You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 11 Imperial Edict
The Prince of Xiaoyao's Mansion.

This is the residence of Zhou Qian, the carefree prince.

Prince Zhou Qian was the fourth son of the late emperor and the fourth elder brother of the current emperor, Zhou Chen.

Because he loved freedom and disliked constraints, he was bestowed the title of Prince of Freedom by the late emperor.

Inside the palace.

Meeting hall.

The carefree Prince Zhou Qian sat imposingly in the main seat.

King Kang, Zhou Qi, sat to his right.

Like King Kang, Zhou Qi, King Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, both were sons of the late emperor, and were the seventh in line.

However, because his mother was a palace maid, King Kang, Zhou Qi's status was vastly different from that of King Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian.

At this moment, King Kang, Zhou Qi, looked uneasy.

Seeing the uneasy look on King Kang's face, Prince Zhou Qian asked, "What? Are you afraid?"

Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, hesitated and said, "Fourth brother, isn't this the wrong thing to do?"

"After all, my fifth brother is now the emperor. If we openly defy him, that would be disobeying his orders."

"If we anger him, wouldn't we be asking for trouble?"

King Kang, Zhou Qi, said with some concern.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, sneered, "So what if we anger him? Can he kill us?"

"Let's talk again."

"What utter nonsense about disobeying the imperial decree! Even if the throne is awarded according to seniority, it shouldn't be his turn!"

"I really don't know what Father was thinking back then, actually passing the throne to him. Which of us brothers isn't better off than that sickly man?"

"He even allowed a woman to rule as regent; how could he do such a thing?"

"I am not at all respectful," said Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, showing no respect whatsoever for Emperor Zhou Chen.

He was furious when this was mentioned.

He was the fourth prince of the late emperor, so if we're talking about inheriting the throne, it should have been his turn first.

However, the late emperor bypassed him and passed the throne to Zhou Chen, the fifth prince, who was the most mediocre among the princes.

This still leaves him feeling resentful to this day.

"Fourth brother, keep your voice down. If this gets out, it could cause a lot of trouble."

King Kang, Zhou Qi, was so frightened that he broke out in a cold sweat.

The saying "The imperial family is the most ruthless" is no joke.

If Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao, were to spread these words, not only would they be half-brothers with the emperor, but even full brothers would likely be arrested and punished.

"What are you afraid of?"

"This is the Prince Xiaoyao's Mansion, not some inn or restaurant outside. Who could possibly spread this word?"

Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, curled his lip indifferently and gave Prince Kang, Zhou Qi, a deep look.

I know what you're worried about!

"You just think that if we disobey the imperial decree, we will anger the emperor."

"But now two of the four prefectures in the Northwest have fallen, popular uprisings are breaking out everywhere, and plagues are rampant. He sent us brothers to the four prefectures in the Northwest, clearly intending to sacrifice us brothers to appease the people's anger and quell their grievances."

“If my brother and I do not disobey the imperial decree, we will have to go to the four northwestern prefectures to die.”

"Besides, the emperor only said it in court and did not issue a formal decree. We brothers are not disobeying the imperial decree, so you have no need to worry."

"I am confident and in control," said Zhou Qian, the carefree prince.

The current situation is analyzed very clearly.

The words of the carefree king were like a reassuring pill, temporarily calming down the uneasy expression of King Kang, Zhou Qi.

"Fourth Brother's considerations are indeed more thorough."

"But what if the emperor issues a formal decree to us brothers next?"

King Kang, Zhou Qi, looked at King Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, with concern.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion arose outside the Prince's residence.

Immediately afterwards, the gates of the Prince's Mansion were blasted open.

"what happened?"

Enraged, Prince Zhou Qian of Xiaoyao rose and walked outside. Prince Zhou Qi of Kang followed closely behind.

"Lu Bu has come to deliver the imperial decree. Prince Xiaoyao, listen to the decree."

Lü Bu led the Imperial Guards and charged straight into the Prince's mansion.

"Lu Bu?"

"A commander of the imperial guards who suddenly and inexplicably appeared beside the emperor?"

Both Prince Xiaoyao Zhou Qian and Prince Kang Zhou Qi were slightly startled.

This was a true confidant of the emperor.

However, seeing Lü Bu leading the Imperial Guards and barging into the palace, Prince Zhou Qian's expression turned somewhat unpleasant.

Does that mean the emperor's confidants can act so recklessly in his palace?
This was clearly a show of force from the emperor.

Suppressing his anger, Prince Zhou Qian, the carefree king, bowed and said, "Your subject receives the decree."

"By imperial decree, Prince Xiaoyao Zhou Qian and Prince Kang Zhou Qi are to assist the Grand Tutor in providing disaster relief and quelling the civil unrest in the four northwestern prefectures. Preparations must be made immediately without delay."

Lu Bu loudly read out the imperial edict, his face expressionless.

"They actually issued an imperial decree!"

Zhou Qian, the carefree king, sneered inwardly.

Just moments ago, King Kang, Zhou Qi, was asking him this question with concern, but unexpectedly, the devil appeared out of nowhere.

However, he had anticipated this.

As the saying goes, there are policies from above and countermeasures from below.

He already had a way to deal with the imperial edict.

They thought they could just use a mere imperial edict to make them obedient and go to the four northwestern prefectures to help the emperor quell the people's grievances.

That's wishful thinking.

however.

next moment.

A cold glint appeared on Lü Bu's face as he continued, "Anyone who dares to disobey will be killed without mercy."

what?
Kill without mercy?

Could it be that His Majesty would really dare to kill two noble princes of the Great Zhou Dynasty just because someone dared to disobey his orders?

The servants in the Prince's mansion were horrified and extremely shocked.

Even the carefree Prince Zhou Qian and the Kang Prince Zhou Qi narrowed their eyes upon hearing these words.

They never expected that the current emperor would suddenly become so ruthless and decisive.

They don't even care about their reputation anymore.

Lu Bu looked at Prince Xiaoyao and Prince Kang expressionlessly and said, "Your Highnesses, you have both heard the decree. Make preparations, and I will personally escort you to the Grand Tutor."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, looked quite displeased.

They said they would escort them to find the Grand Tutor; it sounded so nice.

He must be escorting the two princes!

"I have been feeling unwell lately, often feeling tired and weak. I would like to do my part for the country, but my health is so poor that I am afraid I will not be able to assist the Grand Tutor in the disaster relief efforts. I hope General Lü will return to the palace and inform the Emperor."

Prince Zhou Qian, feigning extreme weakness due to illness, coughed a few times and said...

This was the method he came up with to deal with the imperial edict.

He simply couldn't believe that even the most powerful imperial edict could be more devastating than an illness that strikes like a landslide.

He is sick and cannot walk far.

The Emperor couldn't very well have someone carry him to the four northwestern prefectures to assist the Grand Tutor in disaster relief!
"Hehe, Your Highness, the Emperor said..."

"Even if His Highness's illness comes on suddenly and he is bedridden, as long as he has a breath left, we will carry the two princes to the four prefectures in the northwest to assist the Grand Tutor in disaster relief."

"So Your Highnesses should make preparations and let me escort you to meet the Grand Tutor! Don't make things difficult for me."

Lu Bu sneered.

Trying to use such tricks on the Emperor is still a bit too much.

Zhou Chen had previously instructed Lü Bu that, regardless of the reason or excuse, the two princes must obey the imperial decree and assist the Grand Tutor in providing disaster relief and quelling public grievances in the four northwestern prefectures.

(End of this chapter)