Chapter 94: Do Not Release the Hawk Until You See the Rabbit

Knocking! Knocking!~ The rapping was urgent and heavy, as if announcing a funeral.

“Who’s there? Announcing a funeral?” The door of the Si Tu Mansion opened, revealing half a head through the crack.

“I, Chen Cong.”

Dressed in luxurious finery, with a handsome appearance and a warm smile, he carried a large box on his shoulder.

Familiar box, familiar man. The family servant recognized Chen Cong at a glance.

The two stared at each other through the gap, the air heavy with tension.

Chen Cong broke the silence first. “Is your lord at home?”

The servant nodded honestly. “He is.”

Tactfully, he opened the Si Tu Mansion door and let Chen Cong inside.

The air fell silent once more.

The servant led him to the side hall.

Old Wang Yun sat motionless at his desk, face etched with sorrow, unable to snap out of it, ignoring even the arrival of guests.

Several small dishes and a pot of aged wine remained untouched on the table before him.

Chen Cong waved the servant away, sat beside Wang Yun, set the box down, and grabbed a piece of venison, stuffing it into his mouth.

It was the same box as before. Chen Cong had gone specially to Yingxiong Tower to match it.

The man was the same familiar face—whether truly worried for the realm or only for his own uncertain future.

Lamb leg, artemisia, osmanthus wine. Sadly, no chicken soup.

One ate. One sat dazed.

Like two parallel lines that never crossed, utterly unrelated.

Only when the dishes were cleared and Chen Cong had eaten his fill did Wang Yun return to himself.

He turned slowly, gazing at the man beside him, fear swimming in his eyes.

“You… you… you… Chen Zining! It really is you!?”

Chen Cong tossed aside a half-eaten lamb bone, wiped his greasy mouth with Wang Yun’s sleeve, and cupped his hands. “Lord Si Tu, long time no see!”

Wang Yun’s lips trembled. His face was deathly pale.

“You… you are truly the… son-in-law of a national traitor?”

Wang Yun bit down hard, his features twisting.

They knew each other too well. Before Chen Cong, he could never maintain the weak image of a man supported by the Grand Tutor. No need to call Dong Zhuo that now.

“Correct. It is I.”

“You are still the hero who slays the thief, the undefeated one?”

“Correct. All thanks to everyone’s generosity.” Chen Cong nodded.

“Also the new Minister of the Imperial Household?”

“Ha? You know this as well. Your sources are quite timely.”

Wang Yun closed his eyes in pain, sinking into despair.

If Chen Cong had truly joined Dong Zhuo, the borrowed sword could no longer be concealed, nor the private plot to rebel. Not to mention him—the loyal ministers gathered at the Si Tu Mansion would likely have been ruined, their families destroyed.

After a long silence, Wang Yun exhaled heavily, regaining a trace of Han loyalty’s dignity. He shook his sleeves, hands tucked behind his back, and said coldly, “Make your move.”

Chen Cong lifted the osmanthus wine, poured a full cup, and offered it to Wang Yun. “What does Lord Si Tu mean? I, Cong, do not understand.”

“Since you are willing to be a dog for the thief, this old man has nothing more to say. Only that Heaven is blind, aiding the thief instead of the Han!”

“You mean… is there a possibility that I submit to the thief only to kill him?”

Even with Wang Yun’s high cultivation of qi, his defenses cracked.

“Again?”

“Submit only to kill?”

Last time Cao Cao was merely fawning on Dong Zhuo. Now Chen Cong had become his son-in-law and was still offering the same excuse!

So be it.

Kill the thief, then.

Back then, when Cao Cao pretended to submit only to kill, what schemes had he truly plotted? The national traitor was not yet eliminated, and he had offered the borrowed weapon to Dong Zhuo, seeking escape.

Was this something a man could do?

Where did that leave Wang Yun?

Cao Cao had transformed into a celebrated hero who slew Dong Zhuo, while Wang Yun’s own Si Tu Mansion—over three hundred souls—had nearly perished.

Now Chen Cong repeated the performance. Wang Yun feared this time the three hundred souls might all be gone.

Chen Cong saw he remained silent and smiled. “Lord Si Tu, think it over. If I truly sided with the Dong thief, would I come knocking alone today? What awaits you are Western Liang bandit soldiers, and nothing but the destruction of your entire clan.”

Wang Yun sneered. “Thief Chen is cunning. If you truly wish to kill the thief, with your fierce reputation, you could simply confront Dong Zhuo in person and would not fail. Why come here to sell your words?”

“Look at you—how shallow. I came specially to seek a favor.”

Wang Yun looked around blankly, unable to grasp what the man was saying.

First insult, then kill?

This scoundrel would not sink so low, would he?

Chen Cong rolled his neck and continued. “Listen to me. After I finish speaking, if Lord Si Tu still believes I am a dog of the national traitor, I will turn and leave tonight.”

“Hmph!”

Chen Cong ignored the cold face and chuckled. “Let me ask you: who is truly committed to slaying the thief—my father-in-law Cao Cao, or I, Chen Cong?”

If one had to choose…

“Cao Cao.” Wang Yun answered without hesitation.

Chen Cong went on. “Then it is settled. My father-in-law slays the thief for nothing but loyalty to the realm—unmoved by fame or fortune, undeterred by life or death. Even after defeat, he flees back to Qiaoxian and still spends his fortune raising troops to attack Dong Zhuo. But I am different. I am a practical man.”

The rest of the assembled ministers and officials boast of their loyalty, daily serving Dong Zhuo without thought of laying down their lives to assassinate him. Is it not because they cannot bear the high salaries and the glory or disgrace of their clans?

As for me, Chen Cong, young and renowned, praised by the world as undefeated, and conferred by the rebel-suppressing alliance leader Yuan Shao as the Jianwei General and Marquis of Fenshui Ting, am I not also bound to consider my own future and the revival of my clan?

Originally I was unwilling to take the path of assassination—how dangerous it is. Only my father-in-law Cao Cao’s tearful persuasion prevented me from becoming entangled in this mess. Now it is as if I am assassinating the thief, assuming the risk for you, these ministers and officials, and asking for a few benefits is not excessive, is it?”

It seemed… somewhat reasonable.

Wang Yun hesitated. A few benefits were nothing; what truly terrified him was Chen Cong joining Dong Zhuo.

After a long moment of silence he asked again. “Truly so?”

“Lord Si Tu, have I ever appeared foolish?”

“No.”

Chen Cong said naturally, “Then it is settled. The current situation of the alliance army suppressing Dong is excellent. I have a bright future right before me and no reason to risk everything by joining Dong Zhuo.”

Wang Yun drew a deep breath, rose, and bowed deeply. “In that case, this old man still has one last doubt.”

“Speak plainly, Lord Si Tu.”

“Since this is so, as long as you submit to the righteous alliance and enter Luoyang, success will come to you. Why risk it alone?”

Chen Cong answered seriously. “It is not that I wish to risk alone. My father-in-law calculated that the Dong thief will abandon Hulao and plan to move the capital, fearing harm to the Son of Heaven. He appealed with reason, stirred with emotion, and appealed with kinship until he wearied me. Otherwise I would not have come.”

Wang Yun almost believed him.

After all, though Cao Cao’s conduct was not impeccable, his reputation remained sound. He had truly devoted himself to the Han court.

“You truly intend to kill the Dong thief. No matter what, that makes you his father-in-law.”

Chen Cong laughed heartily for the space of a cup of tea, his face twisting with disdain. He said coldly, “A mere concubine’s son, how dare you be a marquis or duke? If Lord Si Tu continues to insult me, Chen Cong will turn and leave.”

“Good! Zining is indeed a great man!”

A great man?

Chen Cong nearly laughed aloud.

What?

Fearless and unrighteous, as long as willing to slay Dong, that made one a great man?

Wang Yun took no suspicion. He descended the steps, turned to Chen Cong, and performed three deep bows.

“Tomorrow at dawn, if the head of the national traitor hangs at the eastern gate, this old man is willing to confer upon you the title of General Who Leads the Van and Marquis Chen.”

Chen Cong’s face remained ice-cold. He tapped the table absentmindedly and teased, “Lord Si Tu’s jokes should have limits. On what grounds do I cut off the national traitor first, and then you grant me favors? Moreover… is the General Who Leads the Van so powerful? Superior to the Minister of the Imperial Household?”

Wang Yun was startled. “What does Zining mean?”

“Lord Si Tu has probably forgotten. I said I am a realistic man. Bluntly, it means… I do not shoot the hawk until I see the rabbit. Do you understand?”