You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 51 I protected him.
on the square.

Zhou Junxian desperately called out to Empress Wu Ying, frantically channeling his Grandmaster-level power into her with his right hand.

Zhou Junxian wanted to revive Empress Wu Ying.

Zhou Junxian couldn't bear to watch the woman he loved die right before his eyes.

Unfortunately, no matter how Zhou Junxian called out or how desperately he tried to transfer the Grandmaster level of martial arts to Empress Wu Ying, it was all in vain.

Empress Wu Ying never gave Zhou Junxian a response again.

This once proud and beautiful woman died in the square outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
It has to be said that this is somewhat regrettable and poignant.

Who was Empress Wu Ying?
That was a supreme figure who, despite being a woman, controlled the government of the Great Zhou Dynasty for several years under the rule of two emperors.

It could be said that Empress Wu Ying's order was more powerful than Emperor Zhou Chen's order.

Empress Wu Ying's power has essentially replaced that of Emperor Zhou Chen.

Even such a person could not escape the fate of power.

In the end, they became martyrs for power.

……

Zhou Chen, sitting on the dragon throne outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, gradually turned cold when he saw Zhou Junxian rushing in from the outside.

External enemies are not scary; what's scary are traitors within our own ranks.

As the son of the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and the only favored son of the royal family, how could Zhou Chen not know Zhou Junxian?

In private, Zhou Chen should address Zhou Junxian as "Brother Wang".

Zhou Chen never expected that the traitor within the Imperial Guard was actually Zhou Junxian.

He, the pride of the royal family and son of the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, actually colluded with outsiders to deal with his cousin, the emperor.

This is utterly ridiculous and laughable.

Especially when Zhou Chen saw Zhou Junxian holding the Empress Wu Ying, the cold light in his eyes was undisguised.

Regardless of the circumstances, Empress Wu Ying is the Empress of Great Zhou, and Zhou Chen's legitimate concubine. What does it mean for Zhou Junxian to hug the Empress of Great Zhou in public?
Zhou Chen stood up, took a few steps forward, looked down at Zhou Junxian who was holding the Empress Martial Infant in the center of the square below, and said in a deep voice, "Zhou Junxian, do you know what you are doing?"

"You, the pride of my Great Zhou royal family and the son of the Eighth Prince, actually conspired with outsiders to rebel and turn against your own family. You are truly a fine son of my Great Zhou royal family!"

"The royal family has invested a lot of resources in nurturing you. Even the person in the Imperial Clan Court values ​​you and sees you as the next guardian of the royal family."

"How could you do such a rebellious and foolish thing? Do you think you are worthy of the royal family's cultivation of you, and worthy of the respect that the Imperial Clan Court and the Eighth Imperial Uncle have for you?"

"The woman you are holding in your arms is the scheming and rebellious Empress Wu Ying. She is the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty, do you understand?"

Zhou Chen emphasized this point by saying "the Empress of the Great Zhou" twice, and glared angrily at Zhou Junxian.

Zhou Chen truly never expected that Zhou Junxian would do something so foolish for a woman.

It was a complete waste of the royal family's painstaking efforts in cultivating him.

Originally, Zhou Junxian was the most talented among the younger generation of the royal family, and also the most talented in the last hundred years.

At a young age, he broke through to the Grandmaster realm and is expected to become a half-step Celestial.

Everyone in the royal family regarded him as the next guardian. As long as Zhou Junxian broke through to the half-step Celestial Realm, the Great Zhou royal family would be able to continue for another hundred years.

It can be said that Zhou Junxian's future is bright.

But now, Zhou Junxian has done such a foolish thing for a woman, essentially ruining his own future.

After hearing Zhou Chen's words, Zhou Junxian looked up at Zhou Chen with his empty eyes, then glanced at the corpses scattered all around him and the five hundred Bingzhou wolf riders who were angrily facing him, before lowering his head again.

At this moment, it seemed that nothing else mattered to Zhou Junxian except for the Empress Wu Ying in his arms.

Zhou Junxian held Empress Wu Ying tightly, looking at her with empty eyes and a deathly pale face.

It was as if the entire spiritual world had collapsed, leaving it lifeless.

Seeing Zhou Junxian's wretched state, Zhou Chen didn't want to say anything more and simply snorted coldly, "You've completely disgraced the Great Zhou royal family."

"For the sake of your Eighth Imperial Uncle, I will grant you some dignity. You may commit suicide!"

Zhou Chen looked at Zhou Junxian and said coldly. Zhou Junxian nodded blankly upon hearing this; "Okay."

"This was done by me alone. I hope you will not implicate innocent people."

“I, Zhou Junxian, am willing to die to atone for my sins to the world, to give the royal family and to you an explanation.”

Zhou Junxian did not look up, but looked gently at Empress Wu Ying in his arms.

Zhou Junxian had long been prepared for this outcome.

From the moment Zhou Junxian gave Empress Wu Ying his answer, Zhou Junxian had already made this preparation.

Regardless of whether Empress Wu Ying wins or loses, Zhou Junxian will atone for his sins with his death.

Since he could not reconcile loyalty and love, he could only fulfill his love first and then take on his duty of loyalty.

This was Zhou Junxian's choice, and it was also the final outcome for him.

"and many more."

"I'll protect him."

Just then, a gaunt old man came running from a distance, glanced at Zhou Junxian, and then looked at Zhou Chen on the steps.

Zhou Chen was surprised to see someone suddenly appear out of nowhere, and he also raised his eyes to meet the newcomer's gaze.

"Save?"

"What's your guarantee?"

“Princes are subject to the same laws as commoners, especially for serious crimes such as plotting rebellion and colluding with outsiders to rebel.”

"Even if he were a prince, I would still kill him, let alone say he wasn't one."

Zhou Chen stared coldly at the withered old man.

“Zhou Chen, do you know that Zhou Junxian is already at the mid-stage of Grandmaster? With his talent, he will break through to the half-step Celestial in less than ten years.”

"At that time, with Zhou Junxian, a half-step Celestial, protecting us, the Great Zhou Dynasty can continue for another hundred years."

"If you kill him now, do you know what a huge loss it would be for the Great Zhou royal family?"

The gaunt old man addressed Zhou Chen by his given name without any politeness, even calling him "boy."

This shows that the gaunt old man was also a member of the royal family, and of a very high seniority within the royal family.

"Hmph, what good is it if this traitor breaks through to the Celestial Realm?"

"Isn't this just betraying one's own people?"

What's the point of keeping it?

Zhou Chen snorted coldly.

When the gaunt old man saw that Zhou Chen was unmoved by reason, his face darkened.

"Zhou Chen, it seems you're determined to kill Jun Xian."

"What if I insist on protecting him!"

The gaunt old man stared straight at Zhou Chen.

A cold glint flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes; "Zhou Rushan, I respect you for guarding the Imperial Clan Court for so many years. It is because of your existence that the Great Zhou has been able to survive for so many years. I will remember that you have worked hard even if you have not made any great contributions."

"If you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me for being impolite."

Zhou Chen stared coldly at Zhou Rushan.

Under heaven, all land belongs to the king.

All within the realm are subjects of the king.

No one is qualified to challenge him, the emperor, or to protect someone from his control.

Even Zhou Rushan wouldn't do.

(End of this chapter)