Chapter 96: Inviting Qing into the Trap

“Is that you?” Diao Chan’s eyes were clearly red from crying, her almond-shaped eyes flushed and tender.

Yet, upon seeing Chen Cong, she cried out in surprise.

As a caged canary raised in captivity, she had never heard of Chen Wudi; her impression of Chen Cong remained frozen in that night outside the East Gate.

Especially when she saw that familiar large wooden box, her face clouded with both anger and shame. Through the sheer veil covering her face, a faint blush stained her delicate cheeks.

Wang Yun, on the other hand, withdrew despondently to the rear courtyard.

He had said all that needed to be said and had no mood to witness the intimate closeness between the two.

Out of sight, out of mind.

“Miss Diao Chan, six months have passed, yet your beauty remains unchanged,” Chen Cong said warmly, watching old Wang Yun walk away before rising to greet her with a sincere smile.

No matter when, a normal man could not help but feel uplifted in the presence of a beauty.

Especially when he knew full well that this woman neither favored him nor truly delighted in his company, and yet she had to flatter him.

Tsk tsk tsk!

At this moment, Chen Cong finally understood the twisted pleasures of those top-tier rakes who bullied women.

Whether the forced fruit is sweet or not depends not on the fruit, but the person!

“Why?” Diao Chan parted her pearly teeth, her tone mixed with grievance and inquiry.

Her voice was cold and quiet, just as she had been in her earlier memories.

“What do you mean, why?” Chen Cong spread his arms wide. “Come now, I’m the most tender-hearted gentleman. Embrace me, and I’ll tell you whatever you want to know at once.”

“You!”

Diao Chan was so angry she almost cried, but she remembered her foster father’s warning clearly.

“That man is shameless and cunning; though there is a verbal agreement, one must still be cautious. The daughter must use her beauty to ensnare him, so he does not betray the pact to assassinate Dong Zhuo. After the deed, if possible, eliminate him. If no good opportunity arises, then lie low for the time being.”

Yes, eliminate him when the time is right.

Chen Cong’s presence was an uncontrollable variable to Wang Yun.

After realizing it was impossible to control this man as an official within the court, Wang Yun intended to dispose of him swiftly.

Though uncertain whether Diao Chan could succeed, Wang Yun firmly believed no one could surpass Diao Chan’s bewitching allure.

Diao Chan struggled to calm the excess emotions within her. Her almond eyes gently closed as she reached out and leapt into Chen Cong’s arms.

The embrace was somewhat warm...

This was her first time throwing herself into a man’s arms.

Listening to the strong, steady heartbeat and the steady, slightly heavy warm breath,

She softly said, “Am I not beautiful? Why does the general insult me so?”

Nonsense—of course it was a man’s cruel whim!

Chen Cong earnestly spoke nonsense: “Precisely because you are beautiful, the Grand Tutor’s mansion is like a dragon’s den and tiger’s lair to you. You may think I insult you, but actually, I’m protecting you.

“You didn’t notice? I feared you might be shy, so I specially found that familiar box from last time. Afraid your delicate skin might be harmed, I even added padding inside. A man like me, who truly cherishes and protects beauty, is rare—so you must cherish it well!”

Diao Chan’s heart lifted slightly.

This must be the truth.

“General, can you tell me how to eliminate the enemy?”

“No!” Chen Cong refused outright.

“You...” Diao Chan swallowed her words of accusation with difficulty.

Forcing out a perfect smile, she softened her tone: “Didn’t the general say that if I embrace you, you would clear the doubts in my heart?”

Chen Cong laughed heartily: “You little vixen sure knows how to dream sweet dreams. Surely, I say one thing, and you do another, then I clear one doubt for you. You expect that if you hug me, I’ll reveal all my many lovers to you?”

“Heh, heh heh, does the general have any other instructions?”

Chen Cong pointed directly to the wooden box: “You get inside, and I’ll clear one doubt for you.”

Diao Chan slowly released him, took a deep breath, and smiled coyly: “The general speaks seriously, yes?”

Chen Cong also smiled: “Naturally.”

......

“Fine horses, fine furs, summon the boys to exchange for beauties, one beat after another!”

Jueying snorted loudly, puzzled, glancing at Chen Cong.

Chen Cong carried the box, humming a cheerful tune, in a very good mood.

Inside the box, Diao Chan gently covered her ears, peering through the small ventilation holes to observe the outside world.

Staying in the wooden box wasn’t stifling; she didn’t know what kind of horse that scoundrel was riding, but the ride was quite smooth. Coupled with the relatively enclosed small space, Diao Chan finally let down her guard.

She wanted to cry, but the tears wouldn’t come.

Clearly, she had gone from the spacious, bright Situ mansion to a small, dark box, yet she felt freer.

At least this darkness was her own private world.

Chen Cong glanced at the sun in the sky, trying to calculate the time...

But he couldn’t quite figure it out!

So he reached out and knocked on the wooden box: “Miss Chan, are you asleep? Look outside to see if it’s the hour of the dog yet.”

Diao Chan had only temporarily let down her guard; her dislike for Chen Cong had not changed one bit.

She snorted lightly.

Suddenly realizing she shouldn’t snort, she quickly added in a soft and charming voice: “The hour of the dog is near. Is the general returning home?”

“No, not going home.”

“Then where to?”

The outside fell silent. Thinking he hadn’t heard clearly, Diao Chan purred and asked again, “May I ask, General, where are we headed now?”

“Miss Chan, we have an agreement. You do one thing I say, and I will answer one question. You’ve already used up your question quota.”

Diao Chan’s eyes suddenly widened. She tried to glare at Chen Cong through the ventilation hole.

How shameless could one man be? He asked her the time, and she kindly told him.

She was just making small talk on her side—how could that count as clearing her doubts?

Unfortunately, the hole was too small; she stared for a long moment before barely catching sight of Chen Cong’s dark hat.

The two of them, one box and one horse, jolted along the road. Passing through the East Gate, they finally arrived at the Cao residence, where Cheng Zhuo had long been waiting.

Seeing Chen Cong arrive, Cheng Zhuo stepped forward with a red cloth-wrapped item, lifting a corner to reveal a piece of jade rough, quite green, though its quality was unknown...

“General...”

“Cheng Zhuo, what is it?”

Cheng Zhuo scratched his head, hesitating for a long moment, unsure how to begin.

Chen Cong asked suspiciously: “We are brothers; speak frankly. What is there to hide?”

Ahem!

Cheng Zhuo cleared his throat twice, embarrassed, clasped his fists, and said: “We’ve been away on campaign a long time, and the brothers... well... ask the general to be lenient with them.”

“Alright, I thought it was something serious. Just take them to the Emerald Red Pavilion. Let the brothers eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. Put it on my tab. If that madam red refuses, she can come find me at the Grand Tutor’s mansion.”

Cheng Zhuo was overjoyed: “Thank you, General!”

The Flying Bear troops all shouted in unison: “Thank you, General!”

Overhearing this earth-shattering secret, Diao Chan tightly covered her mouth, not daring to make a sound.

Through the ventilation hole, she fixed her gaze on the cavalry outside.

Wasn’t Chen Cong a general of the righteous army who had feigned allegiance to Dong Zhuo?

Then why was he leading a squad of Western Liang heavy cavalry?

Judging by the tone, those cavalrymen respected him deeply; they were not veterans facing a newly surrendered commander.

Diao Chan was so sure those soldiers were from Liang cavalry because Chen Cong said: “If that Madam Red refuses, she can come to the Grand Tutor’s mansion to discuss it with me.”

If they were soldiers of the righteous army, how could they enter the Grand Tutor’s mansion?

In other words, Chen Cong was very likely already in league with the traitor Dong Zhuo!

She wanted to inform her foster father but realized she could do nothing at all.

What should she do now...