Chapter 550: Seeking Aid from Jin

Chen State, its capital Wanqiu.

Inside the Piandian of the Royal Palace, the young Chen Ai Gong sat behind the desk, his complexion pallid.

He ascended the throne at a young age; this year he is only about fifteen or sixteen.

In modern times, a boy his age would still be in high school.

But he is already the ruler of a state, and what he worries about is the survival of the whole country.

The young ruler was fine-browed and clear-eyed, with red lips and white teeth, his eyes clear and pure, yet now they were full of panic and unease.

He wore ceremonial robes, the crown on his head pressing uncomfortably, so he occasionally lifted a hand to adjust it.

Inside the hall, all the officials had assembled.

There were elders with white hair and beard, generals in their prime, officials with gleaming eyes, and solemn members of the clan.

They stood or sat, whispering among themselves, the atmosphere so heavy it seemed almost to drip water.

"Esteemed ministers," Chen Ai Gong said, his voice still tinged with youthful inexperience, "Chu Guo is going to attack us."

As his words fell, the hall fell into dead silence.

"I don't understand," Chen Ai Gong continued, frowning, "Obviously before, whoever was stronger would be followed; how come when it comes to me, I end up in this situation?"

"Earlier, the Chu King executed Minister of Justice Zi Xin; I thought he was just putting on a show, so I paid no attention."

"Who would have thought… who would have thought he would actually come to attack?"

Just as his words finished, an elderly minister with white hair and beard stood up.

His name was Gui Ping.

He was a veteran of three reigns, and his words carried great weight in the Chen court.

"Your Majesty," Gui Ping said, his voice hoarse:

"I dare to speak frankly."

Chen Ai Gong nodded: "Duke Gui, please speak."

Gui Ping lifted his head, gazing at this young ruler, his eyes complex.

"Earlier, the Chu King's execution of Minister of Justice Zi Xin was meant to give you face."

"Zi Xin was corrupt and misgoverned the state; the Chu King killed him to show friendliness, indicating Chu's wish to renew old friendship with Chen—this was the Chu King's offered step."

"Yet Your Majesty… you still drew close to Jin Guo, ignoring the Chu King's goodwill."

"That is what made the Chu King lose face."

"This face is very important, especially since Chu Guo is no longer the barbarian nation of the past.........."

Chen Ai Gong's complexion turned even paler.

Gui Ping continued: "The father of the Chu King, Chu Zhuang Wang, once attacked Chen State in the past."

"That happened during the reign of your predecessor; now the Chu King wants to follow his predecessor's example and attack Chen again—what's wrong with that?"

"Duke Gui, your words are mistaken!"

Another voice sounded.

He was a middle-aged military commander, tall and sturdy, with a loud voice.

"Chu Guo bullies too much!" the general shouted: "Our Chen State may be small, but we are also proper feudal lords—how can we let Chu order us around? If they show friendliness, must we accept? If they turn hostile, must we kneel?"

He turned to Chen Ai Gong, clasped his fists, and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to lead troops to resist the enemy! Though Chu is strong, it is not unbeatable!"

"The general speaks lightly!"

On the officials' side, a thin, sharp voice sounded.

He was over fifty, gaunt, with eyes perpetually narrowed, making it impossible to guess his thoughts.

"Chu Guo has many troops and wide-ranging generals; they are the elite of the world."

"What does our Chen State have to fight with? Fight with our heads?"

He snorted coldly: "If the general dies in battle, that might be swift, but what of Chen State's people? What of Chen State's ancestral temples? Must they too be buried as sacrifices?"

"Then, according to your view, should we kneel and beg for mercy?"

"What's wrong with begging for mercy? At least it could preserve the ancestral temples and the people!"

"Preserve the ancestral temples? If Chu invades, Chen State will cease to exist—what ancestral temples are there to speak of?"

"You—"

"Enough!"

Chen Ai Gong shouted a halt, and the hall grew quiet.

He rubbed his temples, feeling as if his head would split.

The hawks and doves each had their reasons, arguing to the point of deadlock.

But after all the arguing, no one could propose a truly workable solution.

"Rely on Chu?" He had already missed the best opportunity.

"Fight to the death?" Can Chen State's strength truly withstand a single blow from Chu?

He slumped against the tea table, his gaze empty.

Just then——

A gust of wild wind swept in from outside the hall!

The wind came without warning, violently abnormal, making the hall's candles flicker, making the officials' robes rustle, and some were even blown staggering backward, nearly falling.

"Who goes there!"

The general reacted fastest, reaching out to draw his sword at his waist.

But his sword had only been drawn halfway when it stopped.

Because within the gale, two figures had already walked in.

One adult, one child.

The adult was tall and handsome, with a blue‑black Totem pattern tattooed on the right side of his face, eyes calm as water, as if the Chen Kingdom's Royal Palace were no different from his own backyard.

The child was only five or six, dressed in clean clothes, his round eyes wide as he curiously surveyed everything inside the hall.

"Since you have chosen Jin, do not still think of defecting to Chu."

Chen Aigong saw the newcomer and instantly showed a pleased expression.

He practically rolled and crawled from his seat, hurried forward, bowed and saluted, his demeanor so reverent it bordered on servility:

"Greetings, Uncle Yao Xian!"

The others, seeing this, also hurried to bow.

Although Yao Xian was a shaman and not part of the court, his status was known to all. He was the spokesperson for the "master", the leader among the shamans, and a figure whose presence commanded respect from the rulers of every nation!

Chen Aigong lifted his head, his gaze burning as he looked at Yao Xian, his eyes full of expectation and longing, like a drowning man spotting a floating log, like parched land seeing rain.

"Uncle, you have come here," his voice trembled, "to save the Chen Kingdom's state once?"

Yao Xian lowered his head and looked at him.

He gazed at this teenage sovereign, at the face still bearing a childlike air, at the eyes brimming with expectation.

He nodded.

"Yes, but only this once."

A flash of light burst from Chen Aigong's eyes as he repeatedly bowed and thanked, "Thank you, Uncle! Thank you, Uncle!"

Yao Xian waved his hand, indicating that no further courtesy was needed.

"Since you are extending goodwill to Jin, go forward and do not waver any longer."

"When the Chu army arrives in a few days, you should seek aid from Jin."

Chen Aigong was stunned.

Seek aid from Jin?

He opened his mouth, then looked at Yao Xian, then at the child beside him who was looking around, and for a moment he did not know what to say.

"This…" he chose his words carefully, "Uncle, aren't you the one who was supposed to act?"

Yao Xian shook his head.

"The one who saves the Chen Kingdom is not me, but you yourself."

"Seek aid from Jin. If Jin is willing to send troops, the danger to Chen can be resolved."

"If they refuse to send troops… I can only do my best, but…"

He did not finish, but the meaning was already clear.

Chen Aigong's complexion shifted repeatedly.

He wanted to speak, to ask, to beg Yao Xian to act, to request that the "master"—

But faced with Yao Xian's calm eyes, the words at his mouth were swallowed.

That gaze seemed to say: I can only help you up to this point; the rest of the road you must walk yourself.

Chen Aigong fell silent.

He lowered his head, looking at the floor tiles beneath his feet, at the patterns that glimmered faintly in the candlelight.

After a long while, he raised his head; his gaze no longer held the earlier panic and hope, only a calm born of being driven to the brink.

"Thank you for your guidance, Uncle."

He turned, faced the ministers, and announced loudly:

"Draft a state petition to seek aid from Jin."

"Organize troops and prepare to defend the city."

"Mobilize provisions and pacify the populace."

"Whether we succeed or fail… there will be no regret afterward! I beg you all!"

"I obey the order!"