Chapter 208: Coming to the Capital to Rescue the Throne—Now We Can Talk

As your words fell, the entire scene sank into a brief silence.

Zhou Jinyu softly repeated those words:

"I am but a commoner from Huainan—what does the world matter to me?"

Her heart was filled with confusion and shock, for she understood the meaning behind those words.

Only three words—abandon the world!

This Empress of Daqing could not recall her husband Zhou Zhen's birthday, yet your birth chart was etched into her mind as if branded by fire.

She knew even better the life story of this Shaobao.

You were born in Huainan County, Beidi, in the spring of Yongxiang Year One.

"Commoner" refers to one who wears cloth robes; later, it came to mean an ordinary civilian.

Your family was hardly commoners—in your county, you were a powerful clan, but later you squandered your wealth, and your mother betrothed you young.

Later, you became a disciple of the Three Teachings, and at twenty-one, out of pure filial piety, you went to Hulao Pass to rescue your father.

From then on, your name shook the world!

Huainan County became famous across the land because of your birth; now, anyone with the surname Lu is unconsciously assumed to be a man of war.

But you resigned from office and returned home to cultivate on Mount Zhongnan, losing your official rank and title—calling yourself a commoner was not untrue, even a form of humility.

To rise from a commoner to the throne—that is the highest honor.

Yet you will not take the world?

Zhou Jinyu could not believe you would forsake this once-in-a-millennium chance to be remembered in history.

In her eyes, such an opportunity was what countless men dreamed of, yet you seemed indifferent.

She could not comprehend your state of mind, nor imagine how, in this vortex of power struggles, you could remain so calm and detached.

Then, if you will not sit on the throne, what choice will you make?

A nation cannot be without a ruler—then who will be the sovereign of Daqing?

At this moment, Zhou Jinyu glanced at Prince Zhou Cheng among the Yulin Army, her face filled with revulsion.

The Grand Empress Dowager also seemed slightly stunned.

In their minds, they were born into the imperial family, their entire lives devoted to this throne.

How could they abandon it?

Zhou Zhen's body was still warm—he died willingly for the throne.

Prince Zhou Cheng stood nearby; though he had guessed this outcome, his face remained calm, yet his heart was shaken.

The Son of Heaven—just one step away; few in the world would willingly give it up.

After hearing this, the Lu family army felt no disappointment.

They had long understood your heart—you were never one to seek power.

Fifteen years ago, had you truly desired it, you could have stormed the Yellow Dragon Palace and seized the throne—why wait until now?

Lu Lu, upon hearing this, keenly realized: if you have no intention of claiming the throne, then the remaining contender must be…

His gaze involuntarily swept toward Prince Zhou Cheng, who had come from Jiangbei, and he began to calculate silently.

In Lu Lu's view, if Prince Zhou Cheng could secure the throne with support from Jiangbei, the current "three-way stalemate" would be shattered, and a new power structure would emerge.

Lu Lu secretly formed a plan.

The Grand Empress Dowager, upon hearing your words, knew this was now the critical moment.

Who would be named emperor?

She continued: "Shaobao, do you intend to interfere in the matter of Daqing's sovereign?"

"Shaobao, what conditions do you have? I will agree to them all."

She looked around—the Lu family army had already surrounded the city; if she did not secure terms now, she might never get another chance.

For the sake of the greater good, she was prepared to sacrifice part of her interests.

In such a great upheaval, she could afford to give up certain things.

The Grand Empress Dowager glanced at Prince Zhou Cheng, who stood beside you, and said calmly: "Eighth son, I accept you as emperor."

The old woman turned her gaze back to you.

But you said nothing.

The old woman thought you arrogant, and narrowed her eyes slightly:

"Do you, Shaobao, truly believe victory is already yours?"

"Inside the palace, there are still thirty thousand City Gate Captains. I long ago sent a messenger with my golden arrow to the frontier armies—if they do not see my golden arrow by tomorrow, they will storm the city."

"Moreover, if you act thus, with the emperor dead, every corner of Daqing will send troops to rescue the throne tomorrow."

Lu Lu was stunned—he had no knowledge of this. When had the Grand Empress Dowager notified the frontier armies?

The frontier armies totaled over one hundred thousand, jointly commanded by the Grand Empress Dowager and the emperor.

The Grand Empress Dowager's words were clearly a move to destroy everything.

The situation in the courtyard grew tense again.

This was a negotiation over imperial power.

The Lu family army maintained strict discipline—no one dared speak.

But!

The expressions in the eyes of the Lu family soldiers grew increasingly contemptuous.

Jia Fu, the dark-faced giant of the Lu family army, shook his head, thinking: Are the people of Jiangnan really made of iron? Don't they fear a single blade?

The army is already at the city gates!

If the Shaobao gives one order, these men would be slaughtered already.

How presumptuous—to dare bargain with the Shaobao.

Dou Gu, the Lu family army's strategist, smiled and said:

"I fear you will be disappointed, Grand Empress Dowager—the frontier armies will not arrive."

"Our southern advance went so smoothly—wasn't that thanks to the frontier armies?"

The Grand Empress Dowager was puzzled. Indeed, the Lu family army's southern march had been sudden, and they had passed through Jiangnan Circuit—the very region under frontier army control.

Was there a reason?

Dou Gu smiled: "The frontier armies of Jiangnan Circuit have already been absorbed by the Lu family army."

"They surrendered at the sight of the Lu banner."

The Grand Empress Dowager shook her head violently, refusing to believe it.

Dou Gu pulled from his sleeve a golden arrow, gleaming bright: "This is a gift and tribute from General Wu of the frontier armies, sent to the Shaobao—this very golden arrow is among it."

As the golden arrow was revealed, the Grand Empress Dowager's gaze sharpened, her body trembled, and she slumped helplessly against the imperial palanquin.

The Grand Empress Dowager snarled: "Without the frontier armies, I still have thirty thousand City Captains—Shaobao, do not overreach."

Lu Lu suddenly realized—he could wait no longer. The Grand Empress Dowager had already lost.

He was filled with furious regret. He had thought the situation had eased, yet her words had once again pushed the atmosphere to the brink.

What he feared most was that you, the Shaobao, would remain silent and give the order to eliminate everyone—this would be a disaster they could not survive.

Lu Lu did not want to die. He came from a noble family; he still had endless wealth, status, beautiful wives, and concubines to enjoy.

He had no reason to die with the Grand Empress Dowager.

So!

Lu Lu stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said respectfully:

"I, Lu Lu, pay homage to the Shaobao, and to Prince Zhou Cheng."

Lu Lu knew well—he must bow to the Shaobao first, then to Prince Zhou Cheng; the latter was likely to become the new master of the capital.

The Grand Empress Dowager stared, stunned by Lu Lu's action, her cloudy eyes filled with disbelief.

She had never witnessed such betrayal on the battlefield.

Seeing that the City Captain soldiers remained motionless, Lu Lu grew desperate. He quickly signaled a trusted officer, who immediately understood and shouted loudly:

"Pay homage to the Shaobao! Pay homage to Prince Zhou Cheng!"

That cry, like an invisible force, instantly stirred the surrounding soldiers—they followed suit, chanting in unison, the scene suddenly becoming grand and overwhelming.

You looked at the kneeling masses; even the eunuchs around you, stirred by the soldiers, hesitated, but once someone led, they all followed.

"Pay homage to the Shaobao, Prince Zhou Cheng."

In the courtyard, everyone except Zhou Jinyu and the Grand Empress Dowager had knelt.

The Grand Empress Dowager's voice trembled with fury as she shouted:

"Get up! All of you—what are you doing?!"

She turned to Lu Lu, her eyes filled with disbelief and heartbreak:

"Lu Lu, how could you? Have you forgotten the Lu family's generations of loyalty, the grace Daqing bestowed upon you? Now you bow so easily to others!"

Her anger and despair intertwined; her body shook violently with coughing.

Usually, a thoughtful eunuch would massage her back to ease her breath—but now, all were worried for their own lives, none cared for her.

"Cough! Cough—"

The old woman gasped for air.

Zhou Jinyu stood motionless beside her. Normally, she would gently massage the Grand Empress Dowager's back, fulfilling her duty as a granddaughter-in-law.

The Grand Empress Dowager's face turned ashen, yet she could not change the reality.

She felt like a joke.

【I just said "sink or swim" and "don't go too far!"】

【Now I realize how harsh those words sounded.】

【To this day!】

【The Grand Empress Dowager looked at the group before her: Lu Lu's groveling, the young eunuch's trembling fear, the soldiers' faces filled with dread.】

【"You cowards, so afraid of death—do you even honor Daqing?"】

【The Grand Empress Dowager cursed from her phoenix palanquin, now without eunuchs to support her, unable to rise.】

【No one dared rise to answer you.】

【Fortunately!】

【The Grand Empress Dowager noticed Zhou Jinyu—the Empress of Daqing, her daughter-in-law—who also had not knelt to the ground.】

【A flicker of hope passed through her gaze, as if she had found some support: "Jinyu, help me up!"】

【Zhou Jinyu acted as if she hadn't heard, staring blankly at you, as though since arriving at Fengtian Hall, you had spoken only that one sentence.】

【Your face remained as calm as ever, and he was suddenly transported back to the days on Mount Zhongnan.】

【Back then, you stood on the guest-receiving steps, smiling lightly—completely unlike the man you are today.】

【Back then, you wore a Daoist robe, a quiet cultivator with hands folded within your sleeves.】

【Now Zhou Jinyu saw you, standing before all who bowed, while the Lu family army wore expressions of sincere reverence.】

【Your face was utterly calm—as if this were how it should be.】

To hold the power of the world, yet show neither wrath nor pride.

【He finally merged the Lu Shaobao of old—the man who had been crushed by the northern winds, broken for fifteen years—with you.】

【Zhou Jinyu slowly exhaled, then knelt slowly.】

【"Zhou Jinyu, pays homage to Shaobao!"】

【The Grand Empress Dowager froze, gasping for breath.】

【Only one person remained standing in the hall.】

【At this moment!】

【You spoke softly: "Now we may speak."】

(End of Chapter)