Chapter 142: The Empress Dowager

As soon as these words were spoken, Dong Jie raised the imperial edict high, solemnly holding it out, awaiting your bow to receive it.

"Please, Young Protector, kneel to receive the edict."

All the Gold Guard stood on tiptoe, watching like an audience at a play.

The Gold Guard merely wielded the Emperor's authority to force the Young Protector to kneel.

If the Young Protector kneels, it will be tomorrow's talk of the capital!

The majesty of the imperial edict is like the Emperor himself present—do not underestimate it.

In Daqing, literary culture flourishes; literature is revered, martial arts belittled.

In Jiangnan, most are scholarly nobles; though rituals are observed, the power of aristocratic clans renders them mere formalities.

When encountering officials, a humble demeanor suffices—elaborate rites may be omitted.

As for Jiangnan's common folk, no excessive deference is needed upon seeing an official; a slight bow from one, a light acknowledgment from the other, is enough.

Kneeling is reserved for only the most solemn occasions; even when receiving an edict, whether to kneel or not depends on one's status and will.

In days past, when Lu Chen and the other two entered the capital to pay homage, they never knelt before the Son of Heaven, and the entire court took no offense.

At this, Lu Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.

Wei Yue had no official rank, yet she understood the weight of the imperial edict; seeing her two cousins remain unmoved, she too stayed still.

Kneeling before the imperial edict is the prerogative of the imperial messenger—if he finds your etiquette lacking, he may impeach you.

It could be trivial—or grave!

For a moment, the scene grew solemn.

You did not glance at Dong Jie.

Your gaze, instead, was drawn to the sea eagle hovering in the sky, slowly descending to land on your shoulder.

You smiled faintly, understanding its meaning.

Dong Jie watched the majestic sea eagle, a flicker of envy in his eyes—he knew such divine birds were priceless on the battlefield, capable of saving lives in dire peril.

Yet he could not fathom your intent, and the entire Gold Guard dared not move.

Lu Yu, confirmed as a Grand Master, had two Grand Masters dead on the ground beside him; though Dong Jie commanded four thousand Gold Guards, including a specialized heavy-armored formation trained to suppress Grand Masters,

they had come rested and ready, and Lu Yu's posture revealed nothing of his depth.

But!

He still had ten thousand Imperial Guards from the capital—this force alone could strike fear into any Grand Master.

Three thousand could slay a Grand Master!

He sneered inwardly: "Ten thousand men—can't they kill one Grand Master?"

Dong Jie also knew your weakness: your parents and uncle languish in the imperial prison in the capital—your deepest concern, your vulnerability.

Dong Jie understood this Young Protector well: loyal and righteous, even after breaching the North Wind City, he never sacked it, maintaining strict discipline.

"A gentleman may be deceived by propriety!"

At this moment!

A flag-bearer hurried to Dong Jie's side and whispered urgently.

Dong Jie frowned deeply.

The Emperor had made meticulous arrangements: the battalion commanders at both city gates and the Northern Army's deputy commander both answered to the Empress Dowager's troops.

The Emperor himself assured him that neither gate would stir today—let him proceed without worry.

How could things have changed again!

Ten thousand troops surged like a tide down the long street, surrounding the Western Factory and the Gold Guard completely.

Though Dong Jie felt unease, his heart remained calm.

He had commanded armies for years; the Emperor had already moved thirty thousand border garrison troops overnight, and by dawn, when the gates opened, all would be settled.

From now on, there would be but one sun in court.

Dong Jie, seeing your calm expression, bided his time patiently.

Not long after,

a familiar figure entered Dong Jie's sight.

He arrived with a dozen soldiers, and no one dared to stop him.

He sported a fine beard, hand resting on his long sword, dressed as a scholarly general—elegant, yet radiating an air of solemn authority.

Dong Jie let out a cold sneer.

This man was Lu Lu, the battalion commander of the city gate; his family had held high office for two generations, even reaching the Three Excellencies, though recently declining, he remained a prominent Jiangnan clan, unwaveringly loyal to the Empress Dowager.

Though his official rank was only third grade, he held real power and was pivotal in court—his influence could not be underestimated.

He also bore the prestigious title of General of the Heavy Honor.

He commanded over twenty thousand elite soldiers from the capital, all rigorously trained, fiercely combat-capable, each a standout among the military.

Dong Jie's gaze, sharp as a hawk's, fixed on Lu Lu, trying to read his expression for any clue.

Lu Lu ignored Dong Jie's stare.

Instead, he walked straight to you, bowed deeply, and spoke clearly and loudly:

"Lu Lu pays homage to the Young Protector, here bearing the Empress Dowager's Golden Arrow."

Dong Jie's frown deepened.

He was baffled: had not the Empress Dowager long sought to kill Lu Chen? Had they not even conspired to ambush Lu Chen with three Martial Grand Masters?

Now, Lu Lu's sudden appearance and the Empress Dowager's decree left him utterly confused.

He clutched the imperial edict in his hand—the Emperor's order to exterminate the Western Factory and clear Wei Yue's name.

Yet this edict made no mention of tomorrow's tripartite tribunal, which the Emperor awaited as Lu Chen's supposed "surrender."

The Empress Dowager's Golden Arrow carried equal weight to the Emperor's edict—those who received it must kneel.

The Golden Arrow could mobilize several major armies in the capital.

The Empress Dowager had not intervened in court affairs for over a decade, nor issued a Golden Arrow since.

In the capital, the Empress Dowager's Golden Arrow was even more potent than the imperial edict.

Lu Lu continued reading the Empress Dowager's decree: "The Western Factory harbors filth and corruption—it long deserved cleansing, especially Chen Sanzhong's scheming to frame the Young Protector, a crime beyond pardon. The Young Protector has merit, no fault."

"The Empress Dowager's decree: all charges against Miss Wei Yue are rescinded; she is granted the title of Princess Chaoyang."

The moment Lu Lu finished speaking!

Dong Jie's face turned ashen.

The Emperor's entire plan had been built on the assumption that the Empress Dowager would eliminate Lu Chen.

Now, the Empress's sudden amnesty had shattered his scheme.

Lu Lu bowed again: "Please, Young Protector and Miss Wei, receive the Empress Dowager's Golden Arrow."

Wei Yue, hearing she had been granted the title of Princess Chaoyang, was stunned.

She recalled Chen Sanzhong's words: "The Empress Dowager intends to exterminate the Lu family, leaving no survivors."

Yet now, everything had changed.

She looked up at you—your face was calm.

"There are no eternal enemies, nor eternal allies."

Seeing the situation, Dong Jie knew it was extraordinary—he quickly unrolled the edict and began reading.

Though his heart burned with resentment, he dared not show any temper.

The three of you stood silently, listening to the edict's contents.

When you heard the Emperor's bestowal upon Wei Yue and the grant of four prestigious residences in the capital, she felt dizzy with disbelief.

Lu Lu remained bowed, repeating: "Please, Young Protector, receive the Golden Arrow."

Dong Jie seethed inwardly but could do nothing—if the Empress Dowager and Lu Chen joined forces, he feared he would ruin the Emperor's grand plan.

He stepped forward alone, holding the edict, speaking gently:

"Dong Jie has been disrespectful just now."

"Please, Young Protector, receive the edict."

(End of Chapter)