Chu still count?"
"Ah, Madam, you jest," Emperor Ling said with a smile. "What did I promise the King of Chu? Perhaps Madam is misinformed, allowing those with ulterior motives to exploit the situation!"
"Guards," Diao Chan said with a smile, "it seems His Majesty has a poor memory. It is necessary to help His Majesty recall."
In a short while, an imperial edict bearing the imperial seal was placed on the table. Emperor Ling's face turned cold. Allowing the feudal lords to seal their own territories was an immense humiliation. His voice became hoarse. "If someone can kill this person, I am willing to grant them the title of Duke or Marquis, and an additional thousand gold!"
The promises were indeed generous, but everyone had become shrewd. They knew the weight of the situation and remained silent, their eyes fixed on their noses and hearts.
"Fine, if that's the case, don't blame me for acting myself." Emperor Ling's body trembled. He had already seen that all the court officials belonged to Diao Chan. "Guards!"
"Your Majesty, absolutely not. Diao Chan is the wife of the King of Chu. If something happens to her now, everyone will only think Your Majesty is ungrateful."
"Your Majesty, absolutely not. Diao Chan is pregnant now. If anything happens, how will you face the King of Chu's spirit in heaven!"
"Since Your Majesty has already promised Ye Feng, what's the harm in giving it now? It's still Han territory in the end!"
"Indeed."
"Please, Your Majesty, reconsider."
Emperor Ling saw that no one had responded to his earlier shouts. Now that so many people were pleading for Diao Chan, whom he wanted to deal with, he was filled with rage.
"Good! Good! I should have realized earlier that you have all become one!" Emperor Ling cursed. "Lu Zhi, you too, try to persuade me!"
"Your Majesty!" Lu Zhi stepped forward slightly. "A person cannot stand without integrity. Moreover, Your Majesty is the ruler of a nation and should keep one's word as if one had sent out four horses. Please, Your Majesty, fulfill your promise!"
"Grand Eunuch." Emperor Ling turned to Song Jingang, who was beside him, and found him even more amiable. "Tell me, should I fulfill my promise or not!"
"Your Majesty, this servant has not read many books, but I often hear stories that say only when a monarch commands with virtue can great things be accomplished, otherwise..." Song Jingang said slowly.
"Silence!" Emperor Ling, in a frenzy, grabbed a dagger from somewhere and pointed it at his own throat. "In your words, I am neither benevolent nor righteous. I might as well die!"