You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 20: Is Grand Tutor Yan Hua dead?

After receiving the imperial decree, Cao Zhengchun left the Hall of Mental Cultivation to prepare for the Eastern Depot's anti-smuggling operations.

Before leaving, Zhou Chen bestowed upon him a golden imperial plaque and a blank imperial edict.

Anyone who dared to obstruct the preparations of the Eastern Depot could be arrested by Cao Zhengchun with the help of an imperial gold medal or a blank imperial edict, who would act first and report later.

This also includes important ministers of the court such as General Wu Jin and Chancellor Yuan Bo.

It can be said that if Cao Zhengchun wanted to, he could directly remove ministers such as Chancellor Yuan Bo or General Wu Jin, who were assisting the state.

Of course, Cao Zhengchun would not do that.

This power, comparable to imperial power, is undeniably immense.

Even the most trusted emperors throughout history would not easily bestow such great power upon someone.

Even the emperor and his son are the same.

If Cao Zhengchun hadn't been a system-generated character who had signed in daily, he wouldn't have been so absolutely loyal to Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen would not have granted Cao Zhengchun such great power.

Zhou Chen wasn't afraid of Cao Zhengchun abusing his power for personal gain; what he feared was Cao Zhengchun being unable to act freely and being constrained.

Now that he has given him the power and the stage, it remains to be seen how far Cao Zhengchun can go.

With the upheaval of the four northwestern prefectures, Zhou Chen already knew that he, the emperor of the Great Zhou, was gradually losing control of the vast land.

Therefore, Zhou Chen must understand the situation of all parties and take control of the court in the shortest possible time in order to prepare for the next step of the plan.

All of this is inseparable from the violent organization, the Eastern Depot.

the next day.

Zhou Chen was reviewing memorials when Lü Bu walked in with a solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, news has just come from the prison that Grand Tutor Yan Hua is dead," Lü Bu reported.

"what?"

Zhou Chen looked up and was taken aback.

"Can you say that again?"

"What happened to Grand Tutor Yan Hua?"

Zhou Chen could hardly believe his ears, thinking he had misheard.

"Your Majesty, news has just come from the prison that Grand Tutor Yan Hua is dead. He was poisoned last night," Lü Bu said again.

This time, Zhou Chen heard it clearly and was sure he hadn't misheard.

Grand Tutor Yan Hua is dead.

He died in the imperial prison.

He was still poisoned to death.

How can this be?

Zhou Chen looked on in disbelief.

Zhou Chen had just visited Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the imperial prison yesterday, and died the next day.

How could this not shock Zhou Chen?

What shocked Zhou Chen even more was that someone actually dared to poison Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the imperial prison.

Who did this?
Who was so audacious as to poison Grand Tutor Yan Hua, the minister in charge of assisting the state, in the imperial prison?
Zhou Chen's face was extremely ugly.

Although Zhou Chen really wanted powerful ministers like Grand Tutor Yan Hua to die, he only thought about it and didn't dare to actually kill him.

After all, Grand Tutor Yan Hua was no ordinary person. He was a minister left behind by the late emperor and a pillar of the court. If Zhou Chen really made a move against Grand Tutor Yan Hua, he would be branded as someone who killed and did not tolerate old ministers.

At that time, all the important officials in the court will feel insecure, and the impact will be far more than just on their reputations; it will also include other political consequences.

But now, Grand Tutor Yan Hua has been poisoned to death in the imperial prison.

Zhou Chen could imagine that once this matter got out, it would definitely cause a huge uproar.

Suddenly, Zhou Chen realized something, and his expression changed.

"Damn it, we've been tricked." Zhou Chen slammed his hand hard on the wooden table, his face extremely gloomy.

Just yesterday, Emperor Zhou Chen visited Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the imperial prison, and that very night, Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the prison.

What does this signify to outsiders?
This explains that Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death by Emperor Zhou Chen.

Grand Tutor Yan Hua belongs to the Empress's faction. In the past few days, Zhou Chen first deprived Empress Wu Ying of her power to rule as regent, then confined Empress Wu Ying to her quarters, and also took the opportunity to imprison Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the Heavenly Prison.

This is clearly Zhou Chen dealing with the Empress's faction.

Now, after Grand Tutor Yan Hua met with Emperor Zhou Chen, he was poisoned to death in the imperial prison. In everyone's eyes, if it wasn't Emperor Zhou Chen who did it, then who else could it be?

A cup of poisoned wine was used to execute the ministers who had served as regents left behind by the late emperor.

The reason, on the surface, is merely a minor charge of failing to provide adequate disaster relief.

This makes it clear how the civil and military officials in the court will view Emperor Zhou Chen.

How should those loyal ministers and generals who have always been devoted to the Great Zhou view Emperor Zhou Chen?

Zhou Chen dared not think any further.

This plan put Emperor Zhou Chen in opposition to all civil and military officials.

It's still a multi-pronged approach.

"What a ruthless scheme." Zhou Chen felt a chill run down his spine just thinking about it, and immediately said to Lü Bu, "Immediately block the news. We must not let the news that Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the imperial prison get out."

Right now, the only thing Zhou Chen can do is try his best to block the news and prevent the news of Grand Tutor Yan Hua's death in the imperial prison from getting out.

Then, we'll figure out a way to deal with it.

"Your Majesty, the news has probably already spread and cannot be contained," Lü Bu said, frowning.

Last night, Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the imperial prison. By now, the news must have spread far and wide.

A blockade is simply a futile effort.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's face darkened even more. He stood up, paced back and forth a few steps, and looked up at Lü Bu, saying, "Go and summon Zhao Gao and Jin He to me."

Since the news can no longer be contained, the only thing to do is to find out exactly how Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the imperial prison.

The imperial prison is a very important place.

Not only are there Imperial Guards protecting it, but also skilled members of the Imperial Guards.

Zhou Chen wanted to know who could have poisoned Grand Tutor Yan Hua so silently under such heavy guard.

……

The General's Mansion.

General Wu Jin sat in the main seat with a grim expression, flanked by a dozen or so court officials on his left and right.

Each of them held a pivotal position in the imperial court and wielded considerable power.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall was heavy, and everyone's face looked grim.

General Wu Jin glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice, "I think you all know what happened in the palace, so I don't need to say more!"

"The Empress was unjustly imprisoned in Qingfeng Palace on a fabricated charge and was forbidden from stepping out of the palace without imperial decree."

"Last night, the Grand Tutor died in the Imperial Prison again, and he was poisoned in the Imperial Prison. Moreover, His Majesty had personally visited the Grand Tutor in the Imperial Prison before that."

"The Emperor left just a moment ago, and the Grand Tutor was poisoned to death that very night. As a subject, I should not have any doubts."

"But the Grand Tutor is a minister left behind by the late emperor, a pillar of the court, who has served the Great Zhou diligently throughout his life. Even if he has no merit, he has certainly worked hard!"

"But in the end, the Grand Tutor was not only thrown into prison for failing to provide adequate disaster relief."

"Now the Grand Tutor has been inexplicably poisoned to death in the Heavenly Prison. How could a minister left behind by the late Emperor of our Great Zhou be poisoned to death in the Heavenly Prison? How absurd this is."

General Wu Jin roared angrily.

(End of this chapter)