Suddenly, King Han caught sight of his daughter Han Qing, who had remained silent all this time, out of the corner of his eye, and an idea came to him.
"Enough! What are you all arguing about? You're giving me a headache! I will decide for myself whether we fight or make peace. That is all for today. Court is dismissed!"
After King Han left, the ministers of both factions were still accusing one another of harboring ulterior motives. Once everyone had withdrawn from the hall, a young eunuch approached Han Qing from behind with small, quick steps and whispered, "Her Highness the Princess, His Majesty requests your presence."
Han Qing's expression did not change, but inwardly she was overjoyed. King Han summoning her at this moment surely concerned the question of war or peace. She turned and followed the young eunuch toward Qingchao Hall, the sleeping quarters of successive Kings Han.
King Han was pacing back and forth inside the hall, his expression betraying nothing unusual. No one knew what he was thinking at that moment. He did not even notice Han Qing's arrival-or rather, he was too absorbed in his thoughts.
No one spoke to disturb him, for he hated being interrupted while thinking more than anything. The more he behaved this way, the more conflicted he was. At a time like this, someone else needed only to give the waves a little push to determine which way the matter would go.
And that person was Han Qing. Whether there would be war or peace now depended on what she said.
"Yuechu, you're here. Sit."
"Thank you, Father."
Once they were both seated, King Han looked at his daughter. Ever since Han Jing had disappeared from this world, the daughter before him had become completely estranged from him.