Chapter 5: Mastery

Under the red canopy, music played as horses grazed.
Within the Tai Chi Palace, plans for the realm were made.
Far from the turmoil of the Central Plains, lately King Dong’s days had been exceedingly comfortable.
No clashing armor disturbed his sleep, no battlefield’s grim air hastened his aging.
Only the sycophantic officials filled the court, their words sweet and their respect apparent.
There were those who nodded wisely, discerning the emperor’s heart—whatever was asked was granted.
Some even prized a prized steed more than gold, their voices mournful and melodious.
At the high platform, Dong Zhuo sneezed as usual.
The ministers knelt in unison, voices rising in supplication: “May the Grand Tutor take great care of his noble health!”
Comfortable indeed!
Dong Zhuo staggered to the platform and stood firm, calling out in a deep voice, “Grand Preceptor.”
Wang Yun wiped the sweat from his brow, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully. “The Grand Tutor commands.”
“Hm, nothing much to command. The Grand Preceptor’s maid is quite comely; I am very fond of her, ha ha ha ha.”
Accompanied by Dong Zhuo’s hearty laughter, Wang Yun’s heart plummeted to the depths.
Now he, as Grand Tutor, could no longer hold his head high.
Dong Zhuo suspected his difference; the court called him a ‘lackey,’ the emperor guarded against him like a thief, and the Hedong Wei family regarded him as an enemy...
He even contemplated following Cao Cao’s example to clear his name, but his entire family was held hostage in Chang’an...
Renown in history was no longer something to hope for. Now, his greatest fear was that when he had no one left, the history books would brand him a ‘spineless slanderer.’
“Grand Preceptor, why remain silent? Do you not wish to speak with me?”
“Your servant dare not...” Wang Yun wiped his sweat again, awkwardly saying, “As long as the Grand Tutor is satisfied, that is enough, that is enough...”
These words only drew the emperor’s angry glare and the ministers’ secret disdain.
They had once hailed this man as the leader of the imperial faction, never imagining he was such a shameless villain!
Seeing Wang Yun’s mournful face, Dong Zhuo felt utterly at ease.
Indeed.
Though his son-in-law was detestable, he was skilled in tormenting others.
For someone like Wang Yun, who harbored malicious intent, a single knife would suffice—but that would be too straightforward.
By carefully finding and pressing his sore spots over and over, making him suffer deep within and struggle to speak, one could achieve true delight!
With this thought, Dong Zhuo casually waved his hand toward the emperor.
“The Grand Preceptor is loyal and steadfast, able to enter the hall with sword and boots, to bow without naming rank, to attend court without haste. What does Your Majesty think?”
Liu Xie’s eyes seemed ready to burst with fury.
Clenching his fists tightly, he dared not raise his head, fearing that seeing Wang Yun’s sanctimonious face would unleash his murderous intent. Gritting his teeth, he said, “As the Grand Tutor wishes.”
Wang Yun opened his mouth, intending to refuse, but seeing Dong Zhuo’s subtle touch on the sword hilt, his many words remained unsaid, swallowed back with tears.

At that moment, he even saw a shadow of Chen Cong in Dong Zhuo...
Could shamelessness truly be contagious?
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Dong Zhuo smiled, “Grand Preceptor, why thank the emperor but not me?”
Wang Yun: .....
“Thank you, Grand Tutor.”
“Very well. Tomorrow, the Grand Preceptor shall stand three steps below me. All ministers should watch carefully—those truly loyal to me will be richly rewarded. Today, I still offer you all a chance; do not squander it.”
“Yes, sir...”

...

After court adjourned, Dong Zhuo dined with his mother and was about to enjoy some leisure.
Suddenly, a scout hurried in, carrying a string of bamboo tubes that clinked together.
“Grand Tutor, a message from the Minister of the Treasury.”
Minister of the Treasury? Chen Cong? Could this be good news?
Dong Zhuo waved disdainfully, “Don’t bother reading it! Burn it.”
“Come back here!” Dong Zhuo’s mother shot him a fierce glare and tapped the table with her cane. “Put it here.”
The scout glanced at Dong Zhuo, then silently placed the bamboo tubes on the table.
Dong Zhuo’s mother glanced over and softly exclaimed, “There’s also a letter from Zining to me? Xu’er, read it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The maid named Xu’er bowed slightly, took a bamboo tube, and poured out the letter.
Such ugly handwriting...
And many misspelled characters...
“Grandmother, seeing this letter is like seeing you. It has been over a month; your grandson misses you greatly. Now Ah Bai is with child and wishes to name the child Dong Si. What does grandmother think? After the birth, your grandson will bring his wife and child to Chang’an to kowtow to you. Your unfilial grandson, Chen Cong, respectfully sends this.”
One breath, two breaths, three breaths.
Dong Zhuo’s mother snapped back to reality, shouted with joy, jumped up, and flung her cane aside. She hurried to Xu’er, snatched the letter, and after reading it repeatedly, tears streamed down her face.
Quivering lips said, “Good, good! Grandma truly did not misjudge Zining! Good, good child, truly filial!”

By the desk, Dong Zhuo’s face flushed with excitement. He wanted to snatch the letter to read but feared his mother’s scolding.
He sat rigidly, twisting uncomfortably.
Muttering sourly, “Mother, don’t let that worthless brat deceive you. It’s not even certain if it’s a boy or girl yet—there’s no reason to name the child beforehand.”
“You unfilial son of mine!” Dong Zhuo’s mother fumed, trembling as she picked up her cane and struck him wildly.
She cursed, “If Grandma never sees a great-grandchild, I’ll hang myself outside your chamber.”

Dong Zhuo was startled, dared not dodge, and took the beating like rain, pleading, “My fault, my fault, mother, please calm down.”
More blows followed.
Eventually, Dong Zhuo’s mother grew tired and threw down her cane. With trembling hands, she cradled the letter like a treasure and, supported by a maid, slowly left.
Dong Zhuo rubbed his face, then noticed more bamboo tubes on the table.
Cursing his own foolishness, he hurried over to find the one with his name.
Sneakily, he poured out the letter and unfolded it...
His smile gradually stiffened.
“Grand Tutor, your son-in-law has fallen on hard times, leading only three hundred cavalry outside Luoyang. He exchanged the captured general Hua Xiong for a thousand flying bears as a show of strength. Minister Chen Cong of Han.”
Then letters from Niu Fu, Li Ru, Dong Min—all without exception, only good news!
“Ah!!! Damn it!!! Damn it!!!”
Dong Zhuo’s anger shook his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys. He threw the letter down in fury, still unsatisfied, and kicked wildly, frightening all servants into kneeling.

In truth,
It wasn’t that Chen Cong couldn’t write a proper family letter.
In fact, he understood the Dong family’s ecosystem better than Cao Cao did.
Pleading nicely to Dong Zhuo was useless.
Beneath his rough exterior, this demon king was just as suspicious as Cao Cao.
Look at how Lu Bu was treated when he came over.
Recall the words outside the Chang Le Palace: “Others may enter if ordered, but Chen Zining must never be allowed inside.”
If Chen Cong coaxed him with sweet words, Dong Zhuo would grow suspicious.
How could one letter mention exchanging captives for flying bears while the other says Dong Bai is pregnant?
If Dong Zhuo sent someone to verify, everything would be uncovered.
Better to let him be angry, annoyed, and hateful first.
Letters to others were filled with good news; only the one to him was cold business.
The angrier he got, the more he would overlook the truth of Dong Bai’s pregnancy.
After all, by normal logic, if Chen Cong wanted something, he’d just lie to Dong Zhuo.
Only by firmly believing Dong Bai was pregnant might Dong Zhuo be willing to compromise.

Indeed.
After venting, Dong Zhuo tired and then laughed.
Waving his hand, he said to the servants, “The Dong household has good news. Go ask the emperor for a general amnesty. Also, summon Niu... Guo Si to me.”
“Yes, sir.”