Chapter 212: Strategy Decided in the Hall, Urgent Military News!

You slowly walked into the Taihe Palace.

Taihe Palace!

As the most central structure in the imperial palace.

Built with golden splendor and majestic grandeur, it was the sacred site where the emperor held major ceremonies.

On the emperor's birthday, the Wan Shou Festival, the New Year's Day grand audiences, or during the ascension of a new emperor and the emperor's wedding, Taihe Palace would witness its most solemn and grand moments.

Yet!

The common people often held misconceptions about Taihe Palace, many mistakenly believing it was where the emperor held daily court sessions.

In truth, ordinary morning audiences were held in Qianqing Palace.

Inside Taihe Palace, the ceiling soared high.

At the very top, steps led to a majestic dragon throne, symbolizing supreme imperial authority.

Above the ceiling, a golden dragon's head stared down, its scales shimmering brilliantly under the candlelight, glowing with golden radiance.

You stepped into this gilded hall, your gaze sweeping past the throne, and you shook your head slightly.

So many had died for this chair!

Lu Yu stood beside you, his posture straight as a pine.

Behind him came a group of Lu Family Army generals, their steps steady as they slowly entered the palace.

The eunuchs and palace maids who had fled in panic now gathered inside Taihe Palace, having gathered their silver and valuables amid the chaos.

They peered fearfully through cracks as more armored men with swords entered the hall, their hearts pounding with dread.

Patrol soldiers from the Lu Family Army dragged them out one by one; they clutched their treasures tightly, trembling.

Begging for mercy!

After a while!

The eunuchs and maids saw the Lu Family Army was not slaughtering innocents; gradually, they calmed down. Some even gathered courage and, following palace protocol, carefully served tea and bowed.

A young eunuch trembled as he held out a cup of tea before you—he knew you were the leader of this army. Since your troops stormed the palace, the emperor was dead, and the Grand Empress Dowager was dead.

Yet strangely, this army had not looted the palace treasures; instead, they posted guards every ten steps and began slowly taking control of the palace.

The palace grew quiet!

The young eunuch, still terrified, trembled so badly that the teacup clattered in his hands.

Tea spilled across the floor!

You slowly took it and said, "Thank you."

The young eunuch, hearing this, immediately fell to his knees—he had never heard the word "thank you" in the palace.

He was terrified, unsure what to say, afraid that any misstep would cost him his head—he could only keep bowing his head.

You rose and helped him up, saying, "It's fine."

The young eunuch felt dazed, then stumbled away, half-unconscious.

The eunuchs and maids hurriedly arranged chairs in Taihe Palace, then stood respectfully at a distance on either side, not daring to breathe loudly, afraid of angering these unexpected guests.

Twenty chairs were neatly aligned; the Lu Family Army generals stood before their assigned seats, yet did not sit immediately—instead, they stood quietly before them.

Not long after!

Except for a few empty chairs, all others were now occupied by standing figures.

Feng Haiping, Dou Gu, Jia Fu, Huang Xin stood before the front-row chairs.

You naturally took the seat of honor, lowering your brows slightly.

Zhou Jinyu had followed you from Fengtian Palace and looked around, realizing she had no place to stand—she felt awkward and stayed close behind you.

Not long after!

More people entered the hall, each bowing to you before finding their assigned chair and standing, without sitting.

Lu Yu noticed that Qin Xiaowu of the Black and White Roads of Yuetangjiang, Lord Yu Xu, and others were all present.

After Yu Xu entered the hall, the eunuch in red robes silently took his place behind you.

Now!

To your left stood Lu Yu; to your right stood the newly arrived Yu Xu.

This arrangement left Zhou Jinyu momentarily at a loss—she didn't know where to stand.

After thinking, she decided to stand beside Yu Xu; Lu Yu's legendary reputation and overwhelming aura made her fearful, and she dared not draw near.

You remained with closed eyes, as if deaf to all changes around you, detached and indifferent.

Zhou Jinyu secretly observed you, seeing you maintained your closed-eyed, lowered-brow posture, and silently speculated on your thoughts.

Zhou Cheng had also come along; the deaths of the Grand Empress Dowager and Zhou Zhen brought him only satisfaction.

Had Zhou Zhen not committed suicide, he would have repaid his humiliation a hundredfold—the Grand Empress Dowager's coldness had long disappointed him.

Zhou Cheng scanned the hall; most of the Lu Family Army generals were old officers, many of whom were among the Twenty-Six Pavilion Generals.

Even Dai Zhong, the Minister of Justice, had no chair—he stood at the very back, his eyes fixed eagerly on the man at the front.

The true commander of the Lu Family Army!

Zhou Cheng quietly stepped aside, his heart ablaze—this was the very scene he had long dreamed of: the military review and strategy session of the Shaobao Army.

As time passed, more people filled the hall; all twenty chairs now had men standing before them.

Each arriving general appeared solemn and dignified, standing tall and straight—the atmosphere in the hall grew heavier and heavier.

The young eunuchs who had been serving tea now moved through the crowd, but their steps slowed involuntarily; they gazed at these imposing generals with deep reverence.

Inside the hall, aside from the occasional footstep, no other sound could be heard—everything was silent and solemn.

You sat upon the high seat, looking at the two rows of men.

Almost all the Lu Family Army generals had arrived, except those stationed in the northern lands.

Some had come with the army to the capital but remained at their posts and did not all attend.

As you surveyed the hall, the atmosphere grew even more solemn!

You spoke softly:

"Sit."

Yu Xu spoke from behind, his voice deep: "Shaobao's order: sit."

The generals answered in unison: "Yes!"

Their voices rang like bells, startling the young eunuchs and maids.

Zhou Jinyu, overwhelmed by the aura, involuntarily stepped closer to you.

At your command!

The generals sat down in perfect unison—no noise, no fidgeting—each sat upright, faces serious.

The young eunuchs and maids in the hall, touched by the solemn atmosphere, dared not move, retreating to lean against the walls, waiting silently.

You gave a slight nod.

Yu Xu looked around, then spoke again: "If there are no urgent matters, report first!"

Feng Haiping rose and said thoughtfully: "Secret reports have arrived from Qianyuan, Han, Chu, and the northern lands."

"Military intelligence is urgent!"

(End of Chapter)