You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 135: Selecting Concubines?

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen was cultivating the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique, and his aura flickered faintly.

After several weeks, everything returned to calm.

Zhou Chen opened his eyes, a hint of disappointment flashing across his face.

After a period of diligent training, Zhou Chen's martial arts strength has reached the fourth rank, just one step away from breaking through to the third rank and entering the ranks of grandmasters.

Zhou Chen originally thought he would be able to break through to the fourth rank and enter the third rank of Grandmaster today.

Unexpectedly, he still failed in the end and got stuck at the half-step grandmaster level.

"It's true that breaking through to the top three ranks of the Spirit Refining Realm is not so easy."

Zhou Chen couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Previously, Zhou Chen's breakthrough from the ninth rank to the fourth rank was smooth and unimpeded.

I haven't encountered any major bottlenecks.

However, Zhou Chen has been stuck at the third-grade Grandmaster level for several days now, and he still can't break through.

It is evident that the upper three grades of the Spirit Refining Realm are truly a barrier, fundamentally different from the middle three grades of Qi Refining and the lower three grades of Body Refining.

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

At that moment, Cao Zhengchun walked in silently.

"emperor."

"The Empress Dowager just sent someone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to ask if the Emperor is free today."

"The Empress Dowager told the Emperor to go to Cining Palace if he had free time, as she said she had something to discuss with him."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said.

"Oh!"

"is it?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Did the messenger say what the Empress Dowager wanted to discuss with me?"

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Zhengchun and asked
“No.” Cao Zhengchun shook his head.

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment, then nodded; "It's time to go to Cining Palace to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager."

As emperor, Zhou Chen has many things to do, especially lately, he has had no spare time.

Therefore, since leaving Cining Palace last time, Zhou Chen has not visited Cining Palace to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

"Cao Zhengchun".

"The imperial carriage is prepared for the Cining Palace."

As he spoke, Zhou Chen stood up and walked outside.

……

Cining Palace.

When the Empress Dowager learned that the Emperor had some free time and would be coming to Cining Palace soon, she was delighted and stood outside the palace to wait for him.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

After Zhou Chen entered Cining Palace, all the palace maids and eunuchs knelt down to pay their respects.

Zhou Chen spotted the Empress Dowager waiting outside the hall at a glance and quickly walked towards her.

"My son has met his mother."

"Why is the Empress Dowager waiting for me outside the palace?"

Zhou Chen walked up to the Empress Dowager and bowed to her.

Even though Zhou Chen was the emperor, the rules of hierarchy could not be broken, and he had to pay his respects to the Empress Dowager.

When the Empress Dowager saw Zhou Chen, she also took a few steps forward with a joyful expression; "I just wanted to see the Emperor as soon as possible!"

"It has been quite some time since His Majesty last visited me."

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager affectionately took Zhou Chen's hand and led him into the hall.

When no one else was around, the Empress Dowager became much more friendly and casual with Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen didn't seem to mind.

Throughout the land, anyone who saw the emperor would tremble with fear and unease.

When facing the emperor, they were mostly afraid.

The only person who could be so intimate and casual with the emperor was probably the Empress Dowager standing before him.

"What the Empress Dowager says is true. Too many things have happened these days, and it was my oversight."

"I hope you can understand that I was unable to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager in time."

Zhou Chen explained, and followed the Empress Dowager into the Cining Palace.

"Hey."

"Your Majesty, what are you saying? I know everything that has happened these past few days."

"It is Your Majesty who has worked hard these past few days."

"I have heard that His Majesty deals with state affairs until very late every day."

"Your Majesty, while matters of state are important, you must also take care of your health."

The Empress Dowager sighed, took Zhou Chen's hand, and said with some heartache.

How could the Empress Dowager not know about what has happened these past few days!
Whether it was confiscating the property and exterminating the clan of the Grand General, eliminating the influence of Wu Ying's faction, suppressing the rebellion in the four northern states, annihilating the rebels in the four states, or issuing an edict to exterminate the nine clans of the Cui family of Boling.

None of these incidents, these events, are trivial.

They were almost always dancing on the edge of a knife.

One wrong move and you could be shattered to pieces.

Even among the emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty, very few could achieve this.

But Zhou Chen, this young emperor, did it, and did it very well.

This made the Empress Dowager both gratified and heartbroken.

The Empress Dowager could hardly imagine what kind of scheming and hardship this emperor, who was always regarded by everyone as indecisive and somewhat mediocre, would have to go through to achieve these things.

"Don't worry, Your Majesty, I know what I'm doing."

Zhou Chen smiled faintly and walked into the Cining Palace with the Empress Dowager and the other person, and sat down opposite each other.

Zhou Chen gladly accepted the Empress Dowager's concern.

Emperors are always lonely.

Zhou Chen was no exception.

Receiving a gesture of care is something that every lonely emperor would cherish dearly.

After the Empress Dowager sat down, she looked at Zhou Chen and said, "It's good that Your Majesty knows what's going on. I don't understand matters of the court."

"But I know that everything in excess is as bad as deficiency, and water that is too clear has no fish."

"A true restorer of a dynasty is not defined by how many loyal ministers and generals he can control, but by how many treacherous ministers he can control."

The Empress Dowager spoke to Zhou Chen with a rather instructive tone.

The Empress Dowager's words caused a strange glint to flash in Zhou Chen's eyes.

Zhou Chen knew that his mother had never told him any of these things.

This is the first time in history.

"I understand what Mother Empress has to say."

"I will remember this."

Zhou Chen nodded, quite willing to listen to what the Empress Dowager was saying, which could be considered the art of rulership.

Although Zhou Chen didn't know why the Empress Dowager would suddenly teach him these things.

But Zhou Chen knew that the Empress Dowager was right.

Everything has its limits; too much of anything is as bad as too little.

As the saying goes, things will turn into their opposites when they reach their extremes.

If the water is too clear, fish cannot be raised. For an emperor, there is no distinction between good and evil, black and white; there is only whether it is beneficial or not to the imperial power.

If it benefits the imperial power, then even the darkest and most wicked person can be used.

Seeing that Zhou Chen had taken it to heart, the Empress Dowager said no more and changed the subject, saying, "I don't understand the affairs of the court, but I do know about the affairs of the harem." "Your Majesty, you are the emperor of the Great Zhou, the ruler of the world. The continuation of your lineage is very important to the royal family."

"Now that there is no one in the harem and the emperor has no heir, this is a big problem for both the royal family and the court."

"Shouldn't Your Majesty consider selecting concubines to enrich the harem and continue the imperial line?"

The Empress Dowager looked at Zhou Chen with a serious expression and said.

This is precisely what the Empress Dowager wanted to discuss with Zhou Chen today.

As the emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, Zhou Chen considered the well-being of his harem and the continuation of his lineage to be of paramount importance.

It plays a vital role for both the royal family and the imperial court.

Only when the harem is stable and well-stocked, and there are offspring to continue the lineage, can the hearts of the people be stabilized, and the court and the world be stabilized.

But now, ever since Empress Wu Ying was executed outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Emperor Zhou Chen's harem has been empty, not to mention he has no children.

This is not a long-term solution.

Previously, Zhou Chen was so infatuated with Empress Wu Ying that the Empress Dowager could not dissuade him.

But now, Emperor Zhou Chen has changed a lot from before, and Empress Wu Ying has also been executed.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager had no choice but to bring up the old issue again and discuss it with Zhou Chen to resolve the problem as soon as possible.

Taking a concubine?

To enrich the harem?

Zhou Chen was visibly taken aback upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words.

Zhou Chen originally thought that the Empress Dowager had sent someone to the Hall of Mental Cultivation to summon the Emperor to the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility because she wanted to discuss something important with him!
Little did they know that it was all for the purpose of taking concubines and enriching the harem.

"Mother, let's put this matter on hold for now!"

"Grand Tutor just died in battle in the four northwestern prefectures. How many of my Great Zhou's Divine Martial Guards' sons shed their blood in the four northern states."

"In addition, there was a severe drought in the four northern states, and the chaos had just been quelled."

"If I were to take concubines and hold a selection of consorts at this time, the people of the world would consider me a tyrannical and incompetent ruler."

"Besides, the situation has not yet stabilized, and I have no time to indulge in matters of the heart."

Zhou Chen shook his head and declined the Empress Dowager's offer.

Zhou Chen knew the Empress Dowager was right.

It is indeed somewhat unreasonable for an emperor to have no concubines and no children.

This is a big problem.

It could not reassure the people, the royal family, or the court and the nation.

But right now, Zhou Chen has no time to think about these things.

Gentle Township, Hero Tomb.

Zhou Chen knew better than anyone how many emperors had perished in the arms of women.

Therefore, Zhou Chen had no desire to become one of them.

Zhou Chen's mind is now focused on the imperial court and the vast land of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

Once we've restored our lost lands, we'll be able to rebuild our empire.

It's not too late to consider a romantic relationship later.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, the Empress Dowager frowned, wanting to say something more, but after thinking for a moment, she swallowed her words.

"Since His Majesty wishes to postpone this matter, then let's postpone it for now."

"Grand Tutor has just died in battle, and so many things have happened recently. It is indeed inappropriate to hold a selection of concubines."

"However, we cannot hold a large-scale selection of concubines to enter the palace, but the emperor still needs someone to serve him!"

"I think it would be better to select a few young ladies from noble families to enter the palace so they can better serve the Emperor. What does Your Majesty think?"

The Empress Dowager nodded and looked at Zhou Chen.

The Empress Dowager found some merit in Zhou Chen's reasons and decided not to insist on her own opinion.

After all, the Grand Tutor had just died in battle, the Divine Martial Guard army had also suffered considerable losses, and there was a severe drought in the four northern prefectures, while the rebels had just been quelled.

If, at this time, news were to spread that the emperor was selecting concubines to fill his harem, it would indeed be somewhat inappropriate.

This is very bad for Emperor Zhou Chen's reputation.

However, we cannot hold a large-scale selection of candidates to enter the palace, but that doesn't mean we can't select a few young ladies from prominent families to enter the palace first!
Zhou Chen shook his head; "Mother, the matter of Wu Ying has just passed, and I am still somewhat shaken!"

"A lady from a prestigious family, I fear there may be another Martial Infant or a Great General!"

How could the Empress Dowager not understand Zhou Chen's meaning!
The Empress Dowager looked at Zhou Chen with a helpless expression. It seemed that the Emperor was determined not to hold the imperial concubine selection for the time being.

"Hey."

"Originally, I was hoping to enrich the Emperor's harem as soon as possible so that I could hold the Emperor's grandson!"

"Let's also add more life to this palace."

"But it seems that it's not possible for now."

The Empress Dowager sighed softly and said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's eyes flashed with light, and he looked at the Empress Dowager with a slight smile, saying, "It's not difficult for Mother to hold the Emperor's grandson. Ninth Brother's family hasn't returned to Luoyang for a long time either."

"Before, because of the turbulent situation in the court, I was afraid that my ninth brother would be implicated upon his return."

"The situation in the court has stabilized considerably. I will issue an edict shortly to allow my ninth brother to return to Luoyang for the New Year."

Zhou Chen said.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, the Empress Dowager immediately nodded with a joyful expression; "I do indeed want to cure my son, and I wonder how he is doing in his fiefdom."

The Empress Dowager looked melancholy.

Seeing this, Zhou Chen comforted her, "Mother, don't worry! Ninth Brother's fiefdom is the Heavenly Kingdom, so he won't suffer any hardship."

"Since Mother misses Ninth Brother, then I will allow him to stay a little longer this time."

After chatting with the Empress Dowager for a while, Zhou Chen got up and left Cining Palace.

Upon returning to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhou Chen immediately issued an imperial decree to King Zhou Zhi of Shu, ordering him to return to Luoyang.

……

Prime Minister's House.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo sat in the main seat, looking at the steward below, and said in a deep voice, "Well? Have you investigated the specific circumstances of the annihilation of the Cui family of Boling by Lü Bu?"

"Sir, everything has been investigated."

"This is a detailed account of how Lü Bu led the Divine Martial Guard to wipe out the Cui family of Boling."

"Master, please look."

As the steward spoke, he handed a letter to Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo took the letter from the steward and, without saying a word, opened it and began to read it.

The letter contained a large number of words, detailing most of the specific circumstances surrounding the extermination of the Cui family of Boling, encompassing nine generations.

After Prime Minister Yuan Bo finished reading the contents of the letter, he felt much more relaxed.

It should be noted that ever since receiving the news that Lü Bu had led the Divine Martial Guard army to wipe out the Cui family of Boling, Prime Minister Yuan Bo had been under immense pressure.

They were afraid that before the Cui family of Boling was wiped out by Lü Bu, they might have said something they shouldn't have, or that Lü Bu might have pried open their mouths and implicated them.

If that were the case, then those families would be in real trouble, and might even end up like the Cui family of Boling.

Fortunately, that worry is no longer there.

The Cui family of Boling said nothing, and Lü Bu gained nothing.

Everything ended when they reached the Cui family in Boling.

This outcome couldn't be better.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo put down the letter in his hand and said to the steward in front of him, "Go to the residences of the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice. They are probably still anxiously waiting for news."

Now that the Eastern Depot's henchmen are keeping a close watch, Prime Minister Yuan Bo can only send his steward on this trip himself, and dares not send the Minister of Revenue and the Minister of Justice to meet at the Prime Minister's residence again.

"Yes, sir."

The butler acknowledged and left.

After the steward left, Prime Minister Yuan Bo muttered to himself, "Now I can rest easy for the time being, but these matters are only temporarily settled. We still need to find a way to deal with them."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo knew that although the Cui family of Boling had been wiped out by Lü Bu, they had not been implicated.

But the one in the palace won't let it go so easily; the powerful and wealthy families in the four northern states are the best example.

(End of this chapter)