Chapter 205 : Chapter 205

Chapter 205. Drive Out the Demoness

From ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the officials’ point of view, their concerns were not entirely without reason.

They ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were, after all, only ordinary people of the Great Chu Dynasty. When faced with a demoness, only one thought filled their minds.

Humans ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and demons walked different paths.

No ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍matter what, humans and demonkind simply could not coexist.

And ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in their fixed way of thinking, a demon was a demon. More often than not, monsters were evil by nature, and they were bound to exploit human hearts in order to commit wicked deeds.

Added ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to that were the things they had personally experienced before, or at least heard about. They knew that demons had always been fond of bullying humankind.

The moment those thoughts surfaced, every official in court trembled with fear, terrified that this demoness might simply swallow them alive.

“Your Majesty, although our words may indeed sound harsh, everything we say is for the sake of the realm and the state.”

“That is right, Your Majesty. Since ancient times, loyal words have always grated on the ear. There is naturally a reason we are trying so hard to dissuade you...”

“Exactly. Though loyal counsel may be unpleasant to hear, for the sake of the realm and the state, and for the sake of this court, Your Majesty must understand that humans and demons have always stood in opposition since ancient times. You cannot expect a demon to turn over a new leaf and make any contribution to our Great Chu Dynasty.”

Those words expressed the heartfelt thoughts of everyone in the imperial court.

“Exactly. What Minister Zhang said is absolutely right. Your Majesty, you must be cautious, and then more cautious still. A monster is a monster. Their nature is evil. Even if, for a time, you think you have seen a kind side to them, you must not expect them to remain kind forever. The moment something happens, the evil in their hearts may be stirred.”

“That is right. Have you forgotten how these monsters drank human blood, ate human flesh, and seized everything from us humans before?”

“And even if the Demon Consort you brought back truly is kind, can you guarantee that she will never make a mistake for the rest of her life? If something happens and innocent commoners are harmed, then as the ruler, how will you answer to your subjects?”

“Therefore, this subject dares to offer this advice. I hope Your Majesty will recognize the truth as soon as possible and drive this demoness out of the Great Chu Dynasty.”

“That is right. We humbly ask Your Majesty to drive this demoness out of the Great Chu Dynasty.”

“We beseech Your Majesty!”

Chu Feng sat high upon the Dragon Throne, both hands resting on the armrests at either side. His expression was indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger, yet there was an imposing majesty about him even in silence.

He even reached up and casually picked at his ear in front of the assembled officials, his eyes full of undisguised impatience.

Inside the hall, the officials knelt across the floor.

At the front was the Censor-in-Chief, Zhang Yumou. His hair and beard were white, and he was well past seventy, yet he was a veteran minister who had served through three reigns of the Great Chu Dynasty and wielded immense prestige at court.

And yet now, in order to drive out the demoness, despite his advanced age and aching bones, he still forced himself to kneel in the imperial court with what seemed like the last of his strength.

At that moment, he held a memorial in both hands and raised it high above his head, his aged voice firm and resolute:

“Your Majesty! We, your subjects, have submitted a joint memorial, begging Your Majesty to execute the demoness Cailin, in order to set right the Order of the Court and calm the hearts of the people! I, Zhang, am at least a veteran minister who has served through three reigns. The late emperor once said that if Your Majesty ever confused black with white and disregarded the law of the realm, then this old minister was to supervise Your Majesty.”

As soon as his words fell, the officials behind him echoed in unison:

“We second the memorial!”

“Your Majesty, please execute the demoness!”

Chu Feng did not speak at once. He merely looked at them in silence.

His gaze was calm as still water, yet it made Zhang Yumou, who knelt at the very front, feel an invisible pressure weighing down on him.

After a long while, Chu Feng slowly spoke. “Zhang Yumou, I know that you are a veteran minister of the Great Chu Dynasty who has served through three reigns, and that your status and standing are extremely high. But now this is my realm. It is true that the late king once said you were to assist me, but in this matter, I have done nothing wrong. On what grounds should I obey your decision? You say she is a demoness. What proof do you have? Can I not distinguish human from demon myself? Can I not tell good from evil myself? I am not a fool, so why should I need you, Zhang Yumou, standing here and pointing fingers at me?”

Chu Feng truly found it absurd.

He had clawed his way up to where he stood today, not through cautious scheming or timid restraint, but through his own sharp mind and decisive methods.

He had been humiliated by countless people before, but things were different now. He held power and authority. Why should he sit here and listen to this old fossil spew nonsense?

“My lords, I am the ruler of a nation. I have led the Great Chu Dynasty to where it stands today, and I know full well that none of this would have been possible without all your efforts over the years. But what I want to tell you is this: I know perfectly well what is black and what is white. I do not need you standing here and pointing fingers at me. I will do as I please. The only thing I can guarantee to all of you is that I will not allow this woman to endanger Great Chu, nor will I let any of you be placed in an impossible position.”

At that point, Chu Feng deliberately paused. Then he suddenly rose from the Dragon Throne and looked down at the officials before him.

“And most importantly, I do not need any of you to teach me how to handle my affairs.” The sentence was simple, but it was filled with unquestionable dominance.

It also made Chu Feng’s attitude toward the matter perfectly clear.

Zhang Yumou raised his head. His face was still as dark and stern as ever, and he spoke with righteous conviction. “Your Majesty! This woman is from the Ancient Royal Clan. She is not of our kind, and those not of our kind must surely harbor different intentions. That is the first point. Even if this woman herself does not intend to harm Great Chu, I am certain the Ancient Royal Clan will never spare Great Chu.”

“The second point: ever since she entered the palace, there has not been a single day of peace in the court. Rumors have spread everywhere among the people, and their hearts are filled with fear. All of this began because of her. Is that not itself proof that something is wrong?”

“The third...” Zhang Yumou paused, then gritted his teeth and said, “This subject has heard among the common people that this woman is already with child. And that child would be a true demon bloodline. If she gives birth, then that child will carry the blood of another race and will surely become a future calamity. Does Your Majesty intend to hand over the future of all Great Chu to a bloodline of the demon race?”

“If this woman is not eliminated, Great Chu will perish! If not now, then in a few years it surely will! Once the child of that monster takes control of Great Chu, do you really think humans and demons can coexist?”

Chu Feng’s gaze shifted slightly, but inwardly he was utterly stunned. What was all this supposed to mean?

Even Chu Feng, who had always been calm and self-possessed, felt his heart jolt for a moment. How in the world had the conversation veered all the way to this?

With child?

No one knew better than he did whether Cailin was pregnant...

So how had she suddenly become pregnant out of nowhere?

This was completely baseless. Chu Feng almost wanted to laugh.

Sure enough, no matter the world or the era, rumors truly did spread like wildfire.

Still, this particular rumor was a little too outrageous, was it not?

“Beloved Minister Zhang, you...” Chu Feng thought for a moment, still unsure how to phrase it. After hesitating briefly, he finally said calmly, “Stop there for the moment. I will only ask you this: that ‘I have heard’ you mentioned just now—heard it from whom? Who exactly said that my beloved consort Cailin was already carrying a child?”