The curtain lifted, and Murong Ling, tall, lean, and formidable, stepped out. He said to his father, Murong Chui, "This is an excellent opportunity. Why would you give it up so readily, Father?"
Worry showed on Murong Chui's face. "What do you think we should do?"
"Why not devise a plan for Huan Badao, Father, and seize control of the Western Headquarters while eliminating Chen Caozhi? Huan Wen is old and ill, incapable of doing anything. Though the risks are tremendous, extraordinary achievements are hard to win without extraordinary deeds. Seizing the momentum and staking everything on one attempt would be better than being held down by Chen Caozhi, with no day when we can rise."
"What are our chances of success?" Murong Chui asked.
Murong Ling hesitated before replying, "With your help, Father, Huan Xi should have a sixty percent chance. It is worth the gamble."
Murong Chui sneered. "If we follow Huan Xi into rebellion, defeat is certain, and our clan will be exterminated."
Hearing the severity in his father's voice, Murong Ling did not dare utter a sound.
Murong Chui said, "Huan Xi is indecisive, arrogant, and incompetent. Despite his standing as Heir Apparent, he is helpless against Chen Caozhi and can only resort to the worst of expedients-assassination. He and Chen Caozhi are at odds, and Chen Caozhi certainly does not wish to see him succeed Huan Wen. Chen Caozhi's obstruction of my appointment as Sima of Yu Province was not aimed at Huan Xi. Keeping a strict guard against me was precisely where his wisdom and sharpness lay. Yet Huan Xi believes Chen Caozhi was deliberately opposing him. Moreover, Chen Caozhi has deliberately deepened that misunderstanding. I suspect he may even have provoked Huan Xi with his words, driving him into this frenzy, determined to