When Xi Zhicai saw Wang Han return, he asked, "My lord, how did it go?"
"Cao Cao has already left. He originally didn't want to make a move, but Dong Zhuo's men were too tactless, so he still got going." Wang Han returned, put his weapons in the armory, and said, "Kill everyone except Lü Bu."
"My lord, all we need to do now is wait for Cao Cao to persuade the various warlords to come and attack Dong Zhuo," Xi Zhicai said after thinking for a moment. He had already guessed that Wang Han would not kill Lü Bu. Just like last time, Lü Bu was a man of great martial arts skills, brave but not resourceful, and still useful, so Wang Han did not kill him. This time should be the same.
———————————————
“That bastard Cao Cao is incredibly audacious. He dared to assassinate me. Who am I? I am the Prime Minister sent down by Heaven to revive the Han Dynasty. Who could possibly assassinate me?”
The next day, after Cao Cao's assassination attempt, Dong Zhuo flew into a rage in the court, and all the officials were silent, fearing that Dong Zhuo's anger would be directed at them.
Seeing the ministers silent and trembling, Dong Zhuo glanced at Situ Wang Yun and continued, "These traitors, I can spot them with a single glance, I can smell them with a sniff. Among you are Cao Cao's instigators and Yuan Shao's accomplices. I wish I could drag out all of you heartless wolves and chop you all up, then I'd stew your flesh into soup. Some say the meat is sour, but I say, I'm not afraid of sourness, not afraid at all."
"Your Excellency is mistaken; there are no thieves in the palace," said Minister Wang Yun cautiously.
"Where is the Minister of Ceremonies?" Dong Zhuo shouted. "Immediately issue an edict using the Emperor's seal, and send it to all prefectures, states, and counties. Say that Cao Cao is a traitor who has murdered his lord and rebelled against the emperor. Order all soldiers and civilians in the country to arrest Cao Cao. If anyone can bring Cao Cao's head to the capital, the court will reward him with a thousand gold pieces and grant him the title of Marquis of Ten Thousand Households."
"Minister Wang, Lord Wang," Dong Zhuo approached Minister Wang Yun and asked, "The day before yesterday was your sixtieth birthday, wasn't it? You held a grand banquet at your residence, inviting so many high-ranking officials and ministers, why didn't you invite me?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yun cautiously replied, "I have humbled myself and my abode is simple and unassuming; I dare not disturb the Prime Minister."
Dong Zhuo looked at Wang Yun and asked in a suspicious tone, "Could it be that I am not worthy to drink your cup of birthday wine?"
Wang Yun was even more alarmed upon hearing this. "The wine in my humble abode... the wine... the wine is sour."
"The wine is sour? I told you, I'm not afraid of it being sour!" Dong Zhuo shouted.
————————————————
"The lord has left court." Wang Yun returned to his residence in a daze, and the steward hurriedly went to greet him.
Upon entering his residence, Wang Yun dejectedly instructed his steward, "Immediately dismiss all the servants and maids in the mansion. Give them copper coins and let them go wherever they want. Don't let them be buried with me."
"My lord..." Upon hearing Wang Yun's words, the steward anxiously wanted to ask for clarification.
"And one more thing," Wang Yun interrupted the steward, "you can leave now, don't worry about me."
After saying this, Wang Yun walked alone towards his study.
"My lord, alas!" The steward sighed helplessly, and seeing Diao Chan passing by, he quickly ran over. "Miss Diao Chan."
When Diao Chan saw that it was Uncle Wu calling her, she stopped and asked, "Uncle Wu, is there something you need?"
Wu Bo quickly said to Diao Chan, "Miss Diao Chan, the lord's expression was off after court today. I'm afraid a great disaster is about to befall him. You should go into the lord's study and serve him carefully. It would be best if you could find out what happened."
"Yes," Diao Chan responded and quickly walked towards Wang Yun's study.
As soon as Diao Chan entered Wang Yun's study, she saw him holding a knife and staring blankly at her. She was immediately startled and quickly stepped forward to plead, "Father, you mustn't do this, you mustn't do this!"
"Diao Chan, good girl." Wang Yun looked at Diao Chan. "Didn't I tell you to leave here immediately? Why aren't you leaving yet?"
Diao Chan asked, "Father, what exactly happened? Why is it like this?"
"Alas!" Wang Yun sighed, saying dejectedly, "Cao Cao's assassination attempt on Dong Zhuo failed. Dong Zhuo suspects that I am the mastermind behind it all. It won't be long before those fierce warriors from Xiliang arrive here. If you don't leave, my entire family will be wiped out."
Diao Chan thought for a moment after hearing this, then walked to Wang Yun's side and asked, "Father, you just said that Dong Zhuo suspected you of being the mastermind behind Cao Cao's scheme."
“That’s right, that’s what I said.” Wang Yun nodded.
"So that means he wasn't sure, right?" Diao Chan asked.
“He can’t be sure, because Cao Cao hasn’t been captured by them,” Wang Yun said.
“Then you mustn’t kill yourself, godfather.” Diao Chan took the knife from Wang Yun’s hand and put it down, saying, “Think about it, if you kill yourself, wouldn’t that be the same as admitting that you were Cao Cao’s mastermind?”
Upon hearing this, Wang Yun nodded thoughtfully.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, Diao Chan quickly continued, "Father, if you die, the emperor will be helpless, the court will be hopeless, and all eighty-odd people in your household will be slaughtered. Also, your great wish to restore the Han Dynasty will never be realized."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yun nodded again.
Diao Chan thought for a moment and continued, "Moreover, Father, we are not entirely without options. Do you remember that before General He Jin died, he personally came to propose marriage to you for someone, wanting Diao Chan to marry that person? You agreed at the time and even wrote a marriage contract with the General."
“I remember this matter. That person was able to get the General to personally propose marriage for him, so their relationship must be extraordinary. However, the General was later killed, and Dong Zhuo seized the capital, so I forgot about it for a while.” Upon hearing this, Wang Yun felt a glimmer of hope and quickly asked, “Could this person save us?”
Diao Chan said, "To be honest, before the General died, I secretly went to see that person. I learned that the General had come to propose marriage to me in order to recruit that person. However, I did not see that person at the time. It was not until recently, after the General died, that I was able to see the person that the General was willing to act as matchmaker for in order to recruit."
"What makes that person so special?" Wang Yun asked quickly upon hearing this.
"Father, that man is highly skilled in martial arts. It is even rumored that not long ago he defeated Lü Bu, Dong Zhuo's most powerful general, with a single move, causing him to flee in disarray," Diao Chan said.
"But what can he do? Can he possibly hold off an army of thousands by himself?" Wang Yun sighed in disappointment upon hearing this.
“Father, he may not be able to stop a thousand troops, but that doesn’t mean he can’t save us,” Diao Chan said. “Father, think about it. If he can kill Dong Zhuo, this matter will naturally be resolved. Moreover, he can kill Dong Zhuo as well, killing two birds with one stone. We just need to buy some time. Right now, Dong Zhuo has no evidence or reason, only suspicion. He can’t kill you easily.”
"That's true." Wang Yun nodded and asked, "Are you sure this person can kill Dong Zhuo? Would this person be willing to assassinate Dong Zhuo?"
“This man’s skills far surpass Lü Bu’s. Given the right opportunity, no one can stop him,” Diao Chan said. “Not long ago, he agreed to do something for Diao Chan, and there’s a great chance.”
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
