The poorest member of the Imperial Guard, the Empress begged me to embezzle.

The headquarters of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Outside the study of the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

A commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard arrived outside the study of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander and said respectfully, "Reporting to the Commander, I have important matters to report."

The voice just fell.

The door to the study slowly opened.

Wearing the official uniform of the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Lu Chengfeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard of the Great Zhou Dynasty, with a burly figure, a cold face, and sharp eyes, slowly walked out of the study and looked at this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

"Reporting to the Commander, Commander Chu Xiuchu of the Northern Garrison has carried out a major purge of the entire Northern Garrison."

"All of our people have been killed!"

"None of our eight commanders in the Northern Garrison are left!"

"Besides that, even the centurions and captains were all wiped out!"

The commander of the Imperial Guard lowered his head and spoke respectfully.

He did not report to Chu Xiu that he had arrested Chen Wenli and others.

This has no impact on them whatsoever.

"Chu Xiu actually dared to attack our people?"

A cold glint flashed in Lu Chengfeng's eyes, and his face darkened. He said in a cold voice, "How dare you! You don't take me, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, seriously. You really think the Northern Garrison is your territory!"

"Sir, us?"

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard hesitated for a moment before asking Lu Chengfeng.

"Summon Kong Yuancheng to come see me!"

Lu Chengfeng said in an icy voice.

"Yes."

The commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard spoke solemnly.

He bowed and quickly left.

The Imperial Palace, Taiji Palace.

A beautiful and elegant female official strode into the Taiji Palace and bowed to Empress Murong Si, who was sitting at her desk reviewing memorials, saying, "Your Majesty, news has come from outside the palace regarding Lord Chu."

"Oh?"

Murong Si put down the memorial in her hand and looked at the beautiful female official with great interest.

This stunningly beautiful female official is none other than Pei Guanyin, the Chief Secretary of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

She and Jiang Wan'er, the female official in charge of the Directorate of Ceremonial, were arguably the two most trusted female officials around Murong Si.

A crucial and indispensable asset.

"Your Majesty, Lord Chu did two things today."

"The first thing we did was to summon all the commanders of the Northern Garrison."

"Eleven commanders of the Northern Garrison who colluded with powerful families were executed, and the remaining four commanders completely submitted to Lord Chu."

"And he ordered these four commanders to carry out a major purge of the Northern Garrison, thus completely taking control of the entire Northern Garrison."

Pei Guanyin said with a solemn expression.

"It seems that Minister Chu is about to make his move!"

Murong Si frowned slightly, a hint of worry appearing on her stunningly beautiful face, and said, "However, if Minister Chu takes action against the Northern Garrison, he will inevitably face a counterattack from Lu Chengfeng, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and may encounter assassination attempts from the Wang family of Taiyuan at any time!"

"Where are the Shadow Guards?!"

After a pause, Murong Si spoke with an air of authority.

Swish!

A man shrouded in black robes, with only his eyes visible, knelt before Murong Si and said with utmost respect, "Greetings, Your Majesty."

This man is none other than the Grand Commander of the Shadow Guards of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

A mysterious and unparalleled master, specifically responsible for protecting the safety of the Empress of the Great Zhou Dynasty!

"You shall arrange for a shadow guard to protect Minister Chu in secret, and absolutely no one shall be allowed to harm Minister Chu!"

Murong Si pondered for a moment, then spoke with a sharp look in her eyes.

"Yes, Your Majesty, I obey!"

The Shadow Guard Commander spoke with a firm and powerful voice.

"However, if Minister Chu does not encounter an insurmountable danger, the Shadow Guards will not need to take action."

After pondering for a moment, Murong Si said, "We can put some appropriate pressure on Minister Chu. As the Commander of the Northern Garrison of our Great Zhou Dynasty, he will be in charge of the entire Embroidered Uniform Guard on my behalf in the future. He must possess great strength!"

"Wei Chen understands."

The Shadow Guard Commander spoke with utmost respect.

"Go."

Murong Si waved to the Shadow Guard Commander and said.

"promise!"

The Shadow Guard Commander responded and vanished into thin air from the main hall of Taiji Palace, as if he had never existed.

"What's the second thing?"

Murong Si looked at Pei Guanyin and said calmly.

"Your Majesty, the second matter is that Lord Chu personally led the elite guards of the Northern Garrison to Baihua Tower to arrest Chen Wenli, who has been demoted by Your Majesty to the postmaster of Beidi County in Liangzhou."

"At the same time, five censors were also arrested."

"After the court session, the six of them went to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion together."

"He was captured by Lord Chu in a private room and taken back to the Northern Garrison Command without a single piece of clothing."

Pei Guanyin's expression was strange as she forced a smile as she spoke.

"Pfft..."

Murong Si couldn't help but chuckle, saying gleefully, "As expected of Minister Chu, he's still not satisfied with Chen Wenli being demoted to a lowly postmaster, and he's determined to put Chen Wenli to death!"

However, Chen Wenli deserved his punishment.

He went straight to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion after court, and even gathered with a bunch of censors and officials... He deserved it!

"That's right. Lord Chu arrested Chen Wenli and six others at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion and paraded them through the streets back to the Northern Garrison. Countless people in the capital saw it."

"It's probably spread throughout the entire capital by now."

"The censors and officials who dare to speak out will lose all face!"

When Pei Guanyin saw Murong Si smile, she couldn't help but smile as well and said.

"Alright, I am aware of this matter."

"Continue to keep an eye on Minister Chu. Any news about Minister Chu must be reported to me immediately."

Murong Si chuckled lightly, looked at Jiang Wan'er who was waiting to the side, and said, "Jiang Wan'er, have all the rewards I have bestowed upon Minister Chu been prepared?"

"Your Majesty, I have made all the arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er spoke respectfully.

"Jiang Wan'er, go to the Northern Garrison Office in person and bring Minister Chu to your residence."

“Select another one hundred trustworthy Imperial Guards from the palace to serve as guards for Minister Chu’s residence.”

“Select one hundred palace maids to serve as servants in Minister Chu’s household and manage the affairs of Minister Chu’s household.”

After considering for a long time, Murong Si spoke to Jiang Wan'er in a deep voice.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Wan'er was deeply shocked, knowing that Murong Si valued Chu Xiu highly.

Otherwise, when Chu Xiu was impeached, Murong Si would not have personally led all the civil and military officials to his home.

Murong Si had just dispatched a shadow guard to Chu Xiu's side, specifically to protect his safety.

This is unique in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty!

However, she did not expect that Murong Si would actually bestow imperial guards and palace maids upon Chu Xiu to serve as guards and maids in his household.

"Furthermore, take another Taiqing Golden Pill from my imperial treasury and bestow it upon Minister Chu!"

Murong Si said calmly.

"Yes!"

A look of shock flashed across Jiang Wan'er's eyes. She took a deep breath to calm her excited emotions and said solemnly.

"By the way, Wan'er, come here. I have a message for you to deliver to Minister Chu."