Lu Bu's expression changed instantly upon hearing this. Who was lying in the coffin?
It was his lord, the lord he was sworn to serve for generations. A hero in life, yet to suffer such indignity in death? Impossible!
"Get out here! This general wants to see who dares to speak so arrogantly!" Lu Bu roared, his eyes wide with fury.
"General Lu Bu has a good memory indeed, to have forgotten even me. How can this be?" Zhang Rang trembled with laughter, approaching and gently patting the coffin. "Who is inside? Bring them out for me to see!"
"Make your move!" Zhang Rang bellowed. Immediately, people rushed forward, clumsily pushing at Ye Feng's coffin.
"How dare you! I'll see who dares to lay a hand on it!" Lu Bu, wielding his Fang Tian Hua Ji, glared around. "Do you truly think I wouldn't act against you?"
Not to mention Lu Bu's Third Legion, Lu Bu himself was more than enough for them.
Thinking this, a young eunuch hastily retreated, peeking from behind Zhang Rang. "Old Ancestor, look at him! He's about to attack us!"
"Lu Bu, how dare you!" Zhang Rang roared. "Do you truly believe Liang Province is yours to command now!"
Lu Bu, clumsy with words and enraged, could barely speak for a moment. He gripped his Fang Tian Hua Ji, ready to strike. Diao Chan quickly intervened, "Wait, I would like to ask, how are they?"
Diao Chan stepped forward and bowed, her etiquette impeccable. Seeing Zhang Rang beaming, he put on a show of respect. "When the King was alive, he treated you well. How can the inner attendants be so now?"
Zhang Rang slowly shifted his body back. Lu Bu tightened his grip on the Fang Tian Hua Ji. He had failed to protect Ye Feng; Diao Chan must not be harmed!
"I, as an inner attendant, am merely being vigilant. Don't wait until you're dead by the Fang Tian Hua Ji to regret it!" Lu Bu said emotionlessly, coldly.
Zhang Rang instinctively retracted his outstretched neck, rubbing it for a moment. He spoke hastily to Diao Chan, "This is the Emperor's decree. We are merely carrying out orders and cannot make decisions. Perhaps Madam can take the Chu King's seal and ask the Emperor himself to see if he agrees!"
Diao Chan was not foolish enough for that. Through long experience, she knew clearly that Emperor Ling had enfeoffed Ye Feng as the King of Chu. She held no imperial title. If she were to approach Emperor Ling directly, what good would come of it?
Having thought this through, Diao Chan spoke sarcastically, "Are the inner attendants not afraid? You twist black and white now. Did you dare act like this when the King of Chu was alive?"
"Madam speaks the truth. I never dared. If the King of Chu were alive, how would I have the nerve to block your path? But isn't the King of Chu dead, and now lying in this coffin?" Zhang Rang sneered. "Why doesn't Madam call out to him? See if the King of Chu will agree. If he does, I will immediately kneel and kowtow in apology."
"You said it, don't regret it!" Lu Bu snorted, leaping onto the flatbed cart. The coffin jolted several times, and a rustling sound came from within.
"Old Ancestor, what do we do? What if he really comes back to life?"
"Old Ancestor!"
The timid young eunuchs' legs turned to jelly, and they knelt on the ground. Even the braver ones trembled behind Zhang Rang.
"Don't be afraid. If anything happens, Old Ancestor will be here to shield you. Never mind if the King of Chu doesn't revive; even if he does, Old Ancestor will be in front to protect you!"
If those young eunuchs had looked closely, they would have seen Zhang Rang's legs trembling and his face pale.
"You, you, you..." Zhang Rang pointed at the coffin, speechless for a long time.
Lu Bu lowered his head and searched within the coffin for a long time. Suddenly, he stood up, holding a sword aloft, and declared triumphantly, "Inner attendant, do you recognize this?"
Zhang Rang's legs buckled, and he quickly knelt. The young eunuchs behind him, not understanding, blurted out foolishly.
"Old Ancestor, why are you kneeling? Get up and deal with him!"
Diao Chan could almost imagine Ye Feng's suppressed expression as she struggled not to laugh. Suddenly, a large group knelt down with a clatter.
Zhang Rang turned and slapped a young eunuch hard on the head. "Foolish thing! This is an imperial gift! Why aren't you kneeling quickly!"
In contrast, the common people stood straight, as if ignoring everything. Seeing the young eunuchs kneeling, someone shouted from behind!
"The old man is kneeling to the King of Chu! We've won!"
"We've won!"
Waves of shouts made Zhang Rang's scalp tingle. These people clearly revered Ye Feng as a god. If they were to fight Ye Feng one day, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"I'll beat you to death!" An old man, seventy or eighty years old, holding a walking stick, shuffled tremblingly towards Zhang Rang!
With the old man as an example, the rest of the people rushed forward recklessly. Zhang Rang frantically yelled, "I am the Emperor's man!"
As various rotten vegetables and eggs flew towards Zhang Rang, Lu Bu raised his Fang Tian Hua Ji and spoke.
"The King of Chu is watching you. If you want to disturb his peace in the netherworld, go ahead and hit him!" Ye Feng pointed at Zhang Rang and said coldly.
"We cannot trouble the King of Chu!" The old man raised his arms and shouted. Instantly, everyone knelt down. "Long live the King of Chu!"
Diao Chan was momentarily horrified. Wouldn't this make Emperor Ling wary? It would surely lead to great trouble. Seeing Zhang Rang's gaze growing colder, she quickly went to help him up.
"Sir, please forgive us. If it weren't for the King's body needing to enter the city, it wouldn't have come to this. Please convey to His Majesty that the King of Chu has been loyal to His Majesty for generations, and that His Majesty should rest assured." Diao Chan raised her eyebrows, feeling distressed. These people should have waited for Zhang Rang to leave before speaking. What was this?
"Please rise, quickly, please rise." Diao Chan hastily comforted the many commoners. "If the King of Chu has any unavoidable circumstances that offended you, please forgive us!"
"The King of Chu is doing it all for us. Even so, he has his hardships. Madam, please rest assured, we are not ungrateful people!" The leading old man quickly shouted.
"Madam, please rest assured!" Such voices sounded continuously, and Diao Chan finally felt a little relieved.
Lu Bu leaped down from the cart and placed the sword before Zhang Rang, saying coldly, "An imperial gift, a sword capable of beheading a foolish ruler and killing a traitor. You've seen it before, haven't you?"
"I've seen it, I've seen it," Zhang Rang readily agreed. If he were killed, he would have no recourse. Moreover, Lu Bu truly dared to act.
"Since that is the case, will this attendant take his men and return?" Zhang Rang asked cautiously, eyeing the sword. "Does General agree?"
"If you want to go, then go. I'm not stopping you. What does it have to do with me?" Lu Bu said coldly and sarcastically. Seeing Zhang Rang about to leave dejectedly, he casually added, "I've long heard that inner attendants are immensely respectful of the King of Chu. It seems now that is not the case!"
Zhang Rang absolutely could not afford to have any fault found. Forcing a smile, he asked, "What does General mean by that? This attendant doesn't quite understand. Please, General, explain it clearly."
"Since the commoners have all kowtowed to the King of Chu, and you are merely an inner attendant, why have you forgotten to pay respects to the King of Chu?" Lu Bu held his sword and said coldly. "This is not showing disrespect to the King of Chu!"
What were their statuses? What was his status? He could only think these thoughts in his heart, while his face was full of smiles. "Does the General mean I should pay respects to the King of Chu?"
"Three kowtows and nine prostrations, not a single one can be missed. Otherwise, let's see if these commoners agree!" Lu Bu said coldly. "During the mourning period, you, Zhang Rang, will perform the duties of a filial son and grandson daily. This matter will then be resolved. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
"Does the General truly intend to do this?" Zhang Rang asked blankly. "Aren't you afraid I'll report this to His Majesty? Then no one will benefit!"
"Inner attendant, feel free to try. If you leave now, will the commoners agree?" Lu Bu pointed at the commoners and said righteously. "If they agree, Lu Bu has nothing more to say. If they don't, I cannot control this matter; they can handle it themselves!"
These words made Zhang Rang break out in a cold sweat. What would be his fate if he fell into the hands of the commoners? The events just now were all pacified with Lu Bu's help. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but break out in a sweat!
"General, is there any room for negotiation on this matter?" Zhang Rang asked humbly. "If we can negotiate, from now on, Zhang Rang will be the biggest supporter of the King of Chu's manor?"
"You are merely a eunuch, and you dare speak such words!" Lu Bu scoffed. "The King of Chu's greatest supporter is these commoners. Are you saying you're better than them?"
"Fine, I agree," Zhang Rang said calmly and solemnly. "What about the matter of the filial son and grandson?"
Upon arriving in Liang Province, the clan leaders of those prominent families would at least show some respect to Ye Feng. What would happen if they saw his current situation? How would he manage in his official career?
Zhang Rang thought of many things in an instant, his legs went soft, and he slowly slid down. Lu Bu, holding his sword, stared intently at Ye Feng's coffin, fearing that something might happen.
Three hasty kowtows were made to the ground. Regardless of the consequences, he had at least given Lu Bu an explanation. Zhang Rang looked up and asked, "Is it done now? Does General Lu Bu have any other instructions? If so, tell me directly. Today, I will handle it for you, but tomorrow, who knows!"
Zhang Rang gritted his teeth in hatred. Lu Bu, as if oblivious, said, "Then, please have the inner attendant escort the King of Chu's coffin back to the manor. You will certainly not be treated unfairly. Water and wine will be freely available for you to drink!"
"You, Lu Bu, are pushing too far!" Zhang Rang muttered indignantly. Song Gang's brows furrowed, and he rushed forward, saying eagerly, "Old Ancestor, I am willing to do this in your place! Please, Old Ancestor, grant me this!"
Zhang Rang stroked Song Gang's head, his face full of affection. "Old Ancestor hasn't doted on you for nothing. Go, my child!"