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Chapter 171 Not the King of Shu?
royal palace.

Shangyang Gate.

The sounds of fighting ceased.

Everything returned to peace.

Zhou Chen, standing on the palace wall, looked down at the corpses scattered on the ground below, and at Zhou Zhi, who had tried to escape but ultimately failed and fell to the ground. His expression did not change much.

This outcome was entirely within Zhou Chen's control.

This was originally a large net woven by Zhou Chen for the three major families and Zhou Zhi.

Once Zhou Zhi and the people from the three major families get in, they won't be able to get out.

Now, all the experts from the three great families who entered the palace have been wiped out. Even the patriarchs of the three great families and figures like Yuan Tianshu, the ancestor of the Yuan family, have died at Shangyang Gate.

It can be said that about 80-90% of the experts from the three major families have been wiped out.

As for the rest, even if the three great families still have some experts left, they are just a few small fry and pose no threat.

Zhou Chen looked at Zhou Zhi, who had fallen to the ground, and calmly asked, "Ninth Brother, is there anything else you want to say?"

"Heh, Your Majesty, are you trying to mock my defeat with a victorious air?"

Zhou Zhi struggled to his feet, raised his head to meet Zhou Chen's gaze from the palace wall, and let out a cold laugh.

"If Your Majesty intends to humiliate me with this victor's attitude, then Your Majesty will be disappointed."

"The victor is king, the loser is villain; I understand that principle."

"Now that I've lost, I have nothing to say."

"I only wish for a quick death."

Zhou Zhi spoke calmly, his tone indifferent.

They seemed to have no fear of facing death whatsoever.

Zhou Chen frowned slightly upon seeing this.

Zhou Chen felt that something was off about Zhou Zhi; he seemed different from the Zhou Zhi he knew.

But Zhou Chen couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong.

"humiliation?"

Do you think I need to humiliate you?

“Ninth Brother, even now, you still haven’t come to your senses. You’re simply beyond help.”

“I have given you several chances, but you have never cherished them and have always been courting death. No one can save you.”

After Zhou Chen finished speaking, he waved his hand.

Rebellion and usurpation of the throne is a heinous crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.

Even though Zhou Zhi was Zhou Chen's ninth brother and the Empress Dowager's son, it was no exception.

Zhou Chen would never make an exception for Zhou Zhi just because of his identity.

This is something that shouldn't be started.

Otherwise, it will bring endless troubles.

Upon seeing Zhou Zhi's gesture, Cao Shaoqin immediately understood Zhou Chen's meaning.

Cao Shaoqin walked up to Zhou Zhi in a few steps, cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, by His Majesty's decree, Your Highness may proceed on your journey in peace."

As soon as Cao Shaoqin finished speaking, he saw a strange smile curl up at the corner of Zhou Zhi's mouth.

Immediately, a sense of alarm rose in Cao Shaoqin's heart.

"Even if I set off, I'll take someone down with me first."

A ferocious look suddenly appeared on Zhou Zhi's face.

The powerful aura caused Zhou Zhi's entire body to swell up.

Cao Shaoqin saw this and immediately drew his soft sword from his waist.

"puff."

A cold light flashed.

Bloodstains appeared on Zhou Zhi's neck.

The body, which had been swollen, deflated like a punctured balloon, returning to normal.

Zhou Zhi lay down with his eyes wide open and a look of resentment on his face.

Zhou Zhi originally intended to self-destruct before his death, taking Cao Shaoqin down with him.

Unexpectedly, Cao Shaoqin's sword strike was faster than Zhou Zhi's self-destruction, causing his plan to drag Cao Shaoqin down with him to fail.

Just then, the back door of Shangyang Gate was pushed open.

"stop."

Upon seeing Zhou Zhi fall to the ground, a loud shout came from the back door.

Queen Mother?

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and their expressions changed.

Indeed, the person who pushed open the back door of Shangyang Gate was none other than the Empress Dowager, who had rushed back to the palace.

As soon as the Empress Dowager pushed open the back door of Shangyang Gate, she saw the scene of Zhou Zhi being killed by Cao Shaoqin with a single sword.

The Empress Dowager shouted to stop him, but it was too late; Zhou Zhi had already slowly collapsed to the ground.

"Treat the child."

The Empress Dowager hurried over and, upon seeing Zhou Zhi lying on the ground, her face turned deathly pale.

The Empress Dowager did not expect that despite his haste, he was still too late and could not save Zhou Zhi.

The tragedy of parents outliving their children has always been a source of sorrow.

Even a figure like the Empress Dowager, who embodies the virtues of motherhood, is not immune to such customs.

The Empress Dowager looked at the already cooling corpse on the ground, swayed a few times, and then fell backward.

"Empress Dowager..."

The old palace maid who was following the Empress Dowager was startled and quickly stepped forward to embrace the Empress Dowager as she fell.

The expressions of the people around them also changed.

No one expected the Empress Dowager to appear at this time.

As a mother, witnessing her son's death is something no one could accept.

The situation of brothers killing each other is especially tragic.

If something happens to the Empress Dowager, then this matter will be even more troublesome.

"Mother."

At this moment, Zhou Chen also came down from the palace wall and quickly walked over.

Zhou Chen hurriedly checked on the Empress Dowager's condition.

Upon discovering that the Empress Dowager had fainted from excessive grief, Zhou Chen felt somewhat relieved.

"What are you still standing there for?"

"Hurry up and send the Empress Dowager back to Cining Palace, and ask the imperial physician to treat her."

Zhou Chen raised his head and said angrily.

The old palace maid and the people from Cining Palace quickly carried the Empress Dowager away from Shangyang Gate and back to Cining Palace.

After the Empress Dowager was escorted away from Shangyang Gate, Zhou Chen turned around and looked coldly at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian; "Eighth Imperial Uncle, didn't I tell you to stop the Empress Dowager and not let her return to the palace first?"

Zhou Chen's face was filled with barely concealed anger.

To avoid interference and embarrassment from the Empress Dowager, Zhou Chen had already given instructions to the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian when he sent him to the Shu Prince's residence.

He was instructed to stall the Empress Dowager at all costs and prevent her from returning to the palace.

But now the Empress Dowager has not only returned to the palace, but she has also witnessed the scene of Zhou Zhi's death.

This fueled Zhou Chen's anger towards the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian.

"Your Majesty, I failed to stop the Empress Dowager. I am guilty."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, knelt down on the ground with a 'plop' and said.

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, had already seen the anger in Zhou Chen's eyes, but he had no way to express his bitterness.

The Empress Dowager wanted to return to the palace, and he, the Eighth Prince, couldn't stop her at all.

We can't just imprison the Empress Dowager like the Prime Minister and his ilk did!

If he really dares to do that, then this Eighth Prince will probably be in deep trouble.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chen suppressed his anger, glanced at the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, and said coldly, "Get up first! We'll have to trouble the Eighth Prince with the Empress Dowager's matter these next few days."

Zhou Chen knew that after such an incident, the Empress Dowager definitely wouldn't want to see him for a while.

Then Zhou Chen could only ask the Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, to spend more time with the Empress Dowager at Cining Palace.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, I understand."

The Eighth Prince, Zhou Xian, understood Zhou Chen's meaning and immediately spoke.

Cao Shaoqin, who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow as he looked at Zhou Zhi's corpse on the ground.

Then, Cao Shaoqin walked to Zhou Chen's side and whispered in Zhou Chen's ear, "Your Majesty, something seems wrong with the Shu King's body. This doesn't seem to be the Shu King."

Zhou Chen was visibly taken aback upon hearing this.

Not the King of Shu?
A glint flashed in Zhou Chen's eyes as he looked at Zhou Zhi's corpse on the ground, his brows furrowing.

"Cao Shaoqin".

Zhou Chen gave Cao Shaoqin a meaningful glance. Cao Shaoqin immediately understood and walked to Zhou Zhi's body, squatted down, and began to examine the body of the King of Shu.

This examination turned out to be quite significant, as Cao Shaoqin actually discovered a problem.

Cao Shaoqin tore a human skin mask off Zhou Zhi's face, revealing Zhou Zhi's true appearance.

Three Virtues?

When Cao Shaoqin saw the human skin mask torn off Zhou Zhi's face, revealing his true appearance, a look of surprise flashed across his face.

That's right, the corpse of King Zhou Zhi of Shu on the ground is fake; it's not King Zhou Zhi of Shu.

It was actually the eunuch San De who served the King of Shu in disguise.

The Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, who was standing nearby, also saw this scene and his expression changed slightly.

King Zhou Xian of the Eighth Prince never expected that the Zhou Zhi on the ground was actually a fake, an imposter named San De.

This is truly quite unexpected.

Similarly, Zhou Chen also saw that the corpse on the ground was not Zhou Zhi, and his eyes flickered involuntarily.

Substituting one thing for another.

What a good idea!

Zhou Chen had sensed something strange about Zhou Zhi when he was on the palace wall, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Now, we see the original appearance of Zhou Zhi on this land.

Zhou Chen finally understood what was strange.

It turns out that this King Zhou Zhi of Shu was a complete imposter, a fake, not the real King Zhou Zhi of Shu.

If this is fake, then where is the real King Zhou Zhi of Shu now?
What are you doing now?
Zhou Chen's eyes flickered.

"Cao Shaoqin, immediately issue an imperial decree to conduct a full-scale manhunt for the traitors and traitors of the Shu King's faction."

"Now, all four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang are under martial law, so it's impossible for them to leave Luoyang."

"Just proceed with the rest according to the previously arranged plan."

Zhou Chen pondered for a moment and then spoke to Cao Shaoqin.

Now, with martial law in place at all four gates and nine city walls of Luoyang, no one can get out.

Even if Zhou Zhi's substitution of Li for Tao failed, he still couldn't leave Luoyang.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Cao Shaoqin immediately bowed and said.

"besides."

"The King of Shu has died at Shangyang Gate, and the corpse on the ground is that of the King of Shu."

"You should understand what I mean."

Zhou Chen glanced at Cao Shaoqin and the Eighth Prince again and said.

Zhou Chen knew that if the Empress Dowager found out that King Zhou Zhi of Shu was still alive, she would definitely not remain indifferent.

In the end, it will be the Empress Dowager and the Emperor who will be in a difficult position.

Since the Empress Dowager has already witnessed the death of this fake Zhou Zhi, let's just let her believe that Zhou Zhi is dead!

In any case, Zhou Zhi's final outcome will not change.

"Your Majesty, rest assured, we understand."

Cao Shaoqin and Zhou Xian, the Eighth Prince, said in unison.

"Clean this place up. I don't want the palace to be filled with the smell of blood."

Then, Zhou Chen left after saying just one sentence.

Dian Wei also led a group of imperial guards, closely following Zhou Chen as they left Shangyang Gate.

As for the mess left behind by Shangyang Gate, that's for others to clean up.

……

The four gates of the palace were wide open.

Squads of imperial guards quickly left the palace and headed in different directions within Luoyang.

The task of these imperial guards was to wipe out all the forces of the three great families within Luoyang.

Despite the fact that Prime Minister Yuan Bo has been captured by the Eighth Prince Zhou Xian, and the masters of the three great families have all been suppressed at Shangyang Gate.

However, the three great families were, after all, the seven great families of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and they still wielded considerable power in Luoyang City.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Depot's guards were also on the move, arresting the remaining officials from the three major families in the imperial court.

For a time, the entire city of Luoyang was shrouded in gloom.

……

Prime Minister's House.

Cao Shaoqin led the imperial guards and broke down the door into the Prime Minister's residence.

"Bold."

"This is the Prime Minister's residence. How dare you, the Eastern Depot, attack the Prime Minister's residence?"

"This is utterly lawless."

When the steward of the Prime Minister's residence saw Cao Shaoqin leading the imperial guards into the residence, his expression changed, and he shouted at them loudly.

"Hmph, Prime Minister Yuan Bo colluded with the King of Shu to usurp the throne and rebel. His Majesty has decreed that his family be confiscated and his clan exterminated."

"Do it."

"Take them all."

"Anyone who dares to resist will be killed without exception."

Cao Shaoqin waved his hand dismissively and said coldly.

"what?"

"Your Excellency is colluding with the Prince of Shu to usurp the throne and rebel?"

Those in the Prime Minister's residence who were unaware of the situation all changed their expressions drastically upon hearing Cao Shaoqin's words.

Only the prime minister's steward and a few other people had gloomy expressions on their faces.

Because only a few of them knew about this.

At Cao Shaoqin's command, the imperial guards pounced forward like wolves and tigers.

"kill."

Without hesitation, the steward of the Prime Minister's residence uttered a single word and immediately attacked the Imperial Guards.

The other men from the Prime Minister's residence also joined the fight between the steward and the imperial guards.

"puff."

The two guards were sent flying by a single palm strike from the Prime Minister's steward.

"court death."

Seeing this, Cao Shaoqin leaped up, his soft sword already drawn, and charged towards the steward of the Prime Minister's residence.

After a few moves.

The steward of the Prime Minister's residence had his head chopped off by Cao Shaoqin with a single sword stroke.

Cao Shaoqin did not stop, and swung his soft sword again.

The few experts who had been held back by the Prime Minister's mansion all died one by one under Cao Shaoqin's soft sword.

A few minutes later.

There was no more sound of resistance in the entire Prime Minister's residence.

Apart from those who were arrested, everyone else lay on the ground, turned into a corpse.

……

"Sir, what are you doing?"

“I’ve taken care of everything that needed to be taken care of, not a single penny was shortchanged.”

Jin He led the Imperial Guards straight into a restaurant.

Upon seeing this, one of the restaurant's managers quickly stepped forward and flattered him.

"Stop talking nonsense, you know what you've done."

"Do you think I don't know that this place is a hideout for traitors from the Fan family of Jiexiu and the Zheng family of Rongyang?"

"Give them to me and arrest them all."

"Anyone who dares to resist, kill them."

Jinhe waved his hand and gave the order.

"Oh no! The Imperial Guards have spotted us! Run!"

Some people in the restaurant, seeing the Imperial Guards rushing up, broke through the windows and escaped without saying a word.

Unfortunately, as soon as these people broke through the window, they were met with a barrage of arrows.

……

Similarly, this situation occurred in various parts of Luoyang.

Whether it was the Eastern Depot's guards or the Imperial Guards, they were all carrying out a large-scale purge of the three major families' influence in Luoyang.

Anyone who dared to resist was directly killed by the Imperial Guards and the Imperial Eunuchs.

(End of this chapter)