Of course, it was Prince Wu who no longer wished to live, thought Chen Danzhu. She knew well that by now the imperial armies should already be galloping through Wu’s lands, floods raging, cries of misery everywhere, and in the capital, Li Liang slaughtering, the Prince’s head about to be cut off.
But all of that had changed once she killed Li Liang.
This was no true victory. Perhaps because Li Liang’s sudden death left the court uncertain of Wu’s defenses, they hesitated, giving her the chance to persuade both sides.
In truth, the court could have begun war at once. And once battle was joined, they would see that Li Liang’s absence hardly altered the outcome.
Now they agreed to halt the war, to accept Prince Wu’s submission. For the Emperor, that was already mercy enough.
And yet the Prince dared to make demands—truly, he was weary of life.
“Miss Danzhu, do not think His Majesty fears Prince Wu. Whether he obeys the imperial edict or not—it matters little!” said Master Wang. “If not for the General persuading His Majesty, you would already have been killed by Prince Wu, and never seen me again.”
All he said was true. But she was not mad. Prince Wu might not wish to live, but she still wished to live—and to keep her family alive, and as many others as possible.
Chen Danzhu looked at him. “I must see the Iron‑faced General. I must speak to him.”
Master Wang was struck dumb, glaring at the girl. What did she mean? Did she think the General would heed her? He had debated ministers and strategists across Zhou, Qi, Yan, and Lu, clashing with words like swords. Never before had he been forced to argue with a mere girl— A girl who did not reason!
“You—you,” he sputtered. “The General will not see you! And even if he did, such a demand is nonsense. This is not saving Prince Wu’s life—it is threatening the Emperor!”
Intolerable!
Chen Danzhu held firm. “You have not yet asked him.”
Master Wang flung his sleeve. “Fine. Wait, then.”
He stormed off in anger. Chen Danzhu sat in the tent, lost in thought. Behind her, Ah‑Tian scarcely dared breathe. As a maid of the Grand Tutor’s household, she had seen high officials and nobles, attended palace banquets—but always as a bystander. Now her mistress was speaking of matters between the Prince and the Emperor. How had her mistress suddenly become such a formidable person? Killing Li Liang, deciding how the Emperor and the Prince should act—
Ah‑Tian whispered softly: “Miss, what do we do next? That envoy just now was so fierce.”
Chen Danzhu gave a wry smile. It was not that the envoy was fierce—it was that her demand was too fierce.
“I don’t know either,” she admitted with a bitter smile. “In truth, I have no plan at all.”
Since she had been given another chance at life, she would simply try. If she succeeded, wonderful. If she failed, then she would die again. It was nothing more than a desperate, clumsy method.
Ah‑Tian fretted. “I’m too foolish. I don’t know what to do.”
Chen Danzhu laughed gently. “It’s all right. We’ll think it through together, slowly.”
If there was still time.
The tent flap was suddenly thrown open. Master Wang stood outside, face stern. “Miss Danzhu, come.”
He would see her! Chen Danzhu’s face lit up instantly. Lifting her skirts, she ran out joyfully.
Master Wang’s eyes were dazzled for a moment. Curse this youthful beauty—his expression grew darker still. Why should the General listen to such an absurd demand? The Emperor had already arrived, Prince Wu had declared submission, and their entry into Wu was unhindered. Why waste time on this girl’s nonsense?
Was it only because she was young, beautiful, radiant? The General spent most of his life in the army, surrounded by men. But it was not as if he had never seen women—Qi women, Yan women, and countless beauties of the capital. He was not the sort to be swayed by feminine charms.
Master Wang could not understand. He followed behind the cheerful young girl, face dark.
The Iron‑faced General was not lodged in the Wu army’s camp. With Prince Wu’s letter as proof, Master Wang openly moved through Wu territory as an imperial envoy, leading a detachment across the river and encamping opposite the Wu forces.
The General now resided in the imperial army’s camp, still masked in iron, cloak draped over armor. Ah‑Tian, seeing him suddenly, was startled. Chen Danzhu, however, showed no trace of unease.
“Many thanks, General.” At once, she bowed deeply.
The Iron‑faced General looked at her. “Miss Danzhu’s thanks are unusual. Do you mistake me for someone easy to persuade?”
Chen Danzhu met his gaze. “No. How could the General be easy to persuade? It is because, in my eyes, the General is brave.”
A rasping laugh came from behind the mask. “Is Miss Danzhu praising me—or mocking me?”
Master Wang rolled his eyes. Was this girl trying to play the role of a seductress? She had no allure at all. Better she first learn how to entice men.
“General,” Chen Danzhu said, “when I learned the Emperor would come to Wu, I advised our Prince to kill the Emperor.”
At these words, Master Wang’s face changed again. Behind the iron mask, the General’s gaze sharpened.
Chen Danzhu’s expression remained calm, as if she spoke of nothing grave. “Even if he is the Emperor, with fifty thousand troops, he would still be in our Wu lands, in the Prince’s palace. Wu’s soldiers could not slay all his men—but to kill the Emperor alone, sacrificing thousands, tens of thousands, it could be done.”
The Iron‑faced General said: “Miss Danzhu, you are truly a faithless, unrighteous traitor, daring to plot against your sovereign. It pains me.”
Truth be told, whether mockery or scolding, it mattered little to Chen Danzhu. In her past life, she had endured ten years of such abuse. She had heard every insult imaginable. She ignored it, offered no defense, and spoke only what she meant to say.
“But alas, our lord is not. He does not dare.” Chen Danzhu looked at the Iron‑faced General, her large eyes blinking. “Since our lord does not dare, why should His Majesty fear to come alone to meet him? Has the Emperor not even one feudal lord braver than he?”
Master Wang’s face changed. Disaster! This young Miss Danzhu lacked a woman’s allure, but her girlish innocence was sometimes more moving than seduction—especially to certain men. He hurried to interject: “Is this a matter of courage? As Son of Heaven, his actions must be cautious. He is not one man alone, but the fate of countless subjects.”
Chen Danzhu turned her gaze on him, feigning puzzlement. “All under heaven are the Emperor’s subjects. If His Majesty enters Wu openly, without armies, would that not inspire greater trust and reverence among the people than arriving with overwhelming force? Would it not better display the Emperor’s magnanimity?”
The Iron‑faced General laughed harshly, cutting off Master Wang’s reply. Master Wang glared, displeased—what was so funny?
“It sounds as if Miss Danzhu is planning for His Majesty,” the General said.
Chen Danzhu nodded calmly, her face earnest. “I am a minister of Prince Wu, but also a subject of the Son of Heaven. Of course, I must plan for His Majesty.”
This girl was both innocent and shameless. Master Wang snorted, ready to speak again, but the General slapped the table. “Very well. Then I shall plan for His Majesty.”
Chen Danzhu’s eyes shone beneath the iron mask. “General—you agree?”
The General looked at her. “From your words, it seems you do not expect to succeed—you only wish to try?”
Chen Danzhu lowered her head with a sigh. “General, I know well how unreasonable my request is.”
What was this—was she acting coy? Master Wang’s face darkened like soot.
The Iron‑faced General nodded. “Good that Miss Danzhu knows. If His Majesty grows angry, then I shall take Miss Danzhu’s head to appease him.”
Their talk was of heads and death. Ah‑Tian trembled, too frightened to look at the General’s face.
Chen Danzhu smiled brightly. “My head is right here on my neck. The General may take it at any time.”