You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 76 Tell me, what are you planning to do?
In the Hall of Nourishing Heart.

Zhou Chen frowned, his eyes darting around.

Zhou Chen had never doubted Fang Xuanling's abilities.

Since Fang Xuanling said that the events in the four northwestern prefectures were a scheme set up to deal with the Grand Tutor, then this matter should be pretty much true.

The current outcome has indirectly confirmed Fang Xuanling's conjecture.

Otherwise, how could the Grand Tutor have been completely wiped out when he led 30,000 Divine Martial Guards to quell a group of rebels in the four northwestern prefectures?
Zhou Chen's strategies may not be as good as Fang Xuanling's, but Zhou Chen is not without strategies either.

After Fang Xuanling said this, Zhou Chen began to think about all matters concerning the four prefectures in the northwest.

The events in the four northwestern prefectures occurred two months ago.

At that time, Empress Wu Ying was still in power and ruling as regent.

Emperor Zhou Chen is still bedridden.

No one could have predicted that Zhou Chen would make a full recovery and return to court.

At that time, some people were already plotting against Grand Tutor Wen Zhong by taking advantage of the four prefectures in the northwest.

So who would have wanted Grand Tutor Wen Zhong dead at that time?

What was their purpose in plotting against Grand Tutor Wen Zhong?
Will it disrupt the rule of the Great Zhou Dynasty?
A series of questions surfaced in Zhou Chen's mind.

Sudden.

A sudden inspiration struck Zhou Chen, and his eyes lit up instantly.

Clearly, Zhou Chen had thought of something.

Zhou Chen glanced at Fang Xuanling and said expressionlessly, "Fang Xuanling, your guess is quite good, but you're looking in the wrong direction."

"This isn't just about dealing with the Grand Tutor; someone wants to take on three warriors in one match!"

"It was just that I was an unexpected factor, so there were some deviations, but the final result remained unchanged."

Zhou Chen sneered.

Indeed, Zhou Chen had figured out the key to it, but he still had no clue who was behind it.

However, once the Imperial Guard has investigated the changes in the four northwestern prefectures, they should have some clues.

Upon hearing Zhou Chen's words, Fang Xuanling's expression did not change much. He simply cupped his hands and said to Zhou Chen, "Your Majesty is wise. I was rash."

Seeing Fang Xuanling's attitude, Zhou Chen seemed to understand something instantly.

Fang Xuanling probably figured out the key to these matters long ago!
He was merely using the carefree Prince Zhou Qian to remind and test whether the emperor was even aware of these things.

Zhou Chen gave Fang Xuanling a deep look.

……

While Zhou Chen and Fang Xuanling were discussing matters concerning the four prefectures in the Northwest.

Xi'an Prefecture, the prefectural city.

In the living room of a mansion, two people were also arguing over these matters.

"Cui Songshan, what exactly is going on?"

"Are the events in the four northwestern prefectures related to you?"

Prince Zhou Qian looked at the middle-aged man sitting in the main seat and questioned him aggressively.

The middle-aged man in the main seat glanced indifferently at Prince Zhou Qian; “Your Highness, although you are of noble status, I am your maternal uncle.”

"How can you address your own uncle by his given name and speak to him like that?"

"Don't forget, your uncle just pulled you out of the brink of death."

The middle-aged man in the main seat looked at Zhou Qian, the carefree king, and said with dissatisfaction.

Indeed, this middle-aged man is Cui Songshan, the maternal uncle of Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, and one of the leading figures of the direct line of the Cui family, one of the seven great families.

There are many powerful and influential families in the Great Zhou Dynasty, but only the Four Great Clans and the Seven Great Families are truly deeply rooted, capable of intimidating a region and influencing the political situation.

It can be said that the four major clans and the seven great families are the leaders of all the powerful and influential families in the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If any one of them were to stomp their foot, the entire Great Zhou Dynasty would tremble.

My maternal uncle?
Did they just pull us out of the brink of death?

“If the affairs of the four northwestern prefectures are really related to you, then I would rather die at the hands of the rebels than be saved by your own uncle.”

The carefree King Zhou Qian spoke loudly to the middle-aged man in the main seat.

"Thirty thousand Divine Martial Guards have died in battle, even the Grand Tutor is dead. What are you trying to do?"

"Do you want to destroy my Zhou family's empire?" "Do you know what kind of impact the death of the Grand Tutor will have on the royal family and the entire Great Zhou?"

"Even if I eventually ascend to that position, without the Grand Tutor's help, how can I subdue the court, or deter the three ambitious marquises who guard the frontier?"

"Tell me, you and them have cut off one of the pillars of my Zhou Dynasty. Are you even my real uncle?"

Prince Zhou Qian glared angrily at his maternal uncle, Cui Songshan, who was sitting in the main seat.

His eyes were red and his face was ashen.

Clearly, Prince Zhou Qian was also deeply saddened by the death of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

Seeing Zhou Qian's angry expression, Cui Songshan frowned, but finally sighed; "I know you are saddened by the death of Grand Tutor Wen."

"Grand Tutor Wen's prestige is so high that no one in the entire Great Zhou dares to touch him easily."

"He is a veteran of three dynasties, wielding the Golden Whip of Kings, capable of striking down tyrannical emperors and rebellious ministers."

"It can be said that even the imperial power on the dragon throne in the palace cannot easily touch him."

"This is frightening."

"If he doesn't die, you have no chance at all."

"However, your uncle can assure you that Grand Tutor Wen's death has nothing to do with us. It was the people of the Yellow Heaven Sect who killed Grand Tutor Wen."

Cui Songshan looked at Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao, and said.

Upon hearing Cui Songshan's words, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, sneered.

"No relation at all?"

"Cui Songshan, do you even believe what you're saying?"

“You used the Yellow Heaven Sect to kill the Grand Tutor, but in the end you tried to wash your hands of it all.”

"You guys are quite adept at using someone else to do your dirty work."

"Even a fool could see that, how could I not?"

"I am a carefree prince," Zhou Qian said with a mocking expression, looking at Cui Songshan.

"Now I understand why Father Emperor preferred to pass the throne to that sickly and useless fifth brother rather than to us other brothers."

"Because that sickly and useless fifth brother had a simple background, while we brothers all came from powerful families."

“But aristocratic families cannot be trusted.”

The carefree King Zhou Qian looked directly at Cui Songshan and spoke each word clearly.

Zhou Qian, the carefree king, is not stupid.

On the contrary he is very smart.

Something had blinded him before.

But he sees it very clearly now.

No matter how much this uncle claimed to care for him, in reality, he was only seeking benefits for the aristocratic family.

Just like the death of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, the aristocratic families felt that he was in their way, so they took the opportunity to use him as a tool to get rid of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.

As for the impact on the Great Zhou Dynasty, whether the Great Zhou's sky will collapse, that is no longer within the scope of the aristocratic families' considerations.

This includes Cui Songshan.

Upon hearing Zhou Qian's words, a hint of coldness flashed in Cui Songshan's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Uncle knows you're angry right now, and whatever Uncle says, you think Uncle is lying to you."

"But what your uncle wants to tell you is that he is also thinking of you and is afraid that you will be in a difficult position."

"As for Grand Tutor Wen, your uncle has nothing to hide from you. We do indeed have dealings with the Yellow Heaven Sect."

"To be precise, it was a transaction."

"Grand Tutor Wen was one of the people involved in the transaction."

"This is also the opinion of all aristocratic families."

Cui Songshan said to Zhou Qian, the carefree king.

Cui Songshan knew that he could no longer hide these things from Prince Xiaoyao, so he spoke frankly and directly.

This would at least temporarily appease Prince Zhou Qian.

(End of this chapter)