Chapter 244: Yanbei Abounds in Noble and Tragic Heroes, the Land Where Dragons Rise!

【Ten years of Zhou Zhen, countless nights and days, the ecstatic dream come true!】

【Reclaiming the Jiangnan aristocratic families!】

【Is this not exactly what Zhou Zhen dreamed of?】

【Zhou Jinyu lifted her head, gazing at you at the head of the hall, trying to find a flicker of emotion on your face.】

【Too bad!】

【Your face was utterly calm, not a trace of joy to be seen.】

【"Lu Chen, where is your true ambition?"】

【Zhou Jinyu pondered deeply in her heart.】

【A faint voice broke through her thoughts.】

【"Install Zhou Jinyu's son as Emperor!"】

【A plain, unadorned statement!】

【In the Taihe Hall!】

【Echoed softly!】

【After hearing it, Zhou Jinyu slowly realized, said nothing, sniffed softly, and two streams of tears streamed visibly from her beautiful eyes.】

【Zhou Jinyu rose slowly, bowed deeply to you, forehead touching the ground, her voice trembling as she said:】

【"Zhou Jinyu, thanks to the Shaobao!"】

【Zhou Cheng stood nearby, witnessing all this, his heart filled with mixed emotions.】

【He had long known this would be the outcome, yet facing it now, he could not hide his disappointment.】

【From this point forward, the throne may forever be beyond his reach!】

【Xie Chunan seemed to have anticipated this; the others were surprised, yet felt it made sense.】

【They had never expected you to abandon power at such a critical moment!】

【Had you raised your arm and proclaimed yourself Emperor now, no one could have stopped you!】

【But upon reflection!】

【This outcome might well be the best possible for the Jiangnan aristocratic families.】

【Their faces bore surprised delight.】

【Wang Yang knew in his heart that your heart was not here.】

【Zhou Jinyu's son, the new Empress, was just born this year—an infant.】

【A young ruler, a doubtful realm; neighboring states grow bold; a general too mighty threatens the throne; peace demands vigilance.】

【Such a situation indeed stirred deep concern.】

【Yet!】

【After careful deliberation, the others began to perceive its subtle advantages.】

【If Zhou Cheng ascended, the Jiangnan aristocrats would likely face direct suppression from imperial authority, given their long-standing conflicts of interest.】

【If Lu Chen ascended, the consequences would be even harder to predict.】

【Now, Zhou Jinyu, as a powerless Empress Dowager, held no real authority; the new Emperor was an infant, and imperial power naturally appeared weak.】

【For the Jiangnan aristocratic families, this situation seemed, paradoxically, a "favorable" one.】

【Weak imperial power meant the clans had greater room to exert influence and protect their own interests.】

【The Jiangnan aristocrats immediately pledged obedience, saying:】

【"We obey your command!"】

【With the cry of one well-versed in court protocol, others snapped to attention, turning to Zhou Jinyu and bowing respectfully:】

【"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager!"】

【In an instant, the Jiangnan aristocrats followed suit.】

【"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager!"】

【Yet!】

【Amid this uniform kneeling, the Lu family army stood like unyielding rocks, their gazes firm and cold, as if none of this concerned them.】

【This contrast rendered the solemn scene almost comical—as if a crowd performed a ritual while the Lu family army watched as dispassionate spectators.】

【Lu Yu smiled at the sight.】

【The laugh was quiet!】

【Yet it rang piercingly, causing the Jiangnan aristocrats to freeze, their faces flushing red then pale.】

【In ordinary times!】

【Such disrespect would have provoked furious scolding—but now, they could only cough awkwardly to mask their embarrassment, standing silently below, waiting.】

【The situation had changed!】

【At this moment!】

【Feng Haiping stepped forward solemnly and said: "Feng Haiping begs the Shaobao to retake command of the Lu family army, to secure the realm!"】

【As soon as he spoke!】

【The Jiangnan clans remained bewildered—when had the Shaobao ever lost command of the Lu family army?】

【They failed to grasp the deeper meaning!】

【Xie Chunan stepped forward slowly, his voice resolute:】

【"The northern lands burn with war, bordering the North Wind and adjacent to Chu and Han—this is the gateway of Daqing, its importance self-evident."】

【"The court currently lacks any capable man to shoulder this burden. I humbly beg the Shaobao, for the sake of the state and the people, to once again take up the Lu family army's command."】

【His words were sincere, heartfelt.】

【Zhou Jinyu had wiped away her tears and stepped quietly to your side.】

【For the first time, she straightened her back, hands gently folded at her waist, revealing the dignity and bearing of an Empress, and declared:】

【"The Shaobao has achieved glorious military exploits, his merit towering over all. By Daqing's laws, he must be granted a princely title to honor his virtue."】

【Upon hearing this, Xie Chunan bowed swiftly: "Your Majesty's wisdom is profound."】

【Dou Gu also bowed slightly: "Your Majesty's insight is brilliant. Since ancient times, Yanbei has produced noble and tragic heroes. Among the five northern provinces, Yanzhou stands first."】

【Zhou Jinyu's gaze swept lightly over the assembly, then rested on you, her tone calm yet resounding:】

【"The Shaobao shall be made Prince of Yan, granted the Nine Bestowments, granted full imperial procession rights, and entrusted with military and civil authority over all five northern provinces."】

【As soon as she spoke, it was as if a sword plunged into stone, or a thunderclap split the heavens.】

【In mere words, Yanbei was settled!】

【Xie Chunan immediately knelt, his movements swift, voice trembling with barely concealed excitement: "Xie Chunan, pays homage to the Prince of Yan!"】

【The high officials of the Jiangnan clans exchanged glances, stunned, confused, even terrified—no one dared speak first.】

【Some opened their mouths to object, words already on their lips, yet crushed by invisible pressure, leaving only stunned silence.】

【Lu Chen, Prince of Yan!】

【This act had never occurred in the four hundred years of Daqing's founding.】

【Daqing's ancestral edict: Only those of the Zhou surname may be granted princely titles; only those who have achieved extraordinary military merit may be made marquises.】

【Any non-Zhou who becomes a prince shall be opposed by all under heaven.】

【Yet now!】

【Lu Chen has leapt to become Prince of Yan—his weight immense, his domain the five northern provinces, vast and boundless, nearly rivaling Jiangnan in scale.】

【It was as if a great axe, silently, had split Daqing in two.】

【With Lu Chen's current prestige and ability, the northern lands had become a de facto new state.】

【Some still wore expressions of disbelief, as if trapped in the shock of this sudden turn, unable to recover.】

【Yet the Lu family army's generals now glowed with unprecedented light in their eyes.】

【"Feng Haiping, pays homage to the Prince of Yan!"】

【A burly general knelt first, his voice booming like war drums.】

【"Dou Gu, pays homage to the Prince of Yan!" Dou Gu followed, voice resolute!】

【"Liu Wen, pays homage to the Prince of Yan!" "Jia Fu, pays homage to the Prince of Yan!"… In an instant, kneeling salutes echoed throughout the hall.】

【These voices merged into a thunderclap detonating in the empty hall, stirring hearts, impossible to calm.】

【The veteran ministers of Daqing, weathered by decades, seasoned by experience, now could not hide their shock and disbelief. Their eyes darted between Lu Chen and the kneeling generals, unable to recover their composure.】

【Until Feng Haiping's cold voice rang out:】

【"Do you gentlemen doubt that the Shaobao deserves a princely title?"】

【It sounded as if swords clashed!】

【The crowd panicked, stumbling into scattered bows:】

【"Pays homage to the Prince of Yan!"】

【Zhou Jinyu also bowed gracefully.】

【Liu Wen and the others were filled with excitement—now the Lu family army had its own true territory at last.】

【A land of dragon's rising!】

【Liu Wen stared at the "Administrative Essentials of Zhibei," his hands trembling—within ten years, Yan will be the richest land under heaven.】

【Then, from this land, sweep across the realm!】

【End the wars of the Five States, restore the great unity of heaven!】

Yi Fu, please, I beg you, the data—just got a recommendation, thank you so much!



(End of Chapter)