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Chapter 170 Empress Dowager, This is the King of Shu's Will

The Palace of the King of Shu.

While the battle raged at Shangyang Gate in the imperial palace, the Shu Prince's residence was also in turmoil.

When the Empress Dowager, who had fainted earlier, slowly awoke and saw herself lying on her bed in the Prince of Shu's residence, her expression changed slightly.

Recalling what happened in the council hall of the Prince of Shu's residence, the Empress Dowager immediately sat up.

"Someone is coming."

The Empress Dowager called out.

"Queen Mother."

No sooner had the Empress Dowager finished speaking than an old palace maid appeared beside her.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

"Where is the King of Shu?"

"Has the King of Shu already left the Shu Palace?"

The Empress Dowager asked hurriedly.

He kept thinking that he hadn't been unconscious for long and that Zhou Zhi was still in the Shu Prince's mansion.

Otherwise, if she remained unconscious for too long and Zhou Zhi left the Shu Prince's residence, there would truly be no way to salvage the situation.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, she has been asleep for more than half an hour."

"The King of Shu left the Shu Palace half an hour ago."

The old palace maid bowed and said.

"what?"

"Did the King of Shu leave the Shu Palace half an hour ago?"

The Empress Dowager's expression changed, and her heart sank to the bottom.

The Empress Dowager had no idea that she had been unconscious for half an hour, and that Zhou Zhi had left the Prince of Shu's residence half an hour earlier.

Now, there's truly no way to salvage the situation.

Half an hour was more than enough time for Zhou Zhi to begin his usurpation of the throne.

"Quickly, prepare for my return to the palace."

"I must return to the palace immediately."

The Empress Dowager realized what was happening and quickly said...

Now that Zhou Zhi's usurpation of the throne has begun, it is impossible to stop it.

But the Empress Dowager still wanted to rush back to the palace immediately, hoping to save Zhou Zhi's life.

If it gets too late, it will be too late.

In the Empress Dowager's view, Zhou Zhi's usurpation of the throne was simply impossible.

"Your Majesty, our people are still being held by the guards of the Prince of Shu's residence, and the entire Prince of Shu's residence is under martial law."

"The King of Shu only ordered four palace maids and servants to guard the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager wanted to return to the palace immediately, but the guards of the King of Shu's residence..."

The old palace maid didn't finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.

That means the guards of the Prince of Shu's residence would not have allowed the Empress Dowager to leave the residence and return to the palace at this time.

"Hmph, I said I'm going back to the palace immediately."

"Anyone who dares to stop me, I'll kill them."

"What? That dog servant Wu She is no longer listening to me? Are you no longer listening to me either?"

The Empress Dowager looked at the old palace maid and said coldly.

Wu She was the Empress Dowager's closest attendant, and this old palace maid was also the Empress Dowager's most capable person.

It can be said that this old palace maid's status by the Empress Dowager's side was no less than that of the old eunuch Wu She.

Furthermore, this old palace maid was second only to Wu She in strength among those around the Empress Dowager.

If Ji Wusheng and San De hadn't used their methods to subdue the unsuspecting old palace maid, it wouldn't have been so easy for them to keep the Empress Dowager in the Prince of Shu's residence.

"The slaves dare not."

The old palace maid immediately knelt down.

No sooner had the old palace maid finished speaking than the sounds of clashing weapons and fighting erupted outside.

"what happened?"

The Empress Dowager was startled and immediately stood up.

Even the old palace maids who were kneeling immediately stood up and stood guard beside the Empress Dowager.

"Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The Eighth Prince has arrived at the Prince of Shu's residence with his men, demanding to see you."

"But the Prime Minister wouldn't allow it, so the Eighth Prince led his men directly into the Shu Prince's residence."

At this moment, a palace maid ran in looking flustered and said...

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face turned somewhat pale.

The Eighth Prince led his men to the Shu Prince's residence and stormed into it.

This shows what?
The Empress Dowager didn't need to think too hard to guess what was going on.

What surprised the Empress Dowager even more was that Chancellor Yuan Bo was also at the Prince of Shu's residence.

"Why is Prime Minister Yuan Bo at the Prince of Shu's residence?"

The Empress Dowager looked at the old palace maid who was protecting her.

"Your Majesty, when the Prince of Shu left the palace, he was afraid that someone would disturb you, so he asked the Prime Minister to be in charge of the security of the palace."

"Besides the Prime Minister, there are five other ministers from the court also in the Prince of Shu's residence."

The old palace maid immediately spoke up.

Are you afraid someone will disturb me?
Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager's face immediately darkened, and anger surged within her.

"The traitor."

The Empress Dowager immediately saw through Zhou Zhi's intention and scolded him harshly.

The idea that they were afraid someone would disturb the Empress Dowager is utter nonsense.

This was clearly to prevent her, the Empress Dowager, from waking up and leaving the Prince of Shu's residence to return to the palace. Ordinary people couldn't stop her, the Empress Dowager.

Therefore, Zhou Zhi appointed Prime Minister Yuan Bo, a high-ranking official in the court, to be in charge of the security of the Shu Prince's residence.

To put it nicely, they were responsible for the security of the Shu Prince's Mansion.

To put it bluntly, wasn't that specifically designed to prevent the Empress Dowager from leaving the Prince of Shu's residence?
Perhaps others wouldn't dare to stop the Empress Dowager, but a high-ranking official like Prime Minister Yuan Bo did.

Moreover, there were five other ministers in the court.

"Walk."

"Come out with me and have a look."

The Empress Dowager went straight outside.

Two palace maids followed closely behind.

……

The front courtyard of the Shu King's Palace.

At this moment, the fighting continues.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, along with some experts from the royal family and several thousand imperial guards, stormed directly into the Shu Prince's mansion.

"Yuan Bo, you dare to obstruct my audience with the Empress Dowager and imprison her. You are courting death."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Chen, looked at the Prime Minister Yuan Bo opposite him and said coldly.

"Hmph, Eighth Prince, stop spouting nonsense."

"When did I imprison the Empress Dowager?"

"But what is your intention, Eighth Prince, leading so many men into the Shu Prince's residence?"

Prime Minister Yuan Bo questioned the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian with a stern expression, showing no regard for Zhou Xian's status as a prince.

Now they both understand what's going on.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian brought his men to the Shu Prince's residence to see the Empress Dowager. This clearly indicated that His Majesty in the palace did not trust the Empress Dowager.

It was impossible for Chancellor Yuan Bo to allow the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian to meet the Empress Dowager, nor was it possible for him to allow the Empress Dowager to leave the Shu Prince's residence.

Because the Empress Dowager was their safeguard and their last bargaining chip.

If something unexpected happens this time, with the Empress Dowager in their hands, they still have a chance to fight back.

Otherwise, they would not even have a chance to struggle before being completely suppressed.

"Since you did not imprison me, why are you preventing the Eighth Prince from seeing me?"

As soon as Prime Minister Yuan Bo finished speaking, a dignified and indifferent voice rang out.

The Empress Dowager walked out of the inner courtyard of the Prince's mansion with a gloomy expression.

Besides the two palace maids, the Empress Dowager was accompanied by many other people.

These are the people the Empress Dowager brought with her when she left the palace.

The Empress Dowager had just ordered the old palace maid to rescue all the people she had brought from the guards of the Prince of Shu's residence.

"Queen Mother?"

The Empress Dowager's sudden appearance caused Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression to change. Prime Minister Yuan Bo had not expected that the Empress Dowager had already woken up and had even managed to get through the layers of guards in the inner courtyard to reach the front courtyard.

Now there's trouble.

Compared to the change in Prime Minister Yuan Bo's expression, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian's face visibly relaxed.

Although Prince Zhou Xian believed that no one would dare to easily harm the Empress Dowager, he couldn't help but feel some worry.

Now that he saw the Empress Dowager emerge unharmed, Prince Zhou Xian, who had been holding his breath, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Your subject greets the Empress Dowager."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, killed several experts who blocked his way with a single sword strike, then leaped to the Empress Dowager's side and bowed, saying...

At that moment, the fighting stopped when the Empress Dowager appeared.

Both sides retreated to one side.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian but said nothing. Instead, she looked directly at the Prime Minister Yuan Bo and said, "Prime Minister, you have not yet answered my question."

"Since you are not imprisoning me, why are you preventing the Eighth Prince from seeing me?"

Why won't the guards in the inner courtyard let me in and out?

"Can you explain this to me?"

The Empress Dowager looked coldly at Prime Minister Yuan Bo, her tone sending chills down one's spine.

"Your Majesty, this is the will of the King of Shu."

"I was simply following the King of Shu's instructions."

"I am Prime Minister Yuan Bo," he said expressionlessly.

"What does the King of Shu mean?"

The Queen Mother sneered.

"How could I not know that the King of Shu has ever had the right to command the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou?"

"When did the Great Zhou Dynasty ever have a rule that a king could command high-ranking officials of the court? Am I just ignorant, or am I getting senile?"

The Empress Dowager's voice grew louder and colder.

If it weren't for these powerful families colluding with Zhou Zhi, he wouldn't have had the guts or confidence to openly usurp the throne.

In the Empress Dowager's view, Zhou Zhi's current predicament is the result of the actions of these powerful families.

Otherwise, given her status as Empress Dowager, even with what Zhou Zhi had done before, she would have been very confident in saving his life.

But now, Zhou Zhi has directly led his men into the palace to usurp the throne, which is no longer something she, as the Empress Dowager, can protect.

The Empress Dowager wished she could tear these aristocratic families to pieces.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo remained silent.

The Empress Dowager's face suddenly turned cold, and she directly ordered, "Eighth Prince, arrest all these traitors for me. Anyone who dares to resist, kill them on the spot."

The Empress Dowager was no longer willing to waste any more words.

She didn't have time to waste words with these people.

She was in a hurry to return to the palace to see how Zhou Zhi was doing.

Therefore, the Empress Dowager ordered the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian to take down all those who dared to rebel.

As for how to handle it, that's not something the Empress Dowager should worry about.

"Yes, Queen Mother."

Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian immediately waved his hand and said, "Go! Take them all down for me. Anyone who dares to resist, kill them without mercy."

Led by some of the royal experts, several thousand imperial guards charged once again toward Prime Minister Yuan Bo and his men.

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager's words, a shadow of gloom crossed Prime Minister Yuan Bo's face.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo knew that they now had no way out.

If they were captured by the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, then they would definitely face certain death.

Besides, the Empress Dowager is a major bargaining chip in their hands, and they absolutely cannot let her slip out of their control.

"Do it."

Prime Minister Yuan Bo said no more, and simply uttered two words in a cold voice.

As soon as Prime Minister Yuan Bo finished speaking, a large number of people suddenly appeared around the front courtyard and attacked the royal experts and thousands of imperial guards.

These suddenly appearing people were not from the Shu Prince's Mansion, but from the three major aristocratic families.

The three great families brought a considerable number of people to Luoyang, but only the strongest of them entered the palace.

The remaining personnel were left outside the palace.

In order to completely control the Empress Dowager, Prime Minister Yuan Bo arranged for all the people from the three major families to be stationed in the Prince of Shu's residence.

The sounds of war have risen again.

The battle resumed.

The guards who originally belonged to the Shu Prince's Mansion gritted their teeth and obeyed Prime Minister Yuan Bo's orders once again, joining forces with the men from the three major families to attack the thousands of imperial guards.

They were all insignificant people, all members of the Shu King's mansion.

They had no choice but to obey orders.

The King of Shu gave them orders to obey Prime Minister Yuan Bo, so they had no choice but to obey Prime Minister Yuan Bo's orders.

Moreover, they have already realized the current situation; they have no way out.

There is only one path to take: fighting.

Seeing that Prime Minister Yuan Bo had deployed so many people in the Prince of Shu's residence and still dared to directly resist, the Empress Dowager's face turned extremely cold.

The Empress Dowager glanced at the old palace maid behind her; "What are you all standing there for!"

"Capture these traitors for me."

The people the Empress Dowager brought with her when she left the palace were all highly skilled.

Otherwise, how could we protect the Empress Dowager's safety?

"Yes, Queen Mother."

The old palace maid hesitated for a moment, somewhat worried about the Empress Dowager's safety.

Seeing the Empress Dowager's unquestionable gaze, the old palace maid had no choice but to obey.

The old palace maid waved her hand.

Those who had followed the Empress Dowager out of the palace immediately joined the fray.

Even the old palace maid herself was no exception. With the power of a late-stage Grandmaster, she leaped forward and headed straight for Prime Minister Yuan Bo.

This time, the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian did not take action. With the Empress Dowager present, his priority was to protect her safety.

……

More than ten minutes later.

The sounds of battle ceased abruptly.

The guards of the Shu Prince's Mansion and the people from the three major families were all suppressed.

Even Prime Minister Yuan Bo was no exception; he became a prisoner and was forced to kneel on the ground by two imperial guards.

Besides Chancellor Yuan Bo, five other ministers were also arrested by the Imperial Guards.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo glanced at the Empress Dowager and the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, his face ashen.

I don't know what's going on inside the palace.

But the Shu Prince's Mansion was finished; the Empress Dowager, their biggest bargaining chip, was gone.

Prime Minister Yuan Bo truly did not expect that the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian would bring so many royal experts and thousands of imperial guards to the Shu Prince's Mansion.

The Empress Dowager glanced coldly at Prime Minister Yuan Bo, who had become a prisoner, and said nothing.

The Empress Dowager glanced at Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince; "Eighth Prince, did you come to the Shu Prince's residence on His Majesty's orders?"

"How is the situation in the palace?"

"Has the King of Shu already entered the palace?"

The Empress Dowager looked at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian and asked anxiously.

This is what the Empress Dowager is most concerned about right now.

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I do not know the situation in the palace."

"Your Majesty has ordered me to protect the Empress Dowager."

"The Prince of Shu's residence and the palace are in chaos right now. For the Empress Dowager's safety, please accompany me to the Imperial Clan Court first!"

"This is what the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian said."

"To the Imperial Clan Court?"

"Is this His Majesty's will?"

The Empress Dowager's expression changed immediately upon hearing what the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian said.

"I will not go to the Imperial Clan Court; I must return to the palace immediately."

The Empress Dowager spoke firmly, giving the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian no room for rebuttal.

After saying this, the Empress Dowager immediately instructed the old palace maid to prepare to return to the palace.

……

(End of this chapter)