Chapter 61: Contest of Wits and Strength

  "A beauty that causes fish to sink and geese to fall, a face that makes the moon hide in shame and flowers blush!"

  Wang Yun sighed with emotion: "A smile can charm a hundred beauties, the six palaces' powder and rouge lose their color. What great talent! Such excellent phrases come out of his mouth, I didn't expect that Xing Ping is not only good at commanding troops and fighting wars, but also excels in literature, it really surprises me!"

  Zheng Zhong and Huang Wan looked at Luo Zheng's eyes with some unusual gaze, apparently did not expect that Luo Zheng could say such beautiful words.

  Even Yang Zan beside him looked surprised and carefully sized up Luo Zheng a few times.

  Luo Zheng bowed his hands and said with great humility, "Sir Situ is overpraising me."

  Huang Wan stroked his mustache and smiled: "Zi Shixiong has a talented and artistic adopted daughter like Diao Chan, it's really enviable for us!"

  Diao Chan?

  Luo Zheng was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses.

  No wonder she has such a stunning beauty, it turns out that she is the famous Diao Chan.

  Wang Yun had been observing Luo Zheng and asked: "Does Sheng Ping seem to have heard about the old man's righteous daughter?"

  Luo Zheng nodded, "This humble official has indeed heard of Miss Diao Chan's reputation, I wonder if Miss Diao Chan has promised herself to someone?"

  Wang Yun's eyes flashed with deep thought, and he smiled: "I only have one daughter, and I really can't bear to marry her off. However, a girl cannot stay at home forever, and my daughter will eventually get married. I must carefully choose a husband for her."

  "Governor Sito is truly a model of a kind father."

  Luo Zheng nodded and pretended not to hear the implication behind Wang Yun's words.

  Although every man would want a beautiful woman like Diao Chan for himself, Wang Yun's adopted daughter is not that easy to marry.

  Today I played Wang Yun's Riding Dragon Son-in-law, and tomorrow I will probably be beaten into the Cold Palace by Dong Zhuo.

  What Wang Yun said is ambiguous and may not necessarily mean that, it's probably just a probe.

  Even if you want to bring Diao Chan into the house, you have to think of a way that is both perfect and beautiful, that is, don't let Dong Zhuo suspect anything, and also make Wang Yun eat a bitter lotus seed, he can only agree reluctantly. How could Wang Yun be led by the nose?

  Wang Yun saw that he did not take the bait and asked again, "Does Sheng Ping not love beautiful women?"

  Lu Zheng's expression was calm and composed, he said: "The Book of Songs says, 'A beautiful woman is a delight to behold, a gentleman loves her.' As an official in his prime, how could I not love a beauty? However, with national affairs still unsettled, as a minister, how dare I have thoughts of family and marriage?"

  "Sheng Ping is truly a loyal minister!"

  Wang Yun praised him with one sentence, and it was somewhat difficult to continue.

  Luo Zheng took the opportunity to stand up and bid farewell, Wang Yun had no choice but to personally escort him out of the Imperial Tutor's mansion.

  Returning to the main hall, he asked several people: "What do you think of this person?"

  Huang Wan sighed and said: "Even a beauty like Miss Situ, the adopted daughter of Master Situ, cannot move his heart. He is indeed a remarkable person!"

  Zheng Zhong said, "I observe that this person seems to have already understood our intentions, yet shows no unusual expression, as if he is unaware that Li Ru and Niu Fu are secretly plotting against him. Such a deep and subtle mind, unless he has extraordinary courage, must be a man with great ambition."

  Wang Yun nodded, "What you gentlemen have said is quite in line with my own thoughts."

  He then turned to Yang Zan and said: "Tomorrow, I will announce to everyone that I will host a banquet for Luo Zheng."

  "Yes, sir."

  Yang Zan hastily got up to respond, but his mind was filled with Diao Chan's lingering beautiful image that he couldn't shake off.

  Lu Zhen left the residence of Situ and immediately went into the palace again to request an audience with Dong Zhuo.

  On the road, his mind was still lingering on Diao Chan's appearance and thinking about how to bring this beauty into his home.

  This time they didn't have to wait long before being led by an imperial attendant to a secluded pavilion.

  But unexpectedly, Li Ru was also there.

  "See the lord, have seen the military advisor."

  Lu Zheng bowed respectfully, his face without a hint of change.

  Even if he had murderous intentions towards Li Rou Hua, he hid it very well.

  "Exempt from ceremonial rites."

  Dong Zhuo waved his hand, seemingly still in a good mood.

  Li Ru also nodded slightly, as if in return, his face didn't show any expression.

  "What important matter does Shengping have to report?"

  Dong Zhuo glanced at Luo Zheng and asked indifferently.

  "Replying to Master, I have just come out of the Minister's residence."

  Dong Zhuo grunted and then fell silent.

  Luo Zhen's heart moved, and he said: "Governor Situ hosted a banquet to entertain me, and there were also Minister Zheng Zhong, Governor Huang Wan, and Colonel Yang Tan. They only talked about some trivial matters, nothing else...and also..."

  "What else?"

  Dong Zhuo asked slowly and calmly.

  Luo Zheng replied: "Also, Sir Situ has a adopted daughter who is engaged to be married to General Mo."

  Dong Zhuo was startled and asked: "What does Wang Zifu's daughter look like?"

  Li Ru also looked surprised and glanced at Luo Zheng before continuing to listen.

  Luo Zhengxin said it's a good thing that Diao Chan hasn't been seen by Dong Zhuo, otherwise even if he had the intention of embracing the beauty and taking her back, he would only be able to watch as a beautiful flower is trampled in cow dung. He replied: "Her appearance is excellent."

  Dong Zhuo asked again, "You can make your own decision on this matter, what's the point of telling me!"

  Luo Zhen anxiously said: "Sir Situ's kindness is overwhelming, I dare not refuse him to his face, so I came to see the master."

  Dong Zhuo did not understand and said: "Since ancient times, beautiful women have been paired with heroes. Wang's daughter is a national beauty, why does Shunping refuse?"

  Luo Zheng immediately puffed out his chest and loudly said: "This humble general is just a commoner, fortunately, the lord's wise eyes picked him out from among the ranks, gave him heavy responsibilities, and he has only achieved some minor merits and gained a slight reputation. Now that national affairs are not yet settled, the lord's great undertaking is not yet accomplished, and the rebellious thieves under heaven have not yet submitted to the lord's imperial transformation, how could this general dare to neglect public duties for private reasons and think of his family?"

  Dong Zhuo was overjoyed and laughed loudly, stroking his beard: "Sheng Ping is indeed a righteous man!"

  Li Ru's eyebrows jumped fiercely, thinking secretly that Luo Zheng was indeed not a simple person!

  Situ Wang invited him to a banquet, although he didn't know what his intention was, but he absolutely didn't have good intentions.

  Unexpectedly, he was given the opportunity to capture this guy, and in front of his master, he made a big show of loyalty, which was really a miscalculation.

  Lu Zheng said: "Sir Situ's kindness is hard to refuse, but I have not yet received the Lord's instructions and do not want to decline in person. Please ask the Lord to convey this to Sir Situ on my behalf. As long as the Lord's great cause is not accomplished, I dare not think of having a family."

  Having said that, he secretly observed Dong Zhuo's expression and saw that although this man tried his best to cover it up, the joy in his eyes could not be concealed.

  After defeating the Eastern Coalition, Dong Zhuo's ambition indeed expanded greatly.

  If it weren't for this, I'd be afraid of being scolded severely if I said such things myself.

  Dong Zhuo waved his hand and said in a loud voice, "Sheng Ping's loyalty and righteousness, I already know. However, can a great man not have a family? Chancellor Cai has the intention of marrying off his daughter, and Sheng Ping accepting her is no harm. This matter will be decided by your humble servant, choose a day to marry Chancellor Cai's adopted daughter."

  "This..."

  Luo Zheng's face showed hesitation.

  Dong Zhuo frowned and said: "What's wrong? Can't I make decisions for you?"

  "I dare not!"

  Luo Zhen anxiously said: "If it is Master's intention, I will have no choice but to obey."

  Dong Zhuo's anger turned into joy, and he laughed loudly: "Sheng Ping, hurry up and prepare for the wedding!"

  "Thank you, sir. I will take my leave."

  Luo Zheng hastily retreated and went outside, where he finally wiped away his cold sweat.

  This time it can be said that the military is taking a risky move, if Dong Zhuo doesn't cooperate, then it will be a big joke.

  It's okay, this time I didn't waste my efforts, not only did I win Dong Zhuo's trust to some extent, but also made him 'coerce' into agreeing to marry Diao Chan, a double gain.

  It's just that the battle of wits is particularly perilous.

  A slight delay will result in failure and bring trouble instead of achieving one's goal.

  The most urgent thing now is to marry Diao Chan before Wang Yun reacts and Dong Zhuo sees her, so that even if Wang Yun wants to use the beauty trick, it will be too late.

  Having thought it through, he immediately returned to the mansion to make arrangements for everything.

  Two hours later, Luo Zheng once again arrived at the residence of Situ, bearing a generous betrothal gift.

  Wang Yun had just seen off Zheng Zhong and Huang Wan, and before he could enter the door, he saw Luo Zhen dressed in red and wearing a festive hat, accompanied by several attendants, walking towards him with an air of confidence. Wang Yun was somewhat perplexed, so he invited Luo Zhen into his mansion and asked: "What brings you to Xiping?"

  Luo Zheng cupped his hands and said: "I have a request to make of Your Excellency, I hope you will grant it."

  Wang Yun said with a start: "What does Sheng Ping want from me? Speak your mind."

  Luo Zheng somewhat embarrassingly said: "It's like this, I was lucky enough to see Miss Diao Chan's beauty just now, and after returning, my mind has been filled with Miss Diao Chan's lovely image. So, I prepared the betrothal gift and came to propose to you, Sir Situ, hoping that you will agree."

  Wang Yun said with a seemingly smiling yet not quite smiling expression, "Just a while ago, Sheng Ping was saying that since national affairs have not been settled, he did not dare to think about having a family. How is it that after just over two hours, he comes to propose marriage to me? Isn't this strange?"

  Luo Zheng awkwardly said: "Miss Diao Chan is a beauty of the world, how could I, an inferior official, not be moved?"

  Wang Yun and others are old and cunning, as soon as they heard it, they knew that what he said was all nonsense.

  But in all fairness, this Lü Zheng is indeed a personal talent and worth recruiting. The problem is that Wang Yun has already seen through his deceitful nature, not like Lü Bu who is brave but lacks strategy, they can't be mentioned in the same breath.

  Even if it can be pulled over, it is difficult to truly control it.

  King Yiu has been considering a plan to get rid of Dong Zhuo, and has already roughed out some ideas. Diao Chan is the key to this plan, so he cannot marry her off to Luo Zheng. He says: "I'm glad you like my little girl, but she already has someone in mind, and I don't want to force her into anything. I'm afraid it will disappoint you."

  Luo Zheng indeed looked disappointed, "I still hope that Lord Situ will reconsider."

  Wang Yun hesitated for a moment and sighed: "It's not that I don't allow it, but it's really not good to force my young daughter!"

  Luo Zheng looked around and said: "I have something to report to you, Sir. May I...?"

  Wang Yun heard the lyrics and understood the implied meaning. He immediately waved his hand and dismissed all the servants from the left side of the hall.

  Luo Zheng's expression was calm and composed as he asked: "Sir, are you really unwilling to grant this humble official's request?"

  Wang Yun's face sank, and he said displeased: "I've already made it very clear that it's not that I don't allow it, but my daughter has already had someone in mind. I really can't force her, General Luo, what do you mean by this?"

  Luo Zheng lowered his voice, "It's not that Miss Diao Chan has found her soulmate, but rather that Governor Situ is planning to use Miss Diao Chan to carry out the linked beauty plan, intending to harm Chancellor Cao's life..."