According to plan...
According to plan...
"This... is the song that has been circulating inside Luoyang?"
"Yes, Father. I bought the children some food as you ordered, and I wrote down what they sang."
The lyrics Lü Bu had transcribed.
As Ding Yuan read the contents, his face began to twist with deep fury.
"Why, that little wretch, how dare she..."
"Huh? What is it, Father? What about the song?"
"Damn it! I must go to Zhang Rang. Follow me."
"Huh? Ah... yes."
Lü Bu followed behind her father without understanding what was happening.
Wondering at Ding Yuan's suddenly urgent manner, she began to examine the song's lyrics once more.
'Swallows doing what...? No, what in the world is wrong with this song?'
Unable to make sense of it, Lü Bu simply followed Ding Yuan to where Zhang Rang was staying.
She didn't quite understand, but her instincts told her something ominous was about to happen...
*
"Hmm..."
"We cannot leave this be. We must eliminate the Deposed Emperor at once."
"But... is it not too rash to proceed with only a single song as justification?"
"You know full well that a song like this stirs the hearts of the people... and, more importantly, provokes the other lords. Furthermore, they say it originated from Yong'an Palace, where the deposed emperor is confined. Does that not mean that ungrateful child harbors a desire for revenge, ignorant of the mercy shown by sparing her life!"
As he read the lyrics Ding Yuan had brought, Zhang Rang's face hardened into a cold mask.
嫩草綠凝煙，裊裊雙飛燕。洛水一條青，陌上人稱羨。
(Fresh green grass condenses like emerald mist; a pair of swallows glide and wheel.
A single clear ribbon of the Luo; all who pass speak of it with envy.)
遠望碧雲深，是吾舊宮殿。何人仗忠義，洩我心中怨.
(Gazing far into the deep azure clouds, I see my former palace.
On whose loyalty and righteousness shall I rely, to pour out the resentment in my heart?)
A song about someone imprisoned, longing for a palace left behind and imagining a rescuer.
In the current climate, where their hold on power was still unstable, this could send out tremors of enormous consequence.
The lyrics themselves were a problem, but the greater issue was the rumor accompanying them—that the song originated from Yong'an Palace, home of the deposed emperor, the Prince of Hongnong.
A song that clearly incited rebellion.
Zhang Rang felt a deep conflict stir within him, yet he could not easily commit to a decision.
"Rumors are only rumors. And even if true, who can say whether this was written by the deposed emperor or deliberately spread by Empress Dowager He."
"Ha... Elder, how much longer will you respond so passively? Could it be you still harbor lingering attachment to the deposed emperor?"
"Th-That is..."
"Please, it is time you admitted it. You are the venerable Zhang Rang, who understands the nature of power better than anyone. If you do not consume, you will only be consumed. Do not let personal sentiment lead you to ruin a great cause. If you continue like this, I can no longer simply stand by and watch."
"Tch..."
Ding Yuan's words carried a veiled warning.
Zhang Rang frowned, but he could not openly refute them.
He had Dong Zhuo as a sword for emergencies, but no matter what anyone said, the one who controlled Luoyang was Ding Yuan.
Moreover, he already knew well that he was walking a dangerous path, drawn by sentiment.
Zhang Rang understood perfectly that he could not allow any further division or leakage of power simply because of personal affinity.
"Very well... I will see to the matter shortly. Please wait just a little longer."
"... Understood. In that case, I shall wait."
Immediately after sending Ding Yuan away,
Zhang Rang felt a sharp prick in his chest and spoke in a troubled voice.
"Dong Zhuo... summon the General of the Left, Dong Zhuo."
"Yes, Lord Zhang Rang."
Zhang Rang gave the order to his attendant.
Though he had made his decision, Zhang Rang could not entrust this task to Ding Yuan.
He did not wish to imagine how that brute, fit only for dealing with barbarians, would handle a deposed emperor whose execution was now sanctioned.
If an execution had to be done, he would use his own people, at the very least...
Sending her off as quietly and painlessly as possible was the sole measure he could take in this situation.
'What a pity... I tried to at least spare your life... In your next life, may you be born not as an emperor, but simply as a daughter in an ordinary, wealthy household.'
*
"F-Father... did you truly mean what you just said?"
"What do you mean?"
"That child... I mean, what you said about killing the deposed emperor."
The moment they left Zhang Rang's office,
Lü Bu turned to Ding Yuan and asked in a trembling voice.
As a guard, Lü Bu had heard the entire conversation the two had just shared.
But even as the talk penetrated her ears, Lü Bu found she could not believe it... could not believe what her own father had said.
"She's only a little one, barely eight years old. Even when we suppressed the barbarians, you never laid a finger on the children. How could you make such a cruel decision..."
"Sigh..."
Even during the chaos in Luoyang, Lü Bu had resolutely punished anyone who laid a hand on children.
This was her personal conviction, and a rule enforced by Ding Yuan since their days in Bing Province.
But now, seeing her adoptive father ready to break even that principle filled Lü Bu's heart with deep unease.
Ding Yuan let out a heavy sigh at Lü Bu's question.
Then he began to gently stroke his beloved daughter's head as he spoke.
"Yes, as you say, when we were in Bing Province, I showed mercy to the barbarian children. And it remains the same now. What crime could young ones who know nothing possibly have?"
"Th-Then why..."
"However, the deposed emperor now confined in the Detached Palace is different. No matter how removed from power, her symbolism and the danger she represents cannot be taken lightly. A single small spark could easily set all of Luoyang ablaze."
"!"
Ding Yuan spoke with severity.
Sensing the clear enmity—and what could only be called fear—in his voice, Lü Bu instantly fell silent.
"Even that song alone could incite the lords into rebellion, could it not? Unlike barbarian children, she is not a child you can treat lightly. That young deposed emperor will certainly bring calamity in the future. To prevent that, cutting her down now is the best course."
"B-But, Father. There is no way that child wrote that song..."
"Enough. I have explained enough for you to understand. Do not quibble over this matter any further."
"F-Father."
"This is a decision made by the adults. You need only follow it quietly. Do you understand?"
"... Yes. I... understand."
Unable to object any further, Lü Bu had no choice but to lower her head.
Watching this, Ding Yuan smiled again and patted Lü Bu on the shoulder.
"Do not let it trouble you too much. For a great cause, small sacrifices are sometimes necessary. You will understand this principle when you have grown a little more."
"..."
With those words, Ding Yuan turned and walked toward his office.
A deep shadow fell across Lü Bu's face as she followed him without a word.
*
"Phew~ It's done, all done!"
"You've worked hard, Ji Ling. Thank you for everything."
Ji Ling stretched with an expression of pure relief.
For the past several months, she had been in charge of "delivering" the Yuan Clan members between Luoyang and Ji Province.
Since Ji Ling had worked for the Yuan Clan far longer than my other subordinates, it was more comfortable for the family members and put my own mind at ease.
As a result, even after coming to Luoyang, my personal protection and other duties had always been handled by Xu Rong and Sun Jian,
but as of today, that task was complete.
The entire Yuan Clan had finished relocating to the residence I had prepared in Ji Province.
With the hundred thousand troops and subordinate commanders I had stationed there holding the ground, neither Ding Yuan nor Zhang Rang could lay a hand on the Yuan Clan now, no matter what we did.
Commending Ji Ling for completing such a vital task, I lightly patted her on the shoulder.
Not that I only gave her words, of course...
"Seriously, it was a huge pain. Who else could have handled escorting those stiff, stubborn old folks but me? Anyway, about what I asked for..."
"Don't worry, I made sure to get the alcohol you wanted. Wild ginseng liquor, thirty years old, soaked with fresh ginseng root—right?"
"Whoo-hoo~ Nice, nice! Tonight, I'm finally gonna get plastered with Xu Rong and Sun Jian!"
Ji Ling cheered, grinning from ear to ear.
Watching my right-hand woman—so easy to bribe with alcohol and the most reliable person I had—I felt a smile creep onto my own face.
Just then...
"General Yuan! It is I, Hua Xiong... Eh? Isn't that Ji Ling?"
"Oh, look who it is! Hua Xiong? Long time no see! Is this your first time in Luoyang since we got here?"
"It is! We haven't seen each other at all, so meeting like this feels so very Dong Zhuo and so very good!"
Ji Ling hadn't been able to meet Hua Xiong, who had arrived late while she was busy handling Ji Province matters.
A bright smile spread across both their faces at this reunion with an old comrade-in-arms.
"Hmm hmm... So? What brings you here, Hua Xiong? With things as they are, I doubt you came just to visit?"
Dong Zhuo and I were making contact as discreetly as possible, avoiding the eyes of Ding Yuan and Zhang Rang.
Hua Xiong's presence here was not a casual visit, but the result of a carefully concealed arrival—so there was bound to be a significant reason, something related to Dong Zhuo.
However.
"That is correct. But I do not know the details myself!"
"Huh? What do you mean? Didn't he at least send a letter?"
"There is no letter. But instead, I was told to deliver this message."
"This message?"
"Yes! My lord said, 'Just as planned.'"
"!"
Truly important content leaves no written trace.
But right now, that single phrase brought by Hua Xiong told me all I needed to know.
"Huh? Just as planned? What plan?"
A question mark floated over Ji Ling's head as she voiced her confusion.
In response, I did something I hadn't done in a while—stretched her cheeks wide—and spoke in a calm voice.
"I'll tell you all about it later. Now go on, I had a cask of liquor sent ahead to the storehouse; go pick it up."
"Ohhh, got it. Hey, Hua Xiong, if you're done here, come join us."
"Hmmmn. I would like to... but as you know, my situation is a bit tricky."
"Don't worry about that. I've arranged a quiet spot where we can drink without worrying about other eyes. Believe it or not, Xu Rong and I are also doing our best to move around unseen, same as you."
"Hmmmn... In that case... I suppose one drink would be fine..."
As she said this, Hua Xiong glanced sideways to gauge my reaction.
I simply gave a light nod of approval.
"Since you're here, a drink or two shouldn't be a problem. Just be careful not to cause any strange trouble on your way back."
"I-I am grateful! I shall be careful!"
"Haha! Thank you, my lord! Alright, let's go!"
The two hurried out of the room to get their drinking session started.
As soon as they were gone,
I let the calm expression fade from my face;
in its place, a smile brimming with deep excitement appeared.
'Just as planned...'