Chapter 187: with translation of chapter title

Deep within the residence of the Military Governor of Chen Prefecture.

Inside that bedroom filled with a strong medicinal scent.

The heavy atmosphere almost congealed.

Chai Rong leaned against the couch, his complexion sallow, his eyes sunken; the once sharp gaze now seemed somewhat scattered, only occasional flashes of sharp light still proving this heroic lord's unspent ambition.

Violent coughs intermittently broke the room's silence; each bout made his frail body shudder violently, as if he were about to cough up his heart and lungs.

The attending eunuch carefully used a silk cloth to wipe the corner of his mouth; the dark red bloodstains on the cloth were shocking to behold.

Wang Pu sat quietly on an embroidered stool not far from the bedside, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.

Several trusted medical officials stood at attention with hands lowered, their faces grave, shaking their heads slightly.

"Wen Zhong…… and Yuan Lang…… have they arrived?"

Chai Rong's breathing steadied slightly; his voice was hoarse and weak, almost impossible to hear clearly.

Wang Pu hurriedly bowed and replied:

"Reporting to my lord, they are waiting outside."

Chai Rong slowly nodded, his clouded gaze turning toward the beams of the ceiling, as if gathering strength.

After a long while, he finally managed to speak, haltingly:

"Bocai (Wang Pu's courtesy name)……"

"You see this world…… this Chen Prefecture……"

"I…… I afterward……"

He spoke extremely slowly, each word as if he were expending all his strength.

Wang Pu felt a sour ache in his heart, leaned in closer, and whispered:

"My lord, do not worry excessively; rest and recuperate, and there will be a day of recovery."

Chai Rong pulled at the corner of his mouth, revealing a smile bitter to the extreme.

"My own body…… I know it best."

"I fear…… I may not survive this winter."

He paused for a long time, his breathing like a broken bellows.

"The heir is young…… the ruler is few and the state is doubtful……"

"Over in Bian Liang…… they eye us tigerishly……"

"The northern barbarians are not yet eradicated…… internal troubles and external threats……"

"The foundation of Chen Prefecture…… the dream of pacifying the north and settling Zhongyuan……"

His voice grew ever lower, filled with endless reluctance and regret.

Wang Pu clenched his fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his flesh.

"My lord……"

Chai Rong suddenly burst into another violent coughing fit, only after a long while did it subside, his complexion turning even more ashen.

He gripped Wang Pu's hand tightly; his thin fingers, from the effort, turned white at the knuckles.

"Bocai……"

"After I die……"

"I can entrust…… entrust the posthumous affairs, to stabilize this Hebei situation……"

"Only…… only Wen Zhong and Yuan Lang……"

"But…… both are outstanding talents…… fear…… they may be difficult to reconcile……"

His gaze became infinitely complex—there was appreciation, there was reliance, and also a hint of deep apprehension.

"Summon…… summon them in."

"I…… have some words that I need to convey in person."

……

The outer chamber.

Chen Wen and Zhao Kuangyin sat opposite each other across a tea table, silent.

Both were dressed in ordinary attire, without armor, yet an intangible tension permeated the air.

Chen Wen practiced inward observation—eyes to nose, nose to heart—his countenance calm, revealing nothing of his thoughts.

Zhao Kuangyin, meanwhile, lowered his head slightly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on his knees, his eyes flickering, unknown what he was calculating.

They both heard the coughing from the inner chamber, impossible to suppress.

That sound, like a heavy hammer, struck each person's heart.

They both understood that this audience was anything but ordinary.

This might be Chai Rong's final instruction.

It would also determine the future pattern of Chen Prefecture and indeed the entire northern Later Zhou.

The eunuch stepped out lightly, his thin voice breaking the silence.

"Defense Commissioner Chen Wen, Commander Zhao, the Lord requests you two to come inside for a talk."

The two rose to their feet simultaneously.

They glanced at each other.

Their gazes met and then parted.

There was no exchange.

One after the other, they entered the bedroom filled with medicinal scent and the aura of death.

……

At the bedside.

Looking at the emaciated, faint-breathing Chai Rong.

Chen Wen felt a surge of indescribable sourness and respect in his heart.

He lifted his robe and solemnly knelt down.

"Your humble subordinate Chen Wen pays his respects, Your Excellency."

Zhao Kuangyin quickly followed, prostrating himself in salute.

"Your humble subordinate Zhao Kuangyin pays his respects, Your Excellency."

Chai Rong strained to raise his hand, giving a weak, hovering support.

"Rise…… everyone rise……"

"Come closer…… speak……"

The two rose, walked to the bedside, and bowed slightly.

Up close, seeing Chai Rong's wan face, they could more keenly feel the sense of decay as his life ebbed rapidly.

Chai Rong's gaze first lingered on Chen Wen's face for a moment.

That gaze was complex—filled with relief, scrutiny, and a hint of an ineffable entrustment.

"Wenzhong……"

"Luo River Three Counties…… under your governance, thriving…… troops strong, grain ample……"

"Battle of Gaoping…… you turned the tide…… your merit is great……"

"I…… am greatly relieved."

His words were halting, yet each syllable clear.

Chen Wen lowered his head and spoke in a deep voice:

"All thanks to Your Excellency's trust and the soldiers' devotion; I, your humble subordinate, dare not claim credit."

Chai Rong shook his head slightly.

"Your abilities…… I know them fully."

"Now…… this body of mine…… is no longer useful."

"The future of Chan Zhou…… the peace of Hebei……"

He gasped violently a few times before continuing:

"We need…… young people like you to uphold it."

His gaze turned to Zhao Kuangyin.

"Yuanlang……"

"You are brave and skilled in battle…… you have long harbored great ambitions……"

"You are also…… a pillar of the state."

Zhao Kuangyin hastily bowed:

"Your Excellency's grace in recognizing me, I, your humble subordinate, will never forget; I shall exert my utmost, assist the Young Marshal, and safeguard the realm and its people!"

Chai Rong gazed deeply at him, then also at Chen Wen.

"You two…… are both my relied-upon arms……"

"Now…… there are strong enemies outside, hidden worries within……"

"We must…… prioritize the overall situation……"

"We must…… prioritize the Zhou lineage's state……"

"We must…… work together in unity…… to resist foreign invasion……"

"Do not…… let private interests override public duty…… lest loved ones suffer and enemies rejoice……"

These words, he spoke with great difficulty, yet with utmost solemnity.

It seemed he was expending his last strength to give these instructions.

Chen Wen and Zhao Kuangyin bowed together and replied:

"Your humble subordinate will faithfully follow Your Excellency's teachings!"

The room fell silent once again.

Only Chai Rong's heavy breathing could be heard.

These seemingly encouraging, unity‑demanding words, heard by Chen Wen and Zhao Kuangyin, carried different flavors for each.

What Chen Wen felt was Chai Rong's deep concern, at life's end, for the future of Chan Zhou's foundation, and his warning and check against possible internal strife.

What Zhao Kuangyin felt was more a sense of constraint, an invisible shackle from above trying to suppress his ambition.

"Go……"

Chai Rong seemed to have exhausted all his energy, wearily closing his eyes and waving his hand.

"Do well…… for yourself……"

Chen Wen and Zhao Kuangyin performed the salute again.

"Your humble subordinate takes his leave."

"Your Excellency, take care."

The two slowly withdrew from the bedroom.

From beginning to end, they never glanced at each other.

Yet that invisible rift and competition were not dispelled by Chai Rong's admonition.

On the contrary, at this special moment it became clearer and sharper.

The choice now lay before them.

Is it to obey Chai Rong's instructions, barely maintaining superficial unity?

Or is it for their own ideals and ambitions, to walk that path of hegemony destined to have no turning back?

The answer seems to have already been brewing in each other's hearts.