Chapter 200: The Situation Has Changed—The Son of Heaven Will Not Be Bowing To!

Dong Jie's heart was filled with bitter resentment; he knew his situation was hopeless, yet he still clung to a sliver of hope, attempting to exploit the rift between the Grand Empress Dowager and Zhou Cheng, and led a thousand Gold Guard soldiers to break out.

To secure even a sliver of chance for himself and his master, Zhou Zhen.

But he had no idea!

The capital had been fully blockaded by the Lu family army—not even a bird could escape.

And!

Neither the Grand Empress Dowager nor Zhou Cheng would allow Zhou Zhen to flee.

It would be futile!

The Grand Empress Dowager wanted to seize Zhou Zhen; so did Zhou Cheng.

In an instant, the three factions plunged into chaotic battle.

The disparity in numbers meant that even the Gold Guard's bravery was useless.

Before absolute power, there was only crushing annihilation.

In the end, the Gold Guard was nearly wiped out, leaving only dozens of soldiers.

Zhou Cheng sought to storm the Fengtian Hall and capture Zhou Zhen, but was constantly blocked by the Grand Empress Dowager.

The Grand Empress Dowager tried to ascend the Fengtian Hall, but Zhou Cheng repeatedly interfered, resulting in a stalemate among the three sides.

Upon the steps of the Fengtian Hall.

Dong Jie faithfully guarded his master, his body covered in wounds; his martial prowess equaled that of a top-tier master of the martial world, allowing him to hold out this long.

Zhou Zhen's yellow dragon robe was stained with blood; he swung a long sword wildly, hair disheveled, eyes wild as he pointed at the crowd below the Fengtian Hall:

"You traitorous rebels—do you not know the dignity of the Son of Heaven?"

"Aren't you afraid of heaven's retribution?"

Though the Gold Guard was reduced to a handful, they still loyally shielded their emperor; forty or fifty soldiers formed a tight circle, protecting Zhou Zhen at the center.

Zhou Jinyu, seeing this, wiped her tears with a silk handkerchief, feigning heartfelt sorrow:

"Your Majesty, why persist? Apologize to the Grand Empress Dowager—this matter will be over."

Zhou Zhen grew even angrier: "What do you, a witch of Beifeng, know? Women meddling in state affairs!"

At these words,

Zhou Jinyu froze, her smile vanishing instantly, silent.

Her eyes turned icy, regarding Zhou Zhen as though he were already dead.

The Grand Empress Dowager looked at Zhou Zhen and sighed.

Zhou Cheng, among the Feathered Forest troops, laughed aloud.

"Brother Two, don't fret—I'll grant you the title of Pig Emperor, give you several empresses. Don't say your younger brother treats you poorly."

Zhou Zhen flew into a rage, pointing at Zhou Cheng but unable to speak.

Dong Jie stood beside him, his face set with resolve to die.

Even if he died, Dong Jie would die before his master.

The three factions clashed fiercely.

For a time, no scouts returned reports—or rather, all scouts near the Lu family army had been eliminated by the assassination guild Shuiyin.

At this moment, all parties suddenly realized!

A sudden shift in the battlefield!

Behold!

A previously unseen iron army slowly entered Chongwu Wen Gate; their aura was vast and majestic, far surpassing even the Feathered Forest troops.

A giant banner bore a clear "Lu" character, declaring the army's allegiance.

The line stretched endlessly, the numbers so vast they defied the eye—its scale was staggering.

Zhou Zhen and Dong Jie could hardly believe it!

How had Lu Chen brought the Lu family army into the palace?

First Zhou Cheng arrived with the Feathered Forest troops; now Lu Chen arrived with the Lu family army.

When had the Lu family army marched south? Why had no word reached them?

Had they descended from heaven?

Zhou Zhen seemed to grasp everything—he burst into wild laughter.

"So that's it! So that's it!"

"So you, Lu Chen, are the true fisherman."

"All that talk of fifteen years of cultivation? Just a lie to deceive the world—you've long been ambitious."

Though Dong Jie didn't fully understand the full story, he clearly realized that no matter who won this struggle, they were all losers.

And now, the arrival of the Lu family army might offer them a chance.

The Grand Empress Dowager's faction.

Zhou Jinyu stared at the man at the front of the line, who slowly removed his wide-brimmed hat.

A familiar face was revealed.

She froze.

The face she had seen once and never forgotten.

Mount Zhongnan—Lu Chen!

Zhou Jinyu could not believe it—the man she felt so complexly toward.

Her brother, her nation—all feared him.

Beifeng hated him, longed to eat his flesh, spit his blood.

She herself had been forced to marry into Daqing because of him.

He alone had altered the fate of Beifeng—and the fate of this Beifeng princess.

But!

Despite all the pain Lu Chen had brought her, Zhou Jinyu could never bring herself to hate him.

She even realized that when she learned the Grand Empress Dowager had set a trap to kill Lu Chen, her heart felt more worry than satisfaction.

His arrival now stirred both unease and anticipation within her.

Zhou Cheng was not surprised; he slowly turned around.

Years had passed since their parting on Mount Zhongnan; now they met again!

The Grand Empress Dowager's eyes burned with hatred—her son had died on Mount Zhongnan; she loathed the Lu brothers with every fiber of her being.

Now, with Chen Sanzhong's death!

At this moment, the one the Grand Empress Dowager most wanted to kill was Lu Chen!

Lu Lu's gaze was calmer than those around him; he knew the situation had undergone a complete reversal.

If the Lu family army could enter the palace so openly, his men outside were likely already dead.

His combined gate commanders numbered less than thirty thousand—against this vast Lu family army, resistance was futile.

He silently calculated: beyond the capital, the Lu family army must already be everywhere; the shift in power forced him to reassess his stance and choices.

He could not die with the Zhou family!

He chose silence, waiting to see how events unfolded.

As the Lu family army advanced slowly, their overwhelming might and solemn aura spread rapidly, forcing the three warring factions to halt their battle.

The entire palace was suddenly shrouded in an invisible force, sinking into an eerie stillness.

Behind this silence lay each person's complex emotions and uneasy foreboding.

Zhou Cheng and his Feathered Forest troops bowed first: "We pay homage, Shaobao."

This act clearly declared his identity to all.

Many soldiers, facing the imposing might of the Lu family army, felt fear in their hearts.

The Lu family army slowly approached the Fengtian Hall!

You did not dismount; you looked toward the Grand Empress Dowager and the current Emperor of Daqing.

Zhou Zhen stood on the steps of the Fengtian Hall, disheveled, sword in hand, pointing at you, laughter laced with madness and resentment.

He shouted:

"Lu Chen, why do you not bow to the Son of Heaven?"

"Not bowing to the Son of Heaven—you have lost the Mandate of Heaven!"

Your gaze passed over him, settling on the Grand Empress Dowager below the Fengtian Hall.

The old woman stared at you with unyielding intensity!

Deep with murderous intent!

"Lu Chen, why did you kill Chen Sanzhong?"

Lu Yu let out a cold laugh.

You merely smiled, looking at the grandmother and grandson.

If men seek to kill me, must I not kill them?

There is no such principle in this world.

(End of Chapter)