You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 6 Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report.
In Cining Palace.

After Wu Ying left, the Empress Dowager fell into deep thought.

She was considering whether the Empress was involved in Zhang De's poisoning of the Emperor.
Or is it that Zhang De is backed by the Empress?
Otherwise, why would the Emperor, having just executed Zhang De, suddenly want to revoke the Empress's power to rule as regents?

The Empress Dowager knew that the Emperor was usually completely infatuated with Empress Wu Ying.

Because of Empress Wu Ying, the Emperor's harem has not been expanded to include any new members.

Empress Wu Ying was also given the right to rule as regent.

Given such exclusive favor, the emperor would generally not easily take action against Empress Wu Ying.

Could it be that the Emperor discovered something or found some clues?
A glint of light flashed in the Empress Dowager's eyes, and she immediately called out.

"Without a tongue."

The Empress Dowager had just finished speaking.

"The old slave is here."

An old eunuch walked in silently and bowed slightly to the Empress Dowager.

"Has anything been found out about Zhao Gao's side?" the Empress Dowager asked the old eunuch.

The old eunuch immediately bowed and said, "Your Majesty, not yet. Zhao Gao has arrested many people, but no trace of them can be found."

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager frowned and pondered for a few seconds.

After a moment, the Empress Dowager looked at the old eunuch again and said, "Keep an eye on the Empress for me. Things may not be peaceful in the palace these days. Everyone, please keep an eye on things for me."

The old eunuch immediately nodded in understanding; "Yes, Your Majesty."

……

The emperor's bedroom.

Zhou Chen flipped through some memorials that he hadn't processed before, and his face turned grim.

These memorials were all about trivial and insignificant matters.

Zhou Chen most wanted to know about the true situation of the Great Zhou Dynasty, but there wasn't a single memorial to the throne.

Obviously.

This is the disastrous consequence of two emperors ruling simultaneously.

Those important memorials from before were probably all sent to the Hall of Mental Cultivation and handed over to the Empress, who was in power during the reign of two emperors, for review.

Zhou Chen casually tossed the memorials aside and beckoned to the eunuch beside him, ordering him to prepare for the court assembly immediately.

Since the important memorials had all been sent to the Empress for review, he could only listen to the ministers' reports at the court assembly.

Speaking of which, he, the emperor of the Great Zhou, had not attended court for a long time due to a serious illness.

If he doesn't resume his duties soon, many people will probably forget that he is the rightful emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

……

The news of the emperor's re-election caused quite a stir among the civil and military officials.

They all knew that the Emperor was unwell and had not attended court for two months.

Why is the Emperor suddenly going to hold court today?

Some well-informed individuals had already learned of what had happened in the palace and speculated that the emperor's sudden attendance at court was probably related to what had occurred there.

Civil and military officials gathered outside the Golden Palace.

Enter in sequence along both sides of the jade path.

After all the civil and military officials had entered the Golden Palace, Zhou Chen ascended the Dragon Platform directly from the jade path on the inner side of the Golden Palace and sat on the Dragon Throne.

"Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor."

Upon Zhou Chen's arrival, all the civil and military officials knelt down and shouted in unison.

Zhou Chen sat on the dragon throne, looking down at the civil and military officials who bowed their heads, and his heart was filled with emotion.

"Everyone is safe."

Zhou Chen calmed himself down and slowly began to speak.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." After receiving Zhou Chen's permission, the civil and military officials stood up one after another.

"When there is something going on, we will start, and when there is nothing going on, we will retreat."

A sharp voice rang out from the side.

"Your Majesty, this old minister has something to report."

Just then, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong immediately stepped forward and spoke.

"Oh!"

"What does the Grand Tutor have to report?"

Zhou Chen glanced at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, who had stepped forward first, with surprise.

In his memory, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong was a man who would remain calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, so why did he seem somewhat impatient today?

"Your Majesty, the four northern continents are experiencing a drought unlike any seen in a century. People are displaced, plagues are rampant, and people are selling their children. It is a truly tragic situation."

“Especially in the four northwestern prefectures, a popular uprising has already occurred. This old minister requests Your Majesty to issue an edict to provide full disaster relief and appease the people.”

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong knelt down with a thud and remained kneeling.

"What did you say?"

Zhou Chen's expression changed, and he stood up.

The Great Zhou Dynasty is now in its twilight years, on the verge of collapse. A single spark could ignite a conflagration, plunging the entire dynasty into utter ruin.

A peasant uprising has broken out in the four northwestern prefectures. If it is not dealt with in time, it may spread like wildfire and engulf the entire northern region.

When that time really comes, one can imagine what his situation as emperor will be like.

In a flash, Zhou Chen was lost in thought.

"When did this happen?"

Zhou Chen sat down, his face extremely grim, and asked in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, this is a message the court received a month ago. Her Majesty the Empress issued an edict for disaster relief at that time and ordered local officials to quell the civil unrest. This old minister is in full charge of disaster relief matters. I believe there will be good news in the capital in the next few days."

Before Grand Tutor Wen Zhong could speak, Grand Preceptor Yan Hua immediately stepped forward and spoke.

Then, Grand Tutor Yan Hua glanced at Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong and said indifferently, "Grand Preceptor's words are a bit alarmist."

Ok?
Has an imperial decree already been issued for disaster relief?
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen's expression softened somewhat. He frowned and looked at Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, who was kneeling on the ground, with some confusion.

Since the Empress has already issued an edict to provide disaster relief and quell the civil unrest, why is the Grand Tutor bringing up the old issue again today, asking him to issue another edict to provide full disaster relief?

Could things have changed?
"Old fool Yan, don't try to fool the Emperor. The Empress did issue an edict for disaster relief, but she only ordered relief for a few prefectures. What about the lives of the people in other parts of the four northern states?"

"Furthermore, very little of the disaster relief funds were actually used to help the victims, which has led to the current state of chaos in the four northwestern prefectures."

Upon hearing Grand Tutor Yan Hua's words, Wen Zhong immediately looked up, pointed at Grand Tutor Yan Hua, and said angrily.

Then he took out a bloodstained memorial from his sleeve and held it above his head.

"Your Majesty, this is news that I just received from the four prefectures in the Northwest. The popular uprising in the four prefectures has not only not been quelled, but two prefectures have fallen, the prefectural lords have abandoned their cities and fled, and the defending generals have been killed in battle."

what?
The two prefectures have fallen?

Did the lord of the city abandon the city and flee?
The defending general was killed in battle?

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's words were like a bomb, exploding in the Golden Palace and causing all the civil and military officials to change their expressions.

Even Grand Tutor Yan Hua, Chancellor Yuan Bo, and General Wu Jin were stunned when they heard the news.

Zhou Chen immediately said, "Bring it here."

The eunuch beside him quickly presented the bloodstained memorial to Zhou Chen.

Without saying a word, Zhou Chen hurriedly began to read the memorial.

The first thing that catches the eye is the glaring bloodstains, and some of the writing is so obscured by the blood that it is not very clear.

The memorial was short, but its content was infuriating.

After Zhou Chen finished reading the memorial, his face was so gloomy it was almost dripping with water.

(End of this chapter)