There had been no movement outside the door. When did someone arrive?
Lai Luozhi and Yong’an exchanged a look that said “Just as we thought.” Yong’an covered her mouth in disbelief:
“Sister, are you serious?”
Lai Luozhi followed with a cold laugh: “Does Princess Chaoyang still wish to defend herself?”
Chaoyang looked perplexed: “I, I’ve been reviewing memorials. When would I have had time to contact the Zhou clan?”
As Zhou Xian entered, the Empress leaned against Zhang Baohuan’s chest, her body trembling with anger.
Behind Zhou Xian followed Zhou Changqing, clad in military attire and wearing a solemn expression.
“Sister’s health is poor. It’s time to hand over the empire to your brother.”
Zhou Xian’s arrival today brought a surprise. Chaoyang and Yong’an were present, and Lai Luozhi was also quite surprised to see him.
Zhou Xian said smugly, “Lord Lai has been so loyal to my sister. We must arrange a good position for Lord Lai.”
Seeing Lai Luozhi’s darkened expression, Zhou Xian was quite pleased: “What’s wrong? Didn’t you just accuse this duke of treason? Well then, I’ll rebel now to fulfill your expectations.”
“Oh, how can we call it rebellion? The Great Zhou Empire has always belonged to our Zhou family.”
Zhou Xian had waited a lifetime for this day: “This place is already surrounded by our forces. Your Majesty, please write the edict of abdication.”
He now showed no respect for the Empress. That little girl who had always been bullied by him and his brothers had gained power, and they had been forced to submit. Now he could finally hold his head high again. Feeling elated, Zhou Xian saw that the Empress didn’t move and beckoned to his eldest son Zhou Changqing:
“Go, attend to your aunt with brush and ink.”
He was forcing the Empress to abdicate.
As Chaoyang rose to intervene, Zhou Xian said contemptuously, “Don’t bother. You’ll be the first to die.”
The uncle spoke of killing his niece as casually as discussing the weather. Looking at Zhou Xian’s white hair, Chaoyang cursed:
“Zhou Xian, you’ll face retribution!”
“Haha,” Zhou Xian didn’t mind Chaoyang not calling him “uncle,” and pointed arrogantly at the Empress, “Speaking of retribution, shouldn’t my dear sister be first? After all, if it weren’t for our mercy back then, how would sister have had the chance to enter the palace and ascend to the throne?”
Zhou Xian was now so arrogant that he dared to joke about those shameful past events. In the past, they didn’t dare mention even a bit of it in front of the Empress to avoid taboos.
“Changqing, why aren’t you having Her Majesty write the abdication edict?”
Zhou Changqing was a simple-minded fellow. His father told him to rebel, so he rebelled. Hearing his father’s call, he immediately stepped forward but was blocked by Zhang Baohuan. Snorting “pretty boy,” Zhang Baohuan stood immovable, shielding the Empress behind him.
The two exchanged a few moves before Zhou Changqing drew his long sword and slashed Zhang Baohuan’s arm.
“Enough, I’ll write,” the Empress closed her phoenix eyes and then suddenly opened them, taking Zhang Baohuan’s arm and examining it with concern. She raised her head, narrowed her eyes, lifted her chin, and slapped Zhou Changqing across the face.
“You dare touch my people, your dog! Have all these years of glory and wealth been fed to dogs?”
Zhou Changqing hadn’t expected the white-haired Empress to still have such strength. His eyes widened, but he was overwhelmed by the Empress’s imposing aura. Holding his cheek, he spread out the imperial edict:
“Aunt, you’ve been on the throne for so long. It’s time for your nephew to have a turn.”
The Empress picked up the imperial brush and asked Zhang Baohuan, “Can you still grind the ink?”
Zhang Baohuan nodded resolutely. The Empress gave an “Mm” of approval, pondered for a moment, saw the twinkling lights outside, sighed, and dipped her brush in the ink.
“Wait!”
The imperial brush was interrupted by a voice, leaving only a black dot. Everyone’s gaze followed the Empress’s as they turned towards Lai Luozhi, who had spoken.
Lai Luozhi stood and walked to Zhou Xian. His usually downcast eyes, which had been hiding his scheming nature, were now misty and filled with a wicked gleam. Being taller than Zhou Xian, he now loomed over him, his imposing aura radiating outwards, rendering Zhou Xian tongue-tied:
“Lai, Lai Luozhi, what are you trying to do?”
“Hehe,” Lai Luozhi laughed sinisterly, “I just want to tell Duke Rong that you’re celebrating too early.”
“What?” Zhou Xian was stunned. In a blink, Lai Luozhi whistled and opened the window to release a firework that exploded into the shape of a fire moth in the sky.
The people outside didn’t understand its meaning and asked Zhou Xian for instructions. Zhou Xian didn’t know either, but he said: “Lai Luozhi, you’re being overly ambitious. By the time those miscreants from your Prosecutions Bureau arrive, it will be too late.”
“Your master is dead. Following her in death would be considered loyalty. Or you could kill them all for me, and I’ll leave you an intact corpse.”
Lai Luozhi stared at him grimly, then suddenly approached, drew a short dagger from his boot, and stabbed Zhou Xian in the heart. Blood gushed out. Zhou Xian looked at Lai Luozhi in disbelief, unable to utter a word before he breathed his last.
Seeing this, Zhang Baohuan reacted quickly, snatching Zhou Changqing’s sword and killing him in return. Zhou Changqing, filled with regret, said:
“Father, if only you had listened to the Daoist master and come another day. Today is not auspicious, not suitable for rebellion.”
With these words, he spat out a mouthful of blood and slowly closed his eyes as he fell to the ground.
Chaoyang and Yong’an stood stunned, unable to react, not expecting the forced abdication drama to end so quickly.
Chaoyang’s face showed admiration: “Lord Lai’s loyalty is commendable. Truly a worthy minister of our dynasty.”
She then knelt before the Empress, saying joyfully: “Mother Empress, we are safe now.”
“Hm, not necessarily,” the Empress continued writing, not lifting her head. “What do you think, Assistant Minister Lai?”
Lai Luozhi played with the bloodied dagger, chuckling coldly upon hearing this: “Your Majesty is indeed perceptive. I assume Your Majesty also knows how to write this abdication edict.”
Chaoyang was puzzled: “What do you mean?”
Yong’an stepped forward, saying smugly: “What does he mean? Sister, can’t you see? Mother Empress must abdicate either way. This abdication edict should rightfully be for me.”
“You,” Chaoyang glared, “You’re not Mother Empress’s biological daughter. What right do you have to inherit the throne? Only I am qualified.”
Yong’an no longer hid her intentions: “Lord Lai and I have joined forces. That is my qualification. Did you think you could rest easy just because you gained Mother Empress’s favor? How foolish.”
Chaoyang looked at Lai Luozhi, then at Yong’an, furious: “You…”
“Conspired together,” Zhang Baohuan blurted out, looking down at the Empress writing the edict. He shielded the Empress with his body. He had always been talented in both civil and military affairs, skilled in both strategy and combat, but because he had the Empress’s favor, everyone thought he was just a pretty face.
Yong’an urged the Empress: “There’s no time to delay. Write the edict quickly, and your daughter can ensure the Empress Dowager’s lifelong prosperity.”
“Lifelong prosperity?” The Empress sneered coldly, pausing before continuing, “You’ve endured hardship and waited for vengeance, seeking my life to avenge your mother, Consort Xiao. Are you willing to spare me to ensure my prosperity?”
“If you insist, I will not deny it. Write it down promptly, and I will ensure that at least a trace of your bloodline survives,” Yong’an replied.
Though the Empress knew Yong’an’s words were false, her phoenix eyes brightened with a glimmer of hope. “Is that so?”
Yong’an naturally nodded in response. The Empress then turned to look at Lai Luozhi. “What do you say, Minister Lai? Whose name should we write in the abdication edict?”