You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 54 The Death of Zhao Gao
The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen looked at Zhao Gao calmly.

If Cao Zhengchun hadn't discovered it, who would have thought that the person who tried to reap the benefits without lifting a finger, and who had schemed against Empress Wu Ying and Zhou Chen, was this insignificant figure, Zhao Gao?

You really can't judge a book by its cover!

"Zhao Gao, I really didn't expect that not only did Zhang De betray me, but you are also someone else's man."

"My two personal eunuchs have served me for over ten years and have always been considered my confidants. I never expected that they would turn out to be disloyal."

"Heh heh, I've really failed as an emperor!"

Zhou Chen looked at Zhao Gao and sneered repeatedly.

That's right, the person who plotted against Zhou Chen was none other than Zhao Gao, Zhou Chen's personal eunuch who had followed him for more than ten years.

To be honest, if Cao Zhengchun hadn't investigated so thoroughly, Zhou Chen really wouldn't have believed that the person who could scheme against Empress Wu Ying, Emperor Zhou Chen, and all the officials was a eunuch without testicles.

Zhao Gao was quite a figure.

It wasn't because Zhao Gao was particularly clever or had exceptional skills, but rather because he timed things perfectly.

This forced them all to get involved.

Zhou Chen refused to believe that not a single official in the entire court could see the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of Grand Tutor Yan Hua.

But these people pretended to be stupid and joined in the game, attributing all the credit to Emperor Zhou Chen.

Zhou Chen sneered at Zhao Gao: "Grand Tutor Yan Hua, you were the one who poisoned him in the imperial prison, weren't you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gao's expression changed; "Your Majesty, this old servant is innocent!"

“This old servant has no past grudges or recent enmity with Grand Tutor Yan Hua. How could this old servant possibly poison Grand Tutor Yan Hua?”

"This old servant has always been loyal to Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty, please make the judgment."

Zhao Gao knelt down on the ground with a 'plop' and said.

Zhao Gao now understood why, when he was fighting Wei Zhong outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Lü Bu had disregarded his safety and directly swung that all-destroying halberd.

It turned out that the emperor suspected him.

They wanted to eliminate Zhao Gao as well.

Fortunately, Zhao Gao reacted quickly enough.

Otherwise, he would have truly died under Lü Bu's halberd.

"Completely loyal?"

Zhou Chen sneered.

"You should be loyal to someone else!"

"Zhao Gao, at this point, you no longer need to put on an act in front of me."

“Cao Zhengchun has already investigated everything you have done thoroughly.”

"I never expected you to be so bold as to poison the Grand Tutor in the imperial prison and make me take the blame for it."

"That's really great."

"Speak! Who's behind you?"

Zhou Chen stared intently at Zhao Gao.

A royal servant not only betrayed his master, but also wanted his master to take the blame for him. He was incredibly audacious.

Zhou Chen wanted to see who was hiding behind all this and plotting it all.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, Zhao Gao's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"It's over."

"The Emperor actually knew all about it."

"It's all over now."

Zhao Gao's heart sank to the bottom.

Zhao Gao thought he had hidden himself well and that no one could easily discover his scheming nature.

But unexpectedly, it was eventually exposed.

Based on what he had done, Zhao Gao knew that the poisoning of Grand Tutor Yan Hua alone was enough to get him killed ten times over.

"No, we have to escape right now."

"Only by escaping might there be a glimmer of hope for survival."

"Otherwise, Zhao Gao would surely die."

Zhao Gao's eyes flickered for a moment, and he immediately made a decision.

Without saying a word, Zhao Gao casually threw out dozens of hidden weapons, which were aimed at Zhou Chen.

At the same time, Zhao Gao pushed off with his front foot, and his whole body retreated rapidly towards the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

Zhao Gao knew in his heart that whether he revealed who was behind it or not, he would not escape death.

Then he only has one way to escape.

By launching dozens of hidden weapons at Zhou Chen, Zhao Gao could buy him some time and opportunity to escape, thus delaying Cao Zhengchun for a moment. It must be said, Zhao Gao's plan was quite clever.

However, no amount of scheming can compare to the importance of strength.

"Bold."

Seeing Zhao Gao shoot a hidden weapon at Zhou Chen, Cao Zhengchun's face turned cold.

A casual wave.

The hidden weapon that Zhao Gao shot at Zhou Chen immediately returned and shot back at Zhao Gao.

"puff."

Just as Zhao Gao was about to escape to the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, he was hit by dozens of hidden weapons and fell headfirst at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, dying instantly.

When Zhou Chen saw Zhao Gao die instantly after being hit by the hidden weapon, the blood he spat out was dark black, and his face looked rather pale.

Unexpectedly, these hidden weapons were coated with a deadly poison.

If he had been hit by that hidden weapon, he would probably have died instantly.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

"This old servant never expected that Zhao Gao would actually use hidden weapons, and that these weapons were even coated with poison."

"It was this old servant's fault that the Emperor was put in danger."

Cao Zhengchun was startled to see that the hidden weapon was poisoned.

He immediately knelt on the ground to beg for forgiveness.

If there had been even the slightest mistake, it could have been a disaster.

"Get up!"

"It's not your fault."

Zhou Chen waved his hand and glanced at Zhao Gao, who was lying at the entrance of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

"Drag him out and feed him to the dogs."

Zhou Chen never showed mercy to such traitorous traitors.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun immediately ordered the imperial guards to drag Zhao Gao out.

……

"How is Cao Zhengchun?"

"Have things outside the palace been resolved?"

After dealing with Zhao Gao, Zhou Chen inquired about the matter outside Cao Zhengchun's palace.

Actually, there was no need to ask; Zhou Chen already knew the answer just by looking at Cao Zhengchun's reaction upon returning to the palace.

However, it's still best to confirm.

"Your Majesty, the Grand General's Mansion, the Minister of Personnel, the Minister of Rites, and more than twenty other traitors have all been apprehended by this old servant."

"This old servant was worried about the palace, so I came back first. The matter of confiscating the property has been handed over to the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Household Department."

Cao Zhengchun immediately reported what had happened outside the palace.

After hearing Cao Zhengchun's report, Zhou Chen finally showed a hint of relief on his face.

"it is good."

"Cao Zhengchun, you handled this matter well."

"Those who didn't die, you can handle them at the Eastern Depot. I don't need to teach you how to do it, do I?"

Zhou Chen looked at Cao Zhengchun.

The anxiety that had been building up inside finally subsided.

As long as the important figures of the Empress Dowager's faction, such as the Grand General's Mansion, the Minister of Personnel, and the Minister of Rites, are removed.

Then the Empress's relatives and their faction won't be able to cause any major trouble.

This matter can be considered settled.

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhengchun nodded; "Your Majesty, rest assured, this old servant will certainly treat them well."

"Dig out everything you can from them."

How could Cao Zhengchun not understand Zhou Chen's meaning!

These people who were taken down were all big shots, and they had a lot of valuables on them.

Killing it is easy, but digging it out is not so easy.

"How are the military camps outside the city?"

"Any news?"

Zhou Chen asked again.

Zhou Chen was most worried about the troops of the Southern Camp's Six Divine Guards outside the city.

(End of this chapter)