“My lord!” Wen Zhong led the ministers rushing in from outside the hall.
“There are rumors that the Prince intends to negotiate with the court, to invite imperial officials to investigate the assassin affair and prove innocence. My—”
They burst in, but before finishing, they saw someone already inside, standing tall and graceful—
“Chen—!” Wen Zhong recognized her instantly, stunned. “Why are you here?”
Had the Grand Tutor arrived before them? Wasn’t that old man supposed to be at the camp? In the past, he would speak nobly, but in truth always came to the Prince first to claim merit—
But as they looked around the hall, there was only Prince Wu and the young girl.
Inspector Zhang’s face darkened further. That fox spirit—she was clinging to the Prince at every moment!
Wen Zhong, Inspector Zhang, and others who had met Chen Danzhu knew her identity. Some who had not were bewildered. The hall fell silent.
Prince Wu looked at his ministers. This time, he did not feel their noise as a headache. He was pleased. “It is no rumor. It is indeed what I said.”
The hall was shocked again. When had the Prince said this? Some had long intended to persuade him, hinting at the court’s power without speaking plainly, waiting until retreat was impossible, so he would decide himself. For a minister of Wu to urge the Prince to bow to the court—that was shame! Who was so shameless?
The Prince pointed to Chen Danzhu. “The envoy was introduced to me by Second Miss Chen. The envoy conveyed His Majesty’s intent. After careful thought, I made this decision. My conscience is clear. I do not fear His Majesty’s questioning.”
Second Miss Chen? All eyes turned sharply to Chen Danzhu.
Inspector Zhang swayed. The plan he had just begun to weave had been stolen—by the Chen family! That old cur, the Grand Tutor! He pointed at Chen Danzhu and cried bitterly: “Shameless!”
The hall erupted in grief and outrage.
“My lord, the court has violated the Ancestor’s decree, oppressing our Wu lands!”
“My lord, do not heed the words of traitors—Second Miss Chen, so it was you who betrayed us to the court. That is why you killed Li Liang, ruining our northern defenses!”
Other accusations might be endured. But to call Li Liang a loyal minister—that could not be borne.
Chen Danzhu laughed coldly. “Whether Li Liang betrayed Prince Wu—the evidence is everywhere in the army. The reason I met the Emperor’s envoy was because I killed Li Liang, and the court’s spies in the army seized me. The envoy now sits securely among our northern forces!”
Wen Zhong shouted in fury: “So you came to deceive the Prince!”
Otherwise what? That she should die, while they lived? Chen Danzhu sneered. If it came to deceiving the Prince, every minister here surpassed her.
In the Wu court, besides those officials who wished to avoid war with the imperial court—closing their eyes and pretending all was peaceful—there were also those dissatisfied with being mere ministers under a feudal king.
The highest rank a feudal minister could attain was Grand Tutor. But that post was already taken. And with Wu’s land rich and prosperous for a hundred years, while the imperial court had long been weak, their ambitions swelled. They wanted to incite Prince Wu to declare himself Emperor. Then they could be ennobled as kings and appointed as prime ministers.
Whether they sought only peace or sought Wu’s supremacy, they ought to have devoted themselves to strengthening the state and the army. Yet these men did nothing. They only flattered the Prince, making him arrogant, and schemed to eliminate capable ministers who actually worked, fearing such men would hinder their own prospects.
Of course, Chen Dan‑=zhu suspected that imperial spies had infiltrated, bribing and inciting them to sow discord. But the truth was, these men already harbored such thoughts themselves.
She was only doing what they themselves had always done. Why should they call her shameless for “bewitching” the Prince?
“His Majesty has come precisely to negotiate with the Prince,” Chen Danzhu said coldly, looking at them. “If you have grievances or objections, do not cry to him now, and point fingers at the Emperor. Wait until His Majesty arrives—then debate with him directly.”
The shouting in the hall fell silent. Chen Danzhu’s gaze swept across them. Many who had glared fiercely now quickly looked away. To accuse the Emperor to his face—terrifying, was it not? Too afraid?
“If His Majesty has erred, then you, honored ministers, should stand for the Prince and for the realm, and make him see his mistake,” Chen Danzhu continued. Then she turned to the Prince, her voice softening with grievance. “How can you all only scold and press the Prince?”
Yes—she was right. It was the Emperor who was at fault. He should be rebuked. They should not be shouting at their own lord. Prince Wu straightened, laughing aloud. “Miss Danzhu speaks truly. Quickly, go and welcome His Majesty.” Then he looked at his ministers, speaking earnestly: “The court has slandered me with treason because of Zhou Qing’s death, and that grace‑sharing edict you all said was treasonous too. Now I invite His Majesty here. You shall debate with him, show him right and wrong, and display the spirit of Wu.”
Invite the Emperor in—what spirit could remain? What right and wrong could be debated? The ministers were filled with grief and fury. That Chen girl had bewitched the Prince!
She must not be allowed to prevail. Inspector Zhang knew what the Prince feared. He stopped saying what the Prince disliked, and instead fell to his knees, weeping: “My lord, the court’s armies—tens of thousands—watch us like tigers. If they set foot in Wu, Wu will be in peril, and you in peril!”
That was true. The Prince hesitated. Chen Danzhu had said the court’s armies numbered over fifty thousand. The envoy had boasted of their strength. If the Emperor came, he would not come alone—
“If His Majesty truly comes to negotiate with the King, it is not impossible,” Wen Zhong, silent until now, spoke slowly. His eyes fell on Chen Danzhu, his lips curling in a faint smile. “But he must not bring his armies into Wu. That would be the court’s true sincerity. Otherwise, my lord must not trust him.”
Without troops? Unless the Emperor were mad, that was impossible. Inspector Zhang’s heart leaped with joy. He almost clapped his hands. Master Wen was truly formidable.
Prince Wu, long accustomed to arrogance, did not think such a demand impossible. He only thought it all the better—safer. He turned immediately to Chen Danzhu: “Yes, it must be so. Go tell the envoy, let him inform His Majesty. Otherwise, I will not believe it.”
Chen Danzhu knew the Prince had no mind of his own and was easily swayed. Yet seeing it with her own eyes still shocked her. How hard her father’s years at court must have been.
Such an absurd condition—and the Prince accepted it without thought. If she did not know for certain that he truly wished to avoid war with the court, she would have thought he was deliberately mocking her.
What now? Was it her fault for failing to make him see reality? This was no time for Wu to set conditions to the court. Why did he heed whatever his ministers said?
Chen Danzhu looked at the Prince, almost spitting in contempt. If not for her intervention, his head would already have been cut off. Yet she also knew clearly: at any moment, the Prince could cut off her family’s heads instead. Such an unreasonable demand—
“Very well,” she said. “I will tell the envoy. If the Emperor insists on bringing troops into Wu, then he must first trample over me.” She spoke no more, bowed to the Prince. “Please grant me the royal command.”
The Prince, as ever, did not care whether her words were true, reasonable, or realistic. Hearing her agree was enough. He happily ordered the already‑prepared royal decree to be brought forth.
Chen Danzhu accepted it without hesitation, turned, and left.
In the hall, Inspector Zhang and the others were still stunned. They had not expected her to dare say such a thing. For the moment, they could find no argument, only watch helplessly as she took the decree and departed with her attendants. Shameless! To dare accept such terms—surely she had already conspired with the court.
The ministers fell to the ground in grief.
Chen Liehu—who would have thought that you, who prided yourself on loyalty and valor, would be the first to betray the Prince!