You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 312 Are you Consort Zhen?

royal palace.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat upright on the dragon throne, slowly cultivating the Emperor's Conferment of Gods Technique.

Since the sudden changes in heaven and earth and the frequent occurrence of strange phenomena, the shackles and constraints of heaven and earth have disappeared.

Zhou Chen's Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique successfully broke through to the second level, shattering the barrier between Heaven and Man, and achieving the status of a Heavenly Being.

Zhou Chen can continue to cultivate the second level of the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique to improve his martial arts strength.

A few minutes later.

Zhou Chen stopped cultivating the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique and sighed helplessly.

This extraordinary celestial phenomenon was an opportunity for others, but for Emperor Zhou Chen, it was not so.

The cultivation speed of the Emperor's Conferring of Gods Technique is linked to the fate of the nation. This extraordinary phenomenon, apart from allowing Zhou Chen to break through the barrier between heaven and earth and become a celestial being, had no effect on Zhou Chen whatsoever.

Not only did it have no effect, but this strange phenomenon actually slowed down Zhou Chen's cultivation speed considerably.

The main reason is still related to the fate of the nation.

When strange celestial phenomena occur frequently and the people suffer, the fate of the nation naturally becomes unstable.

Zhou Chen looked up at the outside of the hall; "I wonder how long this strange phenomenon will last."

Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Nowadays, there are far fewer unusual celestial phenomena than before, but they still occur from time to time.

at this time.

A palace eunuch entered and reported: "Your Majesty, General Lü and Eunuchs Cao Youxiang and Cao Shaoqin are requesting an audience outside the palace."

"Oh!"

A hint of surprise appeared on Zhou Chen's face.

Weren't Lü Bu, Cao Youxiang, and Cao Shaoqin ordered to take Tianshan City?
Why are you all returning to Luoyang now?

Could it be that they have already taken Tianshan City?
Zhou Chen thought to himself, then said to the eunuchs and guards, "Summon the three of them in."

"According to the order."

The eunuchs and guards bowed and withdrew.

moment.

Lü Bu, Cao Youxiang, and Cao Shaoqin then entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"I have met His Majesty."

After Lu Bu and the other two entered the Hall of Mental Cultivation, they bowed respectfully to Zhou Chen on the dragon throne.

"No gift."

Zhou Chen looked up at Lü Bu, Cao Youxiang, and the other two; "Why did the three of you return to Luoyang together?"

"Is Tianshan City captured by me?"

Zhou Chen asked.

Lu Bu, Cao Youxiang, and Cao Shaoqin exchanged glances.

Lu Bu stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Majesty, this humble general failed to capture Tianshan City; it has been destroyed."

Uh?
Zhou Chen raised an eyebrow.

"Tianshan City has been destroyed?"

"what happened?"

Zhou Chen looked astonished.

"Your Majesty, we are not aware of the specifics of what happened."

"When I and the two eunuchs arrived at Tianshan City, the entire city had been reduced to ruins, with not a single blade of grass left."

Lu Bu immediately recounted the situation in Tianshan City.

……

Luoyang City.

Grand Master's Mansion.

Since Grand Tutor Wen Zhong died in battle, the entire Grand Tutor's mansion has become desolate and lonely.

In the backyard, in the room where the memorial tablets were enshrined, two figures silently entered.

The two figures were none other than Wen Qingwu and Zhou Wudao, who had left Tianshan City.

Wen Qingwu looked at the row of memorial tablets enshrined above, her expression calm, but a hint of complexity was faintly revealed in her eyes.

Under normal circumstances, Wen Qingwu would definitely be heartbroken and shed tears upon seeing this row of memorial tablets for the Wen family.

Because, more than twenty years ago, this row of memorial tablets was made for the deaths of the youngest daughter of the Grand Tutor's family, four of whom were her own brothers.

The memorial tablet above is that of Wen Zhong, who died in battle.

These are all Wen Qingwu's closest relatives.

However, apart from a hint of complexity in her eyes, Wen Qingwu's face remained expressionless and aloof.

It's not that Wen Qingwu is heartless and ungrateful, but rather that this Wen Qingwu is no longer the same Wen Qingwu.

More than 20 years ago, Wen Qingwu was able to come back to life because she awakened the wisdom she had accumulated in her past life.

Wen Qingwu is a reincarnated being.

Therefore, after awakening her past life's wisdom, influenced by it, Wen Qingwu no longer felt the same emotions she had for the Grand Tutor's Mansion as she did more than twenty years ago.

"You can rest in peace."

“The entire Tianshan Mountains have been buried with you, and I, Wen Qingwu, have finally settled this karmic debt with the Grand Tutor’s Mansion.”

Wen Qingwu looked at the row of memorial tablets and sighed softly in her heart.

She stood silently for a long time.

Then, after lighting three incense sticks, Wen Qingwu quietly left with Zhou Wudao.

When they arrived, Wen Qingwu and Zhou Wudao did not alert anyone in the Grand Tutor's mansion.

When they left, Wen Qingwu and Zhou Wudao did so quietly.

The old friends are gone, and all my close relatives have passed away.

In the entire Grand Tutor's mansion, there was no one left whom Wen Qingwu absolutely needed to see.

To come quietly and to leave quietly is perhaps the best choice.

The road of life is long and arduous, and the great path is merciless.

This is the path that every supreme being must take.

……

Cining Palace.

After the Empress Dowager finished reciting the Buddhist scriptures, she looked up and saw two figures standing silently beside her.

"presumptuous……"

The Empress Dowager originally intended to reprimand her.

Because she usually doesn't want to be disturbed when she's worshipping Buddha.

However, after the Empress Dowager uttered the word "insolence," she immediately stopped speaking and couldn't utter another word.

"You... Consort Zhen?"

The Empress Dowager's expression changed drastically upon seeing the faces of the two figures.

Even his voice trembled slightly.

The Empress Dowager could hardly believe her eyes; she thought she was hallucinating and seeing things wrong.

How could someone who committed suicide by sword more than twenty years ago possibly come back to life?

However, after the Empress Dowager confirmed it repeatedly, she was certain that she had not misread it or had any illusions.

"Are you Consort Zhen?"

The Empress Dowager stared intently at Wen Qingwu and asked uncertainly.

Indeed, the two figures who appeared silently beside the Empress Dowager were none other than Wen Qingwu and Zhou Wudao.

After leaving the Grand Tutor's mansion, Wen Qingwu and Zhou Wudao quietly entered the palace and arrived at Cining Palace.

"Little Lian, it's been over twenty years since we last met. You don't even recognize me, do you?"

Wen Qingwu walked directly to the phoenix chair and sat down.

Now the Empress Dowager was certain that Wen Qingwu was still alive, not dead, and was standing right in front of her.

Although the Empress Dowager did not know how Wen Qingwu could have come back to life.

But now doesn't seem like the time to consider this issue.

"Consort Zhen, you're still alive?"

"I'm so excited," the Empress Dowager said. However, as soon as the words left her mouth, she realized her slip of the tongue.

Tell me, are you still alive?

Isn't this just wishing for someone to die?

The Empress Dowager immediately explained, "Consort Zhen, that's not what I meant..."

The Empress Dowager was somewhat reserved in front of Wen Qingwu.

To be honest, in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty, perhaps only Wen Qingwu can make the Empress Dowager feel restrained.

Only Wen Qingwu dared to call the Empress Dowager Xiaolian, and the Empress Dowager herself felt it was only natural.

Wen Qingwu waved her hand to stop the Empress Dowager's explanation; "I understand, Xiao Lian, please sit down. It's been more than twenty years since we last met!"

The Empress Dowager sat down naturally to one side and nodded. "Yes! More than twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye. I have become an old woman, but Consort Zhen is the same as she was more than twenty years ago, she hasn't changed at all."

The Empress Dowager sighed.

More than 20 years ago, Wen Qingwu was the most favored concubine in the harem, and she also came from the Grand Tutor's mansion.

If nothing unexpected happens, the thrones of Empress and Empress Dowager will definitely belong to Wen Qingwu; it will not be her turn at all.

However, life is unpredictable, and no one could have imagined that the incident more than 20 years ago would change everything.

The once most favored imperial concubine committed suicide in the Golden Palace, and the Grand Tutor's mansion suffered a severe blow, losing its former glory.

On the contrary, she, a palace maid who served the imperial concubine, gradually rose to prominence in the harem.

I have to say, it’s really a twist of fate.

After sighing, the Empress Dowager remembered something and immediately said, "Consort Zhen, now that you're back, I'll have someone inform His Majesty."

"His Majesty probably doesn't know yet!"

Having navigated the treacherous waters of the inner palace for decades, the Empress Dowager's rise from a mere palace maid to her current position was certainly no small feat.

From the moment Wen Qingwu appeared silently in Cining Palace, the Empress Dowager knew that Wen Qingwu and her entourage had entered the palace without being known to anyone and without alerting anyone in the palace.

"Not urgent."

Wen Qingwu shook her head; "Xiao Lian, send someone to summon the Eighth Prince and the Prince of Kao Shan to Cining Palace. I have some matters to discuss with them."

The Empress Dowager's eyes flickered.

Consort Zhen entered the palace quietly, without alerting anyone or seeing His Majesty. Instead, she went to Cining Palace first.

Now, the Eighth Prince and the Prince of Kaoshan are to be summoned to Cining Palace.

What is Consort Zhen trying to do?
The Empress Dowager had her doubts, but she didn't ask any further questions.

The Empress Dowager summoned the old palace maid who had been serving her and asked her to send someone to summon the Eighth Prince and the Prince of Kaoshan to Cining Palace.

Finally, the Empress Dowager gave a subtle signal to the old palace maid.

This scene did not escape Wen Qingwu's eyes.

Wen Qingwu sat calmly on the phoenix chair, her expression serene, showing no sign of concern.

After the old palace maid left, Wen Qingwu glanced at the Empress Dowager and said, "Xiao Lian, what do you think if I want Wudao to be the emperor of the Great Zhou?"

Wen Qingwu glanced at Zhou Wudao beside her.

The Empress Dowager's expression changed slightly upon hearing Wen Qingwu's words.

The Empress Dowager was shocked to learn that Wen Qingwu had the idea of ​​replacing the Emperor; it was simply unbelievable.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Zhou Wudao and immediately said solemnly, "Consort Zhen, the succession to the throne is a matter of great importance to the country, concerning the stability of the entire Great Zhou Dynasty. Consort Zhen should be well aware of this."

"The imperial throne should not be moved lightly."

The Empress Dowager shook her head firmly.

This is the Empress Dowager's attitude.

From the moment she saw Zhou Wudao, the Empress Dowager knew his identity.

After all, more than 20 years ago, Consort Zhen gave birth to twins, one of whom was eventually taken back to Tianshan by a man who entered the world, and the Empress Dowager was one of the people who knew about it.

However, although Zhou Wudao was also the son of the late emperor, he and Zhou Chen were twins born of the same mother.

However, since the throne has been inherited by Emperor Zhou Chen, it cannot be changed, and the emperor cannot be replaced.

otherwise.

They are rebels, traitors and scoundrels.

Hearing the Empress Dowager's words and seeing her attitude, Wen Qingwu remained silent, her expression as calm as ever.

……

The Prince's Mansion.

The wounds inflicted by the assassination attempt on Prince Zhou Zhan have fully healed.

After this extraordinary celestial phenomenon, King Zhou Zhan of Kaoshan broke through the barrier between heaven and man, thus becoming a celestial being himself.

King Zhou Zhan of Kao Shan was already at the peak of the first-grade Grandmaster level.

Furthermore, Zhou Zhan, the Prince of Kao Shan, has been at the peak of the first-grade grandmaster level for more than ten years.

It can be said to have a solid foundation.

If it weren't for the shackles of heaven and earth, King Zhou Zhan wouldn't have been stuck in this realm for so long.

Now, after this extraordinary celestial phenomenon, the shackles that bound this world have disappeared, and King Zhou Zhan's strength has naturally broken through the barrier between heaven and man, entering the realm of heaven and man.

"Your Highness, someone from the palace has arrived."

The steward of the Prince's mansion came in and reported to Prince Zhou Zhan.

"Oh!"

"Someone is coming from the palace!"

King Zhou Zhan, who was in charge of the mountain, was greatly encouraged.

"Let him in."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The butler bowed and left.

soon.

The steward then led a eunuch in.

"This humble scholar has met the King of the Mountain."

The eunuch bowed to Prince Zhou Zhan.

Prince Zhou Zhan, looking at the eunuch, asked, "I wonder what His Majesty's intention is in sending you to the Prince's residence, sir?"

In the eyes of Prince Zhou Zhan, the palace could only send someone from His Majesty's side.

"Your Highness, I am acting on the Empress Dowager's orders to summon you to Cining Palace."

The eunuch spoke.

Queen Mother?

Prince Zhou Zhan, who was relying on the mountain, did not expect that it was the Empress Dowager who summoned him to Cining Palace.

If the Prince of Kaoshan remembers correctly, ever since the Shu King usurped the throne, the Empress Dowager has been oblivious to the outside world, focusing solely on vegetarianism and Buddhist chanting in the Cining Palace, and has rarely taken the initiative to summon outsiders.

Why did the Empress Dowager suddenly decide to summon her powerful patron to Cining Palace?

Prince Zhou Zhan's eyes flickered, and he looked at the eunuch and said, "I understand. I will pack up and go to the palace immediately."

Regardless of why the Empress Dowager suddenly summoned him, the Prince who had been relying on her.

King Zhou Zhan knew that none of that mattered.

Importantly, when summoned by the Empress Dowager, Zhou Zhan, the Prince of the Mountain, had to enter the palace immediately.

……

Zongren Mansion.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian also received an imperial edict from Cining Palace, summoning him to Cining Palace.

Without much thought, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian immediately got up and left the Imperial Clan Court to enter the palace.

What Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, did not expect was that he would run into the Prince of Kao Shan, who was also entering the palace, at the palace gate.

Coincidentally, Prince Kaoshan, like him, received an imperial edict from the Empress Dowager summoning him to Cining Palace.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and the Prince of Kao Shan Zhou Zhan exchanged a glance, both realizing that the Empress Dowager's summons to Cining Palace was probably for some reason.

Otherwise, the Empress Dowager would not have summoned both princes to Cining Palace at the same time.

Neither the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian nor the Prince of Kao Shan Zhou Zhan spoke; they merely raised their eyebrows slightly before entering the palace together.

Meanwhile, news that someone had quietly broken into the Cining Palace also reached the Yangxin Hall.

After all, this is the imperial palace, the center of power in the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the most majestic and secure place.

It's practically impossible to remain silent within the palace.

(End of this chapter)