Chapter 204: When a Man Is About to Die, the Son of Heaven Is Nothing!

【Hall of Heavenly Mandate!】

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

【The Empress Dowager had just spoken those words.】

【Zhou Zhen laughed loudly from the steps:】

【"A eunuch slave, dead is dead."】

【"Why the rush? When Father died, Empress Dowager didn't show this kind of panic!"】

【At these words!】

【The Empress Dowager's usually calm face finally showed anger.】

【"Second son, Sanzhong always treated you well—have you forgotten how he stayed outside your room all night after your first ascension, fearing for your safety?"】

【"Wasn't it his Western Depot that removed countless hidden threats so you could hold the throne steady?"】

【"If you hadn't begged him, would he have ambushed Lu Chen?"】

【Zhou Zhen cut in:】

【"Isn't that what a slave is supposed to do?"】

【"A slave who calls himself 'Nine Thousand Years,' wielding boundless power—I, the Son of Heaven, must fear him threefold. Why? Don't you know how much I hate him?"】

【"A eunuch, a mere castrated man—do you know how he looked at me? Like a descendant."】

【"What! Is he going to be my grandfather? Or is the Great Qing Empress Dowager going to remarry?"】

【"A dog slave—he dares!"】

【The Empress Dowager trembled with rage; she never imagined her own grandson, whom she raised from childhood, would speak such disrespectful words.】

【A flicker of sorrow passed through her eyes, but more than that, there was disappointment and heartbreak toward Zhou Zhen.】

【"Zhou Zhen, what… are you saying!"】

【Zhou Zhen was at his wit's end; he no longer feared anything.】

【"What? It's the truth—can't the affairs of the realm be spoken of? Must Empress Dowager kill her own blood grandson for a eunuch, an outsider?"】

【Zhou Zhen laid out his plan: "I originally intended to use Lu Chen to eliminate Chen Sanzhong, then use the Golden Guard to wipe out both of them."】

【"But Xie Chunan ruined my plan—he forged imperial edicts and golden arrows. Lu Chen didn't die!"】

【Zhou Cheng chuckled: "Second brother, you're truly ruthless—you wanted to kill both the Junior Protector and Chen Sanzhong, and now you want to kill Empress Dowager too."】

【"Worse still, you summoned border troops and tried to seize Xie Chunan to wipe out the Jiangnan aristocratic clans."】

【"A three-birds-with-one-stone strategy—truly brilliant."】

【"Too bad!"】

【"Xie Chunan knew your intentions all along. To use others as pawns, second brother, you must have the ability to do so."】

【Zhou Cheng shook his head: "You're nothing but a ruler who can't even maintain what you've inherited!"】

【To seize power and be devoured by it—killings never solve problems.】

【A true emperor understands the art of balance.】

【Zhou Zhen's face darkened under Zhou Cheng's mockery.】

【He hadn't expected his plan to be laid bare so openly—he wanted to eliminate the Jiangnan clans and Empress Dowager alike.】

【"Stop portraying yourself as a tragic figure. Everyone wronged you? You're the kind of man who doesn't deserve it."】

【"Zhou Cheng, don't sit there spouting empty moralizing. Do you think you're so noble? You're just a shadow-watcher, waiting for your chance—aren't you after this throne too?"】

【Zhou Cheng didn't mind; his eyes held a complex mix of pity and mockery.】

【"Second brother, we've been brothers. I never wanted this. But your deeds have chilled my heart. For the throne, for power, you're willing to sacrifice everything."】

【"Do you know those are your kin, your subjects, your people?"】

【Zhou Zhen's eyes flickered, then hardened again. "Kin? Subjects? People? In my eyes, they're all tools to secure imperial power. If sacrificing a few ensures my throne stands firm and the Great Qing endures forever, what does it matter?"】

【The Empress Dowager fell silent.】

【Amid the Golden Guard's protection, Zhou Zhen looked like a caged beast—eyes bloodshot, radiating madness.】

【"I am the Son of Heaven—everything must obey me. This world exists only to welcome my arrival—why are there so many obstacles!"】

【"Lu Lu, Xie Chunan, Zhou Cheng, and Sixth Brother, Chen Sanzhong."】

【"And you, Lu Chen!"】

【"Why do all of you oppose me? Why!"】

【"You should kneel to me. Die for me."】

【You simply watched the current Son of Heaven—hair disheveled, like a drunken layabout.】

【Zhou Jinyu looked at her former husband—only sorrow in her eyes.】

【Zhou Zhen's gaze suddenly lit up as it fell upon the Lu Family Army!】

【As if grasping his last straw, he shoved aside the Golden Guards and screamed toward them.】

【"Lu Family Army! Yes—there's still the Lu Family Army!"】

【"Kill Lu Chen, kill Zhou Cheng, and I'll make you Princes, Dukes—I'll build ancestral shrines for you, to be inherited for generations!"】

【"Dou Gu, from now on you're Commander of the Lu Family Army—I'll grant you the title of Peer Equal to the Emperor."】

【"Dou Gu, Huang Chong, Sui Cheng… I'll enfeoff you all as Marquises. Kill them for me."】

【The Lu Family Army only sneered—as if watching a mad actor.】

【Zhou Zhen screamed.】

【Dong Jie held him, unable to bear it, pleading:】

【"Master, the tide has turned. Wake up! You can't go on like this!"】

【Zhou Zhen glared at Dong Jie:】

【"If not for you, would I be in this state?"】

【"You dog slave!"】

【Without warning, Zhou Zhen stabbed Dong Jie in the heart.】

【Zhou Zhen had no strength; Dong Jie wore armor—the blade couldn't pierce the iron, not even breaking the surface.】

【All the Golden Guards had been personally trained by Dong Jie—utterly loyal.】

【Several stepped forward to seize Zhou Zhen by the shoulders.】

【Dong Jie cried out:】

【"Stop! The Master is the Son of Heaven—do not act rashly!"】

【The Golden Guards halted. They looked from Dong Jie to Zhou Zhen, eyes filled with hesitation and torment.】

【In the end, they withdrew—but their gazes remained locked on Zhou Zhen, ready to strike at any moment.】

【Dong Jie seized the sword in Zhou Zhen's hand—the blade cut deep, blood gushing.】

【Zhou Zhen watched it all—no remorse in his heart.】

【He laughed coldly, tossed the sword aside as if it had been nothing but a trivial farce.】

【At that moment!】

【Dong Jie stripped off his armor, revealing a chest scarred with wounds, and slowly knelt before Zhou Zhen.】

【On his chest hung a round jade pendant—not precious.】

【Zhou Zhen recognized it at once.】

【Dong Jie, bloodied hand gripping the jade, smiled: "This was the pendant you gave me when I was ten, after I won a ball game in the Prince's residence. I've kept it ever since."】

【"If not for you taking me in back then, I'd have starved to death on the streets—there'd be no me today."】

【Dong Jie picked up the sword again, pressing its cold edge to his own chest.】

【"A lord commands, a subject dies—it is natural. I, Dong Jie, swore I would die before my master."】

【"Now, it's not your fault—man plans, heaven decides."】

【"Dong Jie departs!"】

【The Golden Guards couldn't stop him—the blade pierced his chest.】

【Blood pooled at Zhou Zhen's feet.】

【Zhou Zhen suddenly woke up.】

【He looked at the Hall of Heavenly Mandate—the place where ancestors were worshipped—and laughed.】

【Zhou Zhen straightened his robes, picked up the sword from the ground, and placed it against his throat.】

【"I, Zhou Zhen, die as the Son of Heaven of Great Qing!"】

【The Empress Dowager seemed to know the outcome—two tears rolled down.】

【Zhou Jinyu's face held only a faint smile.】

【Zhou Cheng bowed from afar, expression calm.】

【Blood streamed from Zhou Zhen's neck as his body toppled backward.】

(End of Chapter)