Chapter 528: Empress Zhou: Is There a Place for Me at Home? (4/7, Requesting Subscription)

"Empress, you've been asking this all along, haven't you?"

"Today, I'll tell you something major."

The Empress Zhou trembled inside, blinking up at her husband—the Emperor of Great Ming—hoping his ambition had not faded, still clinging to one last thread of hope.

"Recently, I encountered something monumental—a matter capable of changing the fate of Great Ming."

The Empress Zhou listened in silence, bewildered.

Even within the deep palace, she often heard palace maids and Eunuchs whispering about Great Ming's current situation, and she understood it well.

Great Ming is already nearing its sunset.

It needs a wise and enlightened ruler to reverse the heavens and earth!

What kind of thing could change the fate of Great Ming?

Talent?

New sources of taxation?

After thinking it over, the Empress Zhou could not come up with an answer.

Both are important, but for Great Ming, they are like a drop of water in a cart of firewood.

"A few days ago, I joined a chat group that connects all worlds across the cosmos…"

The Empress Zhou blinked: "Your Majesty, have you not been getting enough rest lately?"

Zhu Youjian was speechless: "I'm not dreaming or delirious. Ajiu, you tell her."

"Yes."

"Mother, Father is telling the truth. That organization truly connects all worlds—I've already been to other worlds before."

"The cabbage and meat we've been eating lately came from that world."

The Empress Zhou froze: "Other worlds? Really?"

"Truly!" Ajiu nodded. "But this matter must not be made public, so Father didn't tell you."

Hearing this, the little person inside the Empress Zhou was already stomping her feet in rage.

【So there's no place for me at home, is there?】

【I'm the outsider, then?】

【You two are ganging up on me, aren't you? You kept such an important secret from me—I'm the last to know!】

Of course, on the surface, the Empress Zhou still smiled gently, demure and virtuous.

"Then why tell me now?"

Speaking of this, Zhu Youjian perked up: "Three days from now, the Dao Lords in the group are throwing a grand banquet—it's a perfect opportunity. We'll all three go together."

"All three?" the Empress Zhou exclaimed. "I can go too?"

"Exactly," Zhu Youjian nodded. "These robes were given to us by the founding ancestor of Great Ming from that group. We can't appear shabby—it would tarnish Great Ming's imperial dignity."

Clothes and phoenix crown sent by someone from another world?

Hearing this, the Empress Zhou let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The Empress Zhou was stunned, yet uneasy: "Is the founding ancestor there too? What should I call him? Will he disapprove of me, a Zhu family daughter-in-law?"

Even after years of marriage, the Empress Zhou still felt like a bride meeting her in-laws for the first time.

Zhu Youjian waved his hand: "Don't worry too much—we're not from the same world. Just follow your usual courtesies."

"And you, Ajiu. Just call him 'Old Ancestor.'"

"Come, let's divide the robes. Then I'll take you both over. Remember to dress properly—don't be disrespectful."

"I still have to attend court to announce a few days of fasting to pray for Great Ming's blessing—otherwise, it won't look right to leave!"

The Empress Zhou steadied herself and said: "Your Majesty, go ahead. Ajiu and I will prepare well."

"Yes, Father. You go first."

Zhu Youjian nodded, then strode away with imperial dignity.

"You little rascal—you kept something this big from me too?"

After Zhu Youjian left, the Empress Zhou's expression darkened, shooting a reproachful glare at Zhu Meichuo.

Zhu Meichuo smiled awkwardly: "Mother, Father didn't want me to say anything. You know how it is with Grandfather's side—they're not on our side. If word got out, it might stir up trouble again."

"Ah…" At this, the Empress Zhou fell silent.

How well could she not know her own father and mother?

Greedy, incompetent!

As their daughter, she often found herself torn.

On one side, filial piety; on the other, her husband's family.

No matter what she did, she couldn't please both—so often, she simply claimed to be unwell, keeping her family outside the palace gates.

"Your father's right. Ah, our Zhou family is nothing but trouble."

"But this secret can't last forever—what should I do when the time comes?"

Zhu Meichuo's head ached.

She wasn't heartless; she had feelings too.

Coldly distancing herself from her grandfather's family was probably impossible.

"We'll deal with it when the time comes!" Zhu Meichuo finally gave up. "Let Father worry about it. This kind of state matter—we little women won't get involved."

The Empress Zhou burst into laughter: "Ajiu's getting clever. Good—let Father sweat over it. Come, Ajiu, let's see if these robes fit."

"To be honest, these past years have been hard on you. Though you're in the imperial family, you've never enjoyed comfort—you've had to travel constantly…"

"Mother, I'm not suffering."

"Alright, then let's not talk about it."

After dressing and adorning herself, Empress Zhou marveled aloud.

"Clothes make the man, saddle makes the horse; dressed in this outfit, my daughter is indeed more beautiful."

"In a few days, we'll attend the banquet together—my daughter will be the most dazzling presence there."

"Mother, you're exaggerating. There will be beauties from all realms there—what is my modest beauty compared to theirs?"

"Don't be discouraged—in my heart, no one is more beautiful than Jiujiu!"

Three days passed in a flash.

In these days, the people of the Great Ming capital had new gossip—the Great Ming Emperor was fasting and bathing to pray for the nation's fortune!

"Neglecting the people, turning to ghosts and gods—alas, Great Ming…"

"Can the state and its people truly rely on ghosts and gods for fortune?"

The scholar-officials were delighted.

"With the Emperor acting this way, his popular support is lost—won't we now be free to manipulate the empire?"

"I laugh at the Zhu family—no one among them is a hero, yet they've made such foolish moves."

"They've run out of tricks—it's our Donglin's turn to step forward. Great Ming still cannot do without us Donglin!"

Zhu Youjian saw all the murmurs among the people; had it not been for the upcoming banquet, he would have already begun cutting heads.

"Let you boast a few more days. When I have the chance, not one of you—Donglin, the Jiangnan scholar-officials, or traitorous merchants—will escape!"

Zhu Youjian had full confidence in his own strength.

A true qi cultivator, in this low-cultivation world, is a godlike figure capable of suppressing the entire world alone.