You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 53 Zhao Gao, are you satisfied with this result?
Zhou Junxian is dead.

A prodigy of the royal family, a genius rarely seen in a century, died such a pathetic death for a woman.

I have to say, this is sad.

It's also a pity.

With Zhou Junxian's talent, if he hadn't died, he would have become famous throughout the world within ten years, becoming a dazzling figure that people would look up to.

Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs" in the world, only results.

What is love in this world? It makes people promise to be together for life and death.

Zhou Junxian will not be the first lovelorn soul to die for love, but he will certainly not be the last.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian knelt on the ground, looking at the dead Zhou Junxian, and remained silent.

No one could understand the deep sorrow and pain that King Zhou Xian was feeling at that moment.

The son to whom he had devoted all his energy, whom he had always instilled in him with loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and whom he was so proud of, had died.

Moreover, he died because of a woman's conspiracy to rebel.

This was incredibly ironic for Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince.

King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, was loyal to the emperor and loved his country throughout his life. He devoted himself to the Zhou Dynasty and was known as the 'Wise King' by everyone.

But unexpectedly, his son died because of a conspiracy to rebel.

Isn't that ridiculous?

At this moment, King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, was torn between the pain of losing his son and the agony of his son's regicide and rebellion.

The son, Zhou Junxian, is dead.

Death solves everything.

But what awaited the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian was a double torment and blow.

Next, even the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian didn't know how to face Emperor Zhou Chen.

Zhou Rushan, who had been knocked away and injured by Lü Bu, changed his expression after seeing Zhou Junxian commit suicide, and could only let out a long sigh.

Zhou Rushan originally intended to groom Zhou Junxian as the next guardian of the royal family, and Zhou Junxian's talent was worthy of such attention and training.

Unfortunately, Zhou Junxian ultimately couldn't overcome the hurdle of 'love'.

A once-proud young man was thus brought down by a woman.

Perhaps, this is Zhou Junxian's destiny!
……

Outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, on the steps.

Zhou Chen watched as Zhou Junxian severed his own heart meridian, his expression showing little emotion.

Zhou Chen has zero tolerance for traitors like this and will not show any mercy.

Fortunately, Zhou Junxian still had some integrity and committed suicide, preventing Zhou Chen from sending people to kill him.

This can be considered a perfect ending.

It was only Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, who suffered.

Zhou Chen glanced at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian kneeling there and sighed inwardly.

King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, devoted his life to serving his country. He was bestowed the title of "King of Virtue," which is worthy of the word "virtue" and is recognized by everyone.

It's not an easy thing to do in itself.

This shows that the Eighth Prince enjoyed a very good reputation among the common people, in the court, and in the royal family.

With such prestige, King Zhou Xian of the Eighth Prince could have been remembered in history.

But now, because of his son Zhou Junxian, a stain has been left on the life of the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, who has gone down in history.

Zhou Chen glanced at the Eighth Prince and his gaze flickered. He then issued an order: "By imperial decree, Zhou Junxian, the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards, who exposed Empress Wu Ying's conspiracy to rebel and was meritorious in protecting the Emperor, shall be buried with the honors due to a marquis."

Regardless of Zhou Junxian's fate, death is the end of all things.

Even the greatest sins should vanish with Zhou Junxian's death.

In order to prevent such a scandal from spreading within the royal family.

Also for the sake of the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian.

Zhou Chen had no choice but to issue such an imperial decree with his eyes wide open.

This was all he could do for King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince.

It is hoped that the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian can understand his good intentions. Upon hearing Zhou Chen's decree, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian immediately kowtowed and thanked the emperor, saying, "Your subject thanks Your Majesty for your great favor on behalf of my son."

King Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, was not stupid.

He could understand Zhou Chen's intention in issuing this decree.
This also relieved him of his worries.

After issuing the decree, Zhou Chen glanced at Zhou Rushan beside him; "There's more."

"From this moment forward, without my decree, anyone who dares to trespass into the palace will be executed without exception."

"No matter who you are, the Imperial Palace is not a place that anyone can come and go as they please."

Zhou Chen said with a cold expression.

It was obvious that Zhou Chen's order was aimed at Zhou Rushan.

Zhou Chen was very dissatisfied with Zhou Rushan's unauthorized entry into the palace to protect Zhou Junxian.

What kind of place is the Imperial Palace?

This is the most prestigious place in the Great Zhou Dynasty, symbolizing supreme power.

Such a place cannot be entered or exited by just anyone without the emperor's approval.

Even a half-step Celestial Realm expert wouldn't be able to do it.

Perhaps the Imperial Guards in the palace couldn't stop a half-step Celestial, but Zhou Chen had plenty of men under his command who could.

This was Zhou Chen's warning and reminder to Zhou Rushan.

After saying this, Zhou Chen said no more and turned back to the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Lu Bu and Cao Zhengchun both gave Zhou Rushan a deep look. How could they not see the implication in Zhou Chen's words?

Cao Zhengchun had just entered the palace with the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian.

Otherwise, given Zhou Chen's previous order to seal off the palace, without Cao Zhengchun, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian would never have been able to enter the palace.

After glancing at Zhou Rushan, Lü Bu said to Cao Zhengchun, "There are still some fish that have slipped through the net around the palace. I'll go and clean them up now."

"I'll leave this place to you for now."

Lu Bu didn't dare to leave before because he had to protect Zhou Chen's safety.

Now that Cao Zhengchun has returned to the palace, Zhou Chen's safety is assured with Cao Zhengchun around.

Lü Bu could then leave to deal with the remnants of the Empress's faction who had been stopped by the Imperial Guards.

"Don't worry! With me here, nothing will go wrong." Cao Zhengchun nodded.

Cao Zhengchun originally wanted to go in person, but then he thought that he had already made considerable contributions to the affairs outside the palace.

Then let's give the credit for this palace to Lü Bu!

Eating alone is not a good habit.

After Lü Bu left, Cao Zhengchun ordered the Bingzhou Wolf Riders to begin cleaning up the corpses in the square, then glanced at Zhao Gao beside him and said, "Let's go! Come in with me."

Zhao Gao was taken aback for a moment, but dared not delay, and immediately followed Cao Zhengchun into the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian also left with Zhou Junxian in his arms.

Only Zhou Rushan, with an unpredictable expression, remained in the square.

How could Zhou Rushan not understand the meaning behind Zhou Chen's words!

……

In the Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne, not in a hurry to question Cao Zhengchun, but instead looked at Zhao Gao, who was the last to enter.

"Zhao Gao, are you satisfied with this result?"

"Don't you have anything you want to say to me?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao shuddered. "Your Majesty, this old servant does not understand Your Majesty's meaning. Please explain."

Explicitly?

Zhou Chen sneered.

"You, Zhao Gao, have schemed everything; do I need to spell it out for you?"

[Some of you may not know, but my mother was hospitalized for surgery these past two days, so I've been trying to update as much as possible in my spare time. It's been a bit less frequent, and I hope you readers can understand.]

(End of this chapter)