Everyone was stunned.
Zhao Yu reacted first—he kicked Tao Qian hard in the backside, sending him sprawling forward. Cui Yan's blade sliced through empty air.
Tao Qian crashed to the ground face-first, breaking into a cold sweat as his drunken haze vanished instantly.
He actually dares to kill me?!
Before he could recover, Cui Yan—staff in one hand, sword in the other—charged forward again.
Cao Hong, terrified, dove under the table, trembling.
Wang Lang and Mi Zhu rushed in and grabbed Cui Yan, restraining him.
"Your Excellency, calm yourself! Please calm yourself!"
Mi Zhu pleaded urgently, "My lord is drunk and speaking nonsense—please don't take it seriously!"
Cui Yan slammed his staff against the ground and roared, "To behave drunkenly and disorderly before an imperial envoy—what is the punishment for that?!"
Wang Lang shot Tao Qian a sharp look.
Say something! Admit your fault!
Stopping Cui Yan was one thing—but if this reached Zhang Xin, and he brought troops down on them, who could stop that?
Tao Qian quickly understood.
"Yes, yes… Zizhong is right," he said hastily. "I drank too much just now. Please forgive me, Your Excellency."
He scrambled up and bowed deeply.
Cui Yan's anger eased slightly.
"You drank too much?"
"Yes, yes!"
"So—you're sober now?"
"I am, I am!"
Cui Yan narrowed his eyes. "Then tell me—what did the General Who Guards the East say to you?"
Tao Qian froze.
What did Zhang Xin say?
All he remembered was being scolded senseless.
Mi Zhu stepped in smoothly. "My lord is advanced in years and somewhat hard of hearing. He may not have caught everything clearly. Could Your Excellency repeat it?"
Cui Yan glanced at him.
Hard of hearing? From what he just saw, Tao Qian heard perfectly well.
Still, he had no real desire to kill a provincial governor.
Taking the offered way out, he said coldly, "The General commands that Xuzhou properly handle the Yellow Turbans and cease harming neighboring regions."
"If even one more band of Yellow Turbans is driven out to wreak havoc elsewhere, he will personally lead troops to Tan County."
"Governor Tao—do you understand this clearly?"
"I understand! I understand completely!" Tao Qian nodded frantically.
Cui Yan sheathed his sword.
Before Tao Qian could relax, Cui Yan added, "Then please write the order now. I will deliver it to Langya on my return."
"Now?" Tao Qian blinked.
The banquet table was still full.
Cui Yan's tone turned icy again. "Is there a problem?"
"No, none at all!"
Tao Qian hurriedly ordered the dishes cleared. Under Cui Yan's watchful eye, he drafted an order commanding Zang Ba and the others to properly settle the Yellow Turbans and cease driving them out.
The moment the seal was affixed, Cui Yan reached out and snatched the document.
After scanning it, he blew lightly to dry the ink, tucked it away, and said, "I take my leave."
"Yes, yes… take care, Your Excellency…"
Once Cui Yan left, Tao Qian dismissed everyone. The banquet was thoroughly ruined.
The moment he was alone, his anger exploded—he overturned the table with a crash.
"Zhang Xin, you brat! How dare you humiliate me like this!"
Hearing the smashing behind him, Zhao Yu could only sigh and shake his head.
Cui Yan left Tan County and traveled under guard to Langya, where he delivered Tao Qian's order to Zang Ba before returning to Linzi.
"Ji Gui, you've done well," Zhang Xin said with a smile. "Take the next two days to rest."
Cui Yan bowed in thanks and withdrew.
Afterward, Zhang Xin issued a series of orders:
Zhu Ling was reassigned under Gao Shun and sent with a thousand troops to Beihai to relieve Yu Jin and guard against any spillover from Xuzhou.
Gao Shun remained in Qi with his main force.
These three thousand troops would secure Qingzhou.
Internally, the province was stable. Most former Yellow Turban leaders were already under Zhang Xin's control. Externally, no major threats loomed.
The only concern was scattered bandits in the hills—but with elite troops stationed, they posed little danger.
The rest of the army was ordered to assemble in Pingyuan.
Zhang Xin remained in Linzi for two more days, personally instructing Gao Shun—then, just as he prepared to depart, a weary messenger arrived with a secret letter.
Ninth day of the fourth month.
Liu Hong had died.
Today was the twelfth.
Three days ago.
Zhang Xin's eyes widened. Tears streamed down his face.
So… it had happened after all.
"Hua Tuo… you still couldn't make it in time…"
He looked up at the sky and sighed.
After informing Zhang Rang, the two wept together in private.
The next day, an imperial envoy arrived and read Liu Hong's final decree:
Zhang Xin was promoted to Right General and Grand General of the Three Departments.
As he received the edict, tears flowed freely.
The eunuch envoy was puzzled.
Promotion was one thing—but such grief?
Zhang Xin simply claimed it was gratitude for the late emperor's kindness.
On the surface, he still had to pretend ignorance of the emperor's death.
Once the envoy was settled, Zhang Xin departed at once for Pingyuan, bringing Cui Yan and a disguised Zhang Rang with him.
At Pingyuan, now serving as a temporary capital, Zhang Xin reviewed Guo Yuan's plans.
A new city would be built around the old one—transforming its simple "mouth" shape into a fortified "gu" structure, enclosing administrative centers, granaries, and residences.
Zhang Xin was highly satisfied.
He assigned Guo Yuan and Ren Gu to oversee construction.
With official matters settled, he headed to the inner courtyard.
"It's been four and a half months… I wonder if she missed me."
His steps quickened, a rare excitement in his heart.
He had missed Zhang Ning deeply.
But the moment he entered—
He froze.
Zhang Ning stood there, smiling gently…
Her belly slightly rounded.
"Brother," she said softly, "you're back."