Chapter 75: Taking the Concubine for a Ride

The Demon King stormed back to his camp, seething with rage, and immediately ordered the drums to be beaten to summon his generals.

The moment Li Ru stepped into the command tent, Dong Zhuo lunged at him, grabbing his collar with both hands.

He roared, “Li Ru! This was your rotten idea!”

Li Ru instantly understood the situation. He was rather surprised himself; he had suspected a trick, believing the allied forces aimed to lure them into a trap, and had kindly warned Dong Zhuo as much.

Now that the plan had failed, what did it have to do with him?

It was Dong Zhuo who had proposed persuading Chen Cong to surrender—he had merely appointed a speaker offhandedly. It was Dong Zhuo who insisted on reading Li Su’s letter, and he had pointed out the potential risks. Now, ironically, Dong Zhuo, who had been frightened into betraying his precious granddaughter, wanted to lay all the blame at his feet. What logic was that?

He was just an advisor, not a mind-reader who could predict every absurd thought in Chen Cong’s head.

Meeting Dong Zhuo’s furious, man-eating glare, Li Ru replied blandly, “I have nothing to say, unless the Grand Tutor wishes to ask.”

“You—! Treason! It’s treason!!” Dong Zhuo’s spit flew, yet Li Ru remained calm inside.

He replied loudly, “Or does the Grand Tutor believe Chen Cong is not a suitable match?”

Hmm… hmm?

It was as though someone had gripped his throat; Dong Zhuo was abruptly silenced.

Was Chen Cong a suitable match? He was of good birth, handsome, and exceedingly brave. If not for his involvement with those rebels…

Seeing Dong Zhuo at a loss, Li Ru continued, “In that case, the Grand Tutor has simply gained another option. Why so angry?”

“Oh? Enlighten me.”

“If the rebels are defeated, you could win him over. If I fail, you still have this connection to fall back on.”

“Nonsense! How could I ever lose?”

Though Dong Zhuo cursed, he released Li Ru’s collar.

…

…

“Hey…” On the couch, Dong Bai wrapped herself tightly in her brocade quilt, calling out timidly.

“Hmm.” Chen Cong was leafing through the Analects, not even glancing up.

Truly, the words of the sage are the words of a sage. “The wise delight in water, the benevolent delight in mountains. The wise are active, the benevolent are still. The wise live joyfully, the benevolent live long.” Wasn’t that describing him, Chen Cong, as both wise and benevolent?

And, “If in the morning one hears the Way, in the evening one may die content.” At first glance, it sounded like an assassin’s creed, but on reflection, it was the epitome of dying beneath the peony’s bloom.

“Could you… could you call Xiao Lian in for me?”

“Who is Xiao Lian? Never seen her.”

“She’s the maid who was with me yesterday.”

Chen Cong tried to recall, but yesterday had been such a rush he hadn’t noticed.

Still, Chen Cong was certain—anyone he hadn’t noticed probably wasn’t much to look at.

Seeing he didn’t move, Dong Bai softly asked, “Why aren’t you going?”

“Because my name isn’t ‘Hey.’”

“Then… then I’ll call you ‘husband.’”

Chen Cong tossed aside the book, propped his head on his hand, and turned to Dong Bai, baring his teeth. She shrieked and threw the covers over her head.

Chen Cong burst out laughing. “Hahaha! Silly girl. Well, thank you for calling me ‘husband.’”

Sensing he meant no harm, Dong Bai bravely lifted a corner of the quilt, her bright eyes peeking out.

She huffed, “You… you look rather delicate, but you’re so mean.”

Chen Cong: ???

He, Chen the Invincible—delicate?

What a sharp tongue!

“If you can’t speak sensibly, best not speak at all. Enough lazing, get up and eat something.”

Dong Bai wasn’t really trying to stay in bed…

“Then, husband, could you call Xiao Lian in?”

“You need someone to help you just to get out of bed? Trouble.” Chen Cong reluctantly put down the Analects, though he would have liked to continue savoring the sage’s wisdom.

“I…” Dong Bai instinctively wanted to invoke her grandfather’s name to intimidate him.

But as she opened her mouth, she realized she didn’t know what to say.

In Luoyang, even her grandfather’s reputation hadn’t fazed him; it was unlikely to work now.

Chen Cong lifted the curtain and stepped outside. Two rows of maids and matrons knelt before the tent, their faces dirty and exhausted, softly sobbing from fright and hunger.

But there were far fewer than when they’d first entered the city—perhaps some had been “lost” during Cao’s screening for spies.

Understandable, but not commendable.

It seemed his father-in-law really was starving…

“Who’s Xiao Lian?”

Swish!

The group quickly parted, revealing a grubby little “soldier”—as expected, not much to look at. Or perhaps the whole lot of dowry maids was of generally low quality.

“You. Go inside and serve.”

“Yes, sir.” Xiao Lian kept her head down, bobbed a quick curtsy, and hurried into the tent.

Watching the remaining “burdens,” Chen Cong fell into thought.

“Never mind, you all go in and serve.”

“Yes, sir.”

Chen Cong squatted by the entrance, counting ants. Nearly half an hour passed before Dong Bai was ready.

As the curtain rustled, he was about to scold, but instead saw a rosy-cheeked, bright-eyed young lady who truly looked the part…

Turning the conversation, Chen Cong invited, “Shall we go for a walk?”

Dong Bai was delighted at first—she’d never seen what a military camp was like!

Then she grew anxious, sneaking a glance at Chen Cong. She mumbled, “I’m not a spy.”

Chen Cong sat cross-legged on the ground, his fist propping up his head as his gaze drifted skyward.

If ever there was a case of someone thinking too highly of themselves, this was it. Did she think just anyone could be a spy?

Where did this girl get her confidence?

“Come on.”

“Will it be dangerous?” Dong Bai hesitated.

“As long as you’re with me, the only ones in danger will be others. Rest easy.”

Danger? Was he joking?

With Chen the Invincible at her side, there was likely no one on earth safer than she.

Chen Cong dusted himself off and offered his arm; Dong Bai immediately took it, knowing her place.

…

When she stepped outside, Dong Bai realized how sought-after the man beside her truly was, despite his unreliable appearance.

No one even glanced her way; all attention was on the man—eager, flattering.

A fair-faced young soldier even ran up, saying, “If the general prefers men, I’m willing!” After being kicked tumbling several times, he wasn’t angry but instead bragged to the crowd, “Chen the Invincible kicked me!”

She stood atop the greatest pass under heaven, feeling the wind at Hulao Gate, as if it could blow away all the gloom in her heart.

She rode a mighty black steed, towering above all others, galloping around the stronghold.

She saw the camps of the Liang army—her grandfather’s soldiers, fierce and imposing. It was her first time seeing them, though she could only look from afar.

“Do you want to go over and have a look?” Chen Cong asked as she nestled in his arms atop the horse.

Her feelings were conflicted.

She was married now—more or less. But she hadn’t received her grandfather’s blessing, so of course she wanted to see him.

Yet she knew very well that her husband and grandfather were enemies. The thought pained her.

Two people who meant everything to her were on opposite sides of the battlefield.

“No… better not. It’s dangerous…”

Chen Cong smiled.

No wonder they say women are a man’s motivation. What was the point of showing off in front of a bunch of rough men when you could impress a beauty?

With a pat on Jue Ying’s neck, he declared, “Heizi, let’s go.”

With a shrill whinny, Jue Ying reared up, and—amid Dong Bai’s startled cry—shot like a black streak toward the Liang camp.