Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Inside the Golden Palace, ambergris curled up from the bronze furnace, but it could not dispel the cold sweat on the foreheads of all the civil and military officials in the court.

The figures of the eight patriarchs of the great families standing in front of the jade steps cast eight iron-like shadows in the morning light.

When the heads of the eight great families bowed in unison and loudly declared "full support", the entire court was struck by lightning, and no one dared to speak.

Empress Wu Zhao sat high on the dragon throne, her eyes slightly lowered, her fingertips tapping lightly on the armrests, and she looked at the reactions of the ministers in the hall with a half-smile.

"Since the eight great families agree, do you have any objections?"

Her voice was neither hurried nor slow, yet it was as cold as ice.

He issued another message, which made the ministers look at each other in bewilderment, with cold sweat oozing from their foreheads.

The purple-robed officials of the third rank were like quails with their throats strangled.

The beard of Imperial Censor Zheng Yuanlang trembled violently, but he never dared to take that step.

Di Ying, standing in the shadow of the palace pillars, noticed that the knees of at least five ministers were trembling under their official robes - these old ministers who usually talked about the "death society" were now breathing very lightly.

They originally thought that the eight great families would definitely oppose it fiercely. After all, when the Great Zhou was incorporated into the State of Chu, the interests of the great families would be the first to be affected.

But who would have thought that none of the eight families, Cui, Li, Xiao, Wang, Zheng, Lu, Xie and Yang, opposed it!

Under such circumstances, naturally no minister dared to stand up.

The empress's gaze swept across the crowd, and no one dared to look at her.

Finally, she slowly stood up, flicking her sleeves: "Since no one objects, then this matter is settled."

"Mr. Di, you will draft the abdication edict and the decree of annexation to the State of Chu."

Di Ying bowed deeply and said, "I obey your command."

The empress said no more and turned to leave. The ministers in the hall hurriedly knelt and shouted in unison: "Farewell, Your Majesty!"

As soon as the bright yellow figure disappeared outside the palace, the Golden Throne Hall was in an uproar.

The ministers questioned, and the eight great families retorted

"Mr. Cui! Your family, the Cui clan, is the head of the Five Surnames and Seven Families. Why don't you object?"

The Chief Censor was the first to rush forward, his voice trembling and his eyes full of disbelief.

Cui Gaoyi glanced at him coldly and said calmly, "Master Liu, why didn't you speak out your opposition in front of His Majesty just now?"

The Chief Censor paused, his face flushed, but he was speechless.

But at this time, the Minister of Works, Zhao Deyan, could not help but step forward and ask in a low voice, "Lord Li, your Li family controls tens of thousands of private soldiers in the north. Are you willing to let the Great Zhou be annexed by the Chu State?"

Li Chong sneered, his eyes sharp as a knife: "If Lord Zhao has the courage, you can go to the Linde Hall and kneel down to make a statement. I will not stop you."

Zhao Deyan was choked so much that his face turned pale and his lips trembled, but he didn't dare to say anything more.

Xiao Hongde snorted coldly and flicked his sleeves. "My lords are really calculating. You dare not step forward, but you want me and other noble families to offend His Majesty? How ridiculous!"

Wang Yan was even more blunt, mocking him directly: "A bunch of cowards who can only hide behind the scenes and point fingers, are you qualified to question us?"

The ministers' faces turned pale and blue after being scolded, but no one dared to refute.

After all, when the empress was here just now, they didn't even dare to breathe, but now they come to blame the aristocratic families, which is really ridiculous.

Seeing this, Di Ying sighed deeply and stepped forward, saying, "Now that things have come to this, why are you all arguing pointlessly? Since Your Majesty has made the decision, we, the ministers, must obey."

He looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice, "The Lantern Festival is approaching, and Your Majesty intends to announce it to the world on that day."

"The Ministry of Rites will immediately prepare for the grand ceremony. The Ministry of War will be responsible for the defense of Chang'an. The remaining departments will perform their duties and there must be no mistakes!"

The ministers were silent for a moment, and finally could only bow their heads and agree.

The heads of the eight great families said no more and left one after another, leaving behind only a hall of ministers with grim expressions.

In the imperial garden, snow falls on the branches of plum blossoms, and a faint fragrance floats in the air.

The first snow had just stopped, and the Imperial Garden was covered in silver.

The vermilion palace walls reflected against the white snow make it look even more solemn and cold.

The winter plum blossoms bloomed proudly, with red stamens adorning the branches, like drops of blood falling on the snow, with a faint fragrance floating in the air.

Chu Ning reached out and brushed away the snow on the stone railing, and his fingertips felt cool.

He glanced sideways at Wu Zhao beside him and said with a smile, "I have already said that the Eight Great Families will not disappoint you at the morning court today."

Wu Zhao narrowed her eyes slightly, and gently twisted a fallen plum petal with her fingertips, saying lightly: "It's just that the aristocratic family weighed the pros and cons and temporarily bowed their heads."

"Bow your heads?" Chu Ning chuckled, "They don't even dare to raise their heads."

Wu Zhao snorted coldly: "If you hadn't secretly given them benefits, how could they be so obedient?"

Chu Ning remained silent, then suddenly leaned forward and spoke in a low voice, "If Your Majesty is not convinced, why not have another bet?"

Wu Zhao raised her eyes and met his. "What's the bet?"

"Just bet..."

His eyes swept over her slightly pursed lips, and his smile deepened: "Tonight, even after you leave the hall, no minister in the court will dare to stand up and oppose you. The relationship between the eight great families and the ministers will definitely break down!"

"The bet is that you serve me well tonight, how about that?"

Wu Zhao's fingertips trembled, and plum petals fell.

Before she could say anything, she heard hurried footsteps coming through the snow.

"His Majesty!"

A guard knelt hastily and said, "After you left the hall just now, the ministers scolded the heads of the eight great families, but they were scolded back angrily by the eight heads!"

Wu Zhao's expression changed, and she turned around, her skirt sweeping across the snow, leaving a sharp trail.

"Send a message to Li Junxian to keep a close eye on the eight great families and all the ministers."

The guards took orders and withdrew, and silence returned to the garden.

Only the cold wind blew across the plum branches, shaking off the snow foam, like a silent murderous intent quietly spreading.

Chu Ning raised his hand to catch a falling plum petal. Wu Zhao walked side by side with Chu Ning, and the snow under their feet made a slight crunching sound.

"Your Majesty, you lose." Chu Ning suddenly spoke, with a slight smile on his lips and a hint of teasing in his eyes.

Wu Zhao glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "When did I ever make a bet with you?"

This is cheating.

Chu Ning chuckled: "The Empress doesn't want to admit her mistake."

Wu Zhao snorted coldly: "It's just that the eight great families have been bribed by you."

Chu Ning shook his head, reached out and plucked a red plum blossom, and handed it to her: "The aristocratic families are not bribed by me, but they know better than you that the trend is irreversible."

Wu Zhao was silent for a moment, then finally took the plum blossom, gently stroking the petals with her fingertips, and whispered:

"I thought there would be at least one or two loyal ministers who would object."

Chu Ning stared at her, then suddenly leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "The loyal ministers have long since perished since Pei Yan's death. The ones left are nothing but cowards who are greedy for life."

Wu Zhao's eyes turned cold, but she did not refute.

Chu Ning chuckled: "Don't forget your bet tonight."

Wu Zhao's ears turned slightly red, and she snorted coldly: "Don't even think about it."

Chu Ning laughed, turned around and walked away with his hands behind his back, leaving a trail of clear footprints on the snow.

Wu Zhao looked at his back, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes. It seemed that she had to fulfill her promise tonight.

But what they don't know is that a conspiracy is quietly unfolding.