You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 21 What use are you to me?
General Wu Jin was so angry not simply because Grand Tutor Yan Hua was one of their cronies.

Furthermore, it was because Grand Tutor Yan Hua was considered half of General Wu Jin's mentor.

It can be said that Grand Tutor Yan Hua was not just a member of the clique for the General, but also a mentor and friend.

Given this relationship, how could General Wu Jin not be furious that Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the imperial prison?
The dozen or so officials sitting on either side below all looked grim after hearing General Wu Jin's words.

Some of them were actually disciples of Grand Tutor Yan Hua.

“This is indeed absurd. The Grand Tutor is a key minister left by the late emperor who has rendered meritorious service to the country. Even if he failed to provide adequate disaster relief in the four northwestern prefectures this time, he should not be punished like this! This matter cannot be left like this.” One of the officials working in the Ministry of Personnel said indignantly.

This official was a protégé of Grand Tutor Yan Hua, who was poisoned to death in the imperial prison.

As a disciple of Grand Tutor Yan Hua, he had no choice but to be the first to step forward and make a statement.

“That’s right, this matter cannot be left like this. The Grand Tutor has made great contributions to the country throughout his life. He cannot die in prison without knowing the truth. There must be an explanation.”

"Yes, there must be an explanation, otherwise, how are we, the court officials, supposed to conduct ourselves in the future?"

……

Immediately afterwards, one official after another stood up and spoke out indignantly.

They all understood perfectly well that first the Empress was stripped of her power and confined to her quarters, and then the Grand Tutor was poisoned to death in the imperial prison. This was because someone in the palace wanted to deal with their interest group.

If these people don't react at all, then the consequences for them are predictable.

All eyes turned to General Wu Jin, who sat in the main seat.

Now that the Grand Tutor has been poisoned to death in the imperial prison, the only leader left among them is this General.

How to deal with it is up to the general to decide.

General Wu Jin listened to the officials' impassioned words and said in a deep voice, "Since you all think this way, then go and make preparations! We will go to the palace to meet the Emperor later."

Some things don't need to be said too bluntly.

But the officials present were all seasoned veterans of the bureaucracy, and they all understood what General Wu Jin meant.

……

Zongren Mansion.

The government office of the Great Zhou Dynasty was in charge of the imperial relatives and nobles.

Any member of the imperial family who committed a crime or did something outrageous would be handed over to the Imperial Clan Court for handling.

At this moment, Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince and head of the Imperial Clan Court, paced back and forth anxiously, his brows furrowed and his expression grave.

"What is the Emperor really thinking?"

"The Grand Tutor is an important minister of the court, a minister who assisted the country left by the late emperor, and has a deep foundation in the court."

"Does Your Majesty not know what the consequences will be if you act so hastily?"

"Still too inexperienced, how are we going to handle this?"

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, looked worried.

Previously, Zhou Chen had abolished the Empress's power to rule as regent and had taken the opportunity to imprison Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the imperial prison. The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, thought that the Great Zhou Dynasty was saved. Emperor Zhou Chen finally realized his mistake and began to understand how to be an emperor.

But now it seems that Emperor Zhou Chen was too hasty and too inexperienced.

With the death of the Grand Tutor, the court will surely be thrown into turmoil.

At this critical juncture when the Grand Tutor is away providing disaster relief and suppressing rebellions, who could suppress any unforeseen events that might occur in the court?

Unless the Grand Tutor can return immediately.

But is this possible?
"No, I must go to the palace." The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian muttered to himself, quickly tidied himself up, and headed towards the palace.

……

Qingfeng Palace.

Empress Wu Ying also received news that Grand Tutor Yan Hua had been poisoned to death in the imperial prison.

"How dare he?" "The Grand Tutor is a key minister left behind by the late emperor, a pillar of the court, and has a very high prestige in the court. How dare he let the Grand Tutor be poisoned to death in the imperial prison?"

"Does he really disregard everything and want to eliminate my influence?"

Empress Wu Ying's face was grim, filled with extreme anger.

……

While the outside world was in turmoil over the news that Grand Tutor Yan Hua had been poisoned to death in the imperial prison, things were just as unsettled inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhou Chen stared angrily at Zhao Gao and Jin He kneeling below, and said, "Is this how you serve me and protect the palace?"

"One of you commands the Imperial Guards, and the other the Inner Guards. I gave you great power to protect the palace and defend against villains, yet the Grand Tutor was inexplicably poisoned to death in the Imperial Prison. What were you doing?"

"To this day, you haven't found a single useful clue. What use are you to me?"

"Is it possible that one day I too will be poisoned to death in this Hall of Mental Cultivation?"

Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Zhou Chen's furious roars echoed continuously.

Zhou Chen was so angry not only because Grand Tutor Yan Hua had been poisoned to death in the Imperial Prison, but also because someone had actually disregarded the Imperial Prison and easily poisoned a high-ranking official despite the tight security.

Is this an insult to Emperor Zhou Chen?
Or is this a provocation against imperial power?
How could Zhou Chen feel at ease with such guards?
Zhao Gao and Jin He knelt on the ground, not daring to breathe.

Cold sweat poured down their foreheads; they could feel the chilling gaze and rage emanating from Emperor Zhou Chen.

The fact that Grand Tutor Yan Hua was poisoned to death in the imperial prison is indeed a serious matter.

It could even be said that they have essentially breached the heavens.

Zhao Gao and Jin He both knew of Grand Tutor Yan Hua's prestige in the court; he was more than just a regent minister left behind by the late emperor.

Now that Grand Tutor Yan Hua is dead, they can imagine what kind of situation will follow.

"check."

"Investigate this thoroughly for me."

"I want to see who dares to disregard the Imperial Prison and poison the Grand Tutor there."

Zhou Chen said coldly, his tone revealing no hidden murderous intent.

"This time, I will have others investigate. You two will assist them with all your might. Anyone who dares to disobey will be executed."

"Old servant, this subordinate understands." Zhao Gao and Jin He shuddered upon hearing this and immediately bowed down.

At this moment, Zhao Gao and Jin He understood better than anyone else that if they dared to outwardly comply but inwardly defy them, it would be no different from courting death.

Moreover, it would be better to hand this hot potato over to someone else to investigate.

Zhao Gao and Jin He were more than happy to have this.

Everyone knows that the person who dared to poison the Grand Tutor in the imperial prison was no ordinary person.

If they find out, that will be troublesome.

If they can't find out, it's considered a failure to perform their duties and they'll be held accountable.

They both wished they could stay far away from such troublesome matters.

"Cao Zhengchun".

As soon as Zhou Chen finished speaking...

"The old slave is here."

Cao Zhengchun appeared silently in the main hall and knelt before Zhou Chen.

Zhao Gao and Jin He, who were standing nearby, both froze when they saw Cao Zhengchun appear silently in the main hall.

They secretly glanced at Cao Zhengchun. If they weren't mistaken, this Cao Zhengchun should be the other person the Emperor had just mentioned who was in charge of investigating the poisoning of Grand Tutor Yan Hua in the imperial prison!

(End of this chapter)