In Handong, inside a private tea room, the members of the Fan-Zhao Faction sat gathered, waiting with forced patience. In the center of the room sat a television, still two and a half hours away from the evening news.
In another room, the members of the You-Liang Faction were also gathered, their faces etched with anxiety. Among them were Qi Tongwei and Zhou Zhengming. No one felt like talking; they were all staring at the television, which was playing the cartoon *Tom and Jerry*. On screen, Tom and Jerry were engaged in their endless chase. Everyone had a premonition of the outcome, but as the old saying goes, until the final result is announced, there is always a flicker of hope.
They had to wait. Patiently.
Chapter 626