After the council ended, the scholar-officials and generals left the Chu royal palace one after another.
Only King Huai of Chu, Xiong Xin, remained seated high above, silently stroking his fingers.
Xiang An and Zi Juan's disappointment, Liu Ji's secret delight—all of it had been within his expectations. Only Xiang Yu, who had not revealed the slightest hint of his attitude, left him unable to sit still.
An unreadable attitude was the greatest danger. Moreover, in Xiong Xin's impression, although Xiang Yu was somewhat quieter and more decisive than Xiang An, he was not particularly deep or scheming. Going by Xiang Yu's original temperament, he should never have reacted as he had today.
That left Xiong Xin somewhat flustered.
But what had been done was like water already spilled. Xiong Xin gritted his teeth. No matter what, he had already divided the military authority. Whatever consequences followed, he had to accept them.
If one lacked the resolve to bear the consequences of losing a wager, then the wager itself was utterly laughable.
Rising from the empty hall, where no one remained but himself, Xiong Xin clenched his fists and lightly patted his face twice, making his expression look firmer, more imposing. Then he summoned two eunuchs from outside the hall.
"Go. Summon the Duke of Pei to the rear hall for a talk," he ordered the eunuchs.
The division of power was already settled. Dwelling on it would only increase his own pressure. He merely needed to continue carrying out his plans step by step.
Watching the eunuchs depart, Xiong Xin narrowed his eyes and turned to leave.
Xiang An followed behind Zi Juan and sighed.
They had only arrived in Xutai last night when they were dragged into a meeting. Xiang Liang's body had already begun to stink, yet