You get Lu Bu as your starting character.

Chapter 77 You Can't Go Back to Luoyang

"why?"

"Why are you doing this?"

"Are you simply trying to kill him out of fear of the Grand Tutor?"

After hearing Cui Songshan's frankness, the carefree king Zhou Qian questioned Cui Songshan with a furious expression.

In the eyes of Prince Zhou Qian, Grand Tutor Wen Zhong and the aristocratic families were essentially keeping to themselves, with no major direct conflict of interest.

Grand Tutor Wen Zhong did not stand in the way of the aristocratic families.
Why did the powerful families insist on taking Grand Tutor Wen Zhong's life?

Cui Songshan shook his head; "There's no why, and there aren't that many whys in this world. Aristocratic families don't need reasons to do things."

This is the domineering nature of powerful families.

"hehe."

"No reason."

Prince Zhou Qian of the Carefree Kingdom chuckled coldly, "You aristocratic families want to control the court, don't you!"

"The Grand Tutor's prestige is too great. His presence in the court not only intimidates the world but also keeps the court in check."

"Even the prime ministers, who are also among the four great ministers assisting the state, do not have much confidence in front of the Grand Tutor."

"As long as the Grand Tutor is around, your aristocratic families won't have much say in the court."

"So, you want to remove the pressure from the Grand Tutor and seize control of the court."

The carefree King Zhou Qian looked directly at Cui Songshan and said.

After much thought, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, concluded that only this one explanation made sense.

Because when aristocratic families do things, their primary concern is profit; they won't do anything that doesn't bring them profit.

Since the powerful families wanted the Grand Tutor dead, it must be because they wanted greater benefits.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have gone to such lengths to kill Grand Tutor Wen Zhong by using someone else to do their dirty work.

Cui Songshan neither refuted nor agreed with what Zhou Qian, the carefree king, said; he simply remained silent for the time being.

However, his attitude actually confirmed what King Zhou Qian had said.

The powerful families used a borrowed knife to kill Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, their aim being to control the court and seize power.

Seeing Cui Songshan remain silent, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, said again, "It seems I was right."

"With the death of the Grand Tutor, no one can completely suppress the court anymore. The power of the Grand General's faction and his relatives is now dominant. You must have some plans of your own!"

The carefree Prince Zhou Qian could guess the aristocratic families' schemes against Grand Tutor Wen Zhong, but he couldn't guess how the aristocratic families could deal with the Grand General's maternal relatives' faction.

Hearing this, Cui Songshan looked up at Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao; "You don't know yet, do you!"

"The Empress Wu Ying and General Wu Jin's faction of relatives have all been taken down by that person in the palace."

"Empress Wu Ying died outside the Hall of Mental Cultivation, General Wu Jin was killed by the head of the Eastern Depot at the General's Mansion, and all the others had their homes confiscated and their families exterminated."

As Cui Songshan spoke, his eyes flickered inexplicably.

A once powerful force vanished in an instant.

This is truly alarming.

what?
Empress Wu Ying and General Wu Jin's faction of relatives of the empress have been taken down?
Empress Wu Ying and General Wu Jin are also dead.

The carefree king Zhou Qian was stunned, his face filled with disbelief.
To be honest, this news was a huge surprise to Zhou Qian, the carefree prince.

It was unexpected and somewhat shocking.

Prince Zhou Qian was aware of the power of Empress Wu Ying and General Wu Jin's faction, and it was far more than just vast.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they were present throughout the government and the general public.

Otherwise, the Carefree King wouldn't have thought of reaping the benefits without lifting a finger and would have wanted to instigate a conflict between Zhou Chen and Empress Wu Ying's faction.

But how could such a powerful faction of relatives of the empress be taken down so easily?
The carefree King Zhou Qian was stunned for a long while before he came to his senses. "Hahaha..."

"Well, some things are beyond your control."

The carefree King Zhou Qian burst into laughter.

Judging from Cui Songshan's words, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, could tell that something had happened that was beyond the expectations of the aristocratic families.

If Prince Zhou Qian is not mistaken, the one who exceeded the expectations of the aristocratic families should be the one in the palace.

To be honest, the fact that he was able to so easily subdue Empress Wu Ying and the Grand General's relatives was beyond the expectations of Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian.

After laughing, Prince Zhou Qian looked at Cui Songshan and said, "Aren't you afraid that when I return to Luoyang, I'll tell that person in the palace about all this?"

"At that time, even if your aristocratic family is deeply rooted, you will probably have to suffer a lot."

If word got out that the Grand Tutor, a veteran of three dynasties, was plotting against him...

Even the most established and powerful families will inevitably suffer the consequences.

Back to Luoyang?
Cui Songshan glanced at Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao, with a puzzled look, and shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid you won't be able to return to Luoyang."

"There's something your uncle hasn't had a chance to tell you yet."

"That means your relationship with Zhao Gao was discovered by the Eastern Depot, and your Prince Xiaoyao's mansion was also confiscated by the Imperial Clan Court. Everyone in the mansion was imprisoned in the Imperial Clan Court's jail."

"By the way, the forces you secretly cultivated in Luoyang for many years have also been completely wiped out by the Eastern Depot."

Only a handful of people escaped.

Cui Songshan told Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao, about the raid on the Prince's mansion.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, froze in place.

what?
The Prince of Xiaoyao's mansion was raided by the Imperial Clan Court?

Has my relationship with Zhao Gao been exposed?
How can this be?

The news of Cui Songshan shocked Prince Zhou Qian even more than the recent downfall of Empress Wu Ying and General Wu Jin's faction.

The carefree Prince Zhou Qian never imagined that his relationship with Zhao Gao would one day be exposed.

Because very few people knew about Zhao Gao's relationship with him.

To be precise, there was no third person.

Even the steward of the Prince of Xiaoyao's closest residence didn't know that Zhao Gao was a man of Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian.

How could their relationship possibly be exposed?
Cui Songshan glanced at the shocked Prince Xiaoyao, Zhou Qian, and said, "So, my uncle said you can't go back to Luoyang."

"If you return to Luoyang, you will definitely die."

"Perhaps, Luoyang has already sent people on their way to the four northwestern prefectures."

Upon hearing Cui Songshan's words, Zhou Qian, the carefree prince, snapped out of his daze, his expression shifting, and he lost his luster.

If he doesn't go back to Luoyang, where else can he go?

Where in the world could he possibly escape to?
Besides, his royal family members are all in Luoyang.

He couldn't just abandon his family and live a miserable life on his own!
One wrong step and the whole game is lost!

The carefree Prince Zhou Qian had no idea how his relationship with Zhao Gao had been exposed.

But he knew that once this relationship was exposed, some of his secrets would be impossible to keep hidden.

His reign as the carefree Prince Zhou Qian has come to an end.

Cui Songshan glanced at Zhou Qian, the Prince of Xiaoyao, and asked, "Now that you can't go back to Luoyang, what are your plans?"

"Uncle, please speak frankly! I'm listening." Prince Zhou Qian wasn't stupid. Cui Songshan had told him this news and kept emphasizing that he couldn't return to Luoyang. It was obvious that there was something more to it.

(End of this chapter)