Having many children brings many blessings; the struggle for power begins with marriage.

At this moment, He Dongqi felt as if he were under immense pressure.

If he cannot handle both the wolf demon and the evil spirits that massacred the village, then his time as the commander of the Town of Demons will be over.

If it's just that his official hat has been removed, that would be a good thing. The real fear is that the Empress Dowager will hold him accountable.

Just as He Dongqi was frowning in distress, a centurion of the Zhengui Guard entered the council hall. He first bowed to everyone present and said, "Greetings, Commander, greetings, esteemed lords."

After the ceremony, the commander of the Zhengui Guard looked at He Dongqi and said, "Sir, someone from the palace has arrived."

Upon hearing this, He Dongqi was stunned. He thought that the Empress Dowager had heard about the evil spirits massacring the village and had sent people to interrogate her.

After regaining his senses, He Dongqi quickly said, "Please invite him in."

As soon as He Dongqi finished speaking, the commander of the Zhengui Guard turned and left the council hall. A moment later, a woman dressed in green entered the council hall.

He Dongqi had already stood up. He approached the woman in blue with a smile and asked, "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

The woman said expressionlessly, "Her Majesty requests that Lord He come to the palace."

He Dongqi's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately had a bad feeling. He tentatively asked, "Miss, may I ask what Her Majesty wants to see me about?"

The maid calmly said, "Lord He will know when he gets to the palace. Her Majesty is waiting for you in the Imperial Study."

After saying this, the maid turned and left.

This……

Watching the maid's retreating figure, He Dongqi's mood plummeted.

Despite his bad feeling, He Dongqi still went to the palace immediately. Now that the Empress Dowager was in power, her words were law and had to be obeyed.

Not long after, He Dongqi arrived at the Imperial Study.

At this moment, Pei Shuhua sat in front of the jade table, her eyes coldly sweeping over He Dongqi.

Sensing the spiritual energy emanating from Pei Shuhua, He Dongqi immediately felt immense pressure. He quickly bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress Dowager!"

Pei Shuhua said indifferently, "No need for formalities."

He Dongqi tentatively asked, "I wonder what business Your Majesty has with me?"

Pei Shuhua asked expressionlessly, "I heard that you had the Prince of Zhennan's heir sort out the files at the Prince of Zhennan's residence?"

Upon hearing this, He Dongqi was stunned. He had thought that the Empress Dowager was coming to cause him trouble because of the evil spirits that massacred the village or the wolf demon, but he did not expect it to be because of Lu Chen.

However, He Dongqi quickly realized that he had also heard about Lu Chen's marriage to Ji Yunmeng today, so the Empress Dowager's mention of Lu Chen was most likely because she wanted to kill Lu Chen as soon as possible and then ruin the marriage.

Thinking of this possibility, He Dongqi broke out in a cold sweat. More than the Empress Dowager holding him accountable for failing to stop the evil spirits from massacring the village, He Dongqi was more afraid of offending the Prince of Zhennan's mansion.

If he helped the Empress Dowager get rid of Lu Chen, he was certain that Lu Chen would die the day before, and he would be gone the next day, possibly even leaving no trace of his body.

He couldn't afford to offend the Zhennan Prince's Mansion in the past, let alone now that the Zhou Emperor has allied with it. All the imperial factions are on the side of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. With so many forces united, even if he is a powerful Earth Realm expert, he cannot withstand their retaliation.

After regaining his composure, He Dongqi tried to calm himself down and replied, "Your Majesty, Prince Lu's strength is weak. If we rashly send him on a mission, his life may be in danger." "Moreover, the Zhengui Division is now full of talented people and does not need another mortal-level spiritual martial artist like him."

Upon hearing He Dongqi's words, Pei Shuhua's brows flashed with anger. She looked at He Dongqi coldly and said, "Lu Chen is, after all, the heir of the Prince of Zhennan, and the one who will succeed the Prince of Zhennan in the future. If he does not undergo some trials and strengthen himself, how can he be qualified to inherit his father's throne?"

"Moreover, Yun'an is going to marry him, and I don't want Yun'an's husband to be a good-for-nothing."

This……

He Dongqi was at a loss for words. At this moment, he had the same idea as Fan Yaodong: to shirk responsibility and run away.

If it were just the matter of the wolf demon in the Earthly Realm, he could handle it. But now that evil spirits have run to the capital region and massacred villages, and the Bureau of Demon Suppression has also become involved in court struggles, He Dongqi feels utterly powerless.

Seeing that He Dongqi remained silent, Pei Shuhua asked, "Commander He, you should be able to understand my good intentions, right?"

He Dongqi snapped out of his daze and quickly said, "Your Highness, Prince Lu is the only heir of the Zhennan Prince's Mansion..."

At this point, He Dongqi hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping himself. He wanted to say that if Lu Chen were to be harmed, the Zhennan Prince's Mansion would definitely retaliate against the Zhengui Division at all costs. However, he didn't need to say such things out loud, as the Empress Dowager would surely know what he wanted to say.

Anyway, the Town Ghost Division won't take the blame, or rather, He Dongqi won't take the blame. As a powerful Earth Realm expert, even if he doesn't become the commander of the Town Ghost Division, he can still receive excellent treatment by joining any faction.

If he helped the Empress Dowager get rid of Lu Chen, he would only face death. He would rather offend the Empress Dowager than offend the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. Under normal circumstances, the royal family would not take action against a mere Earth Realm expert, especially since he was the commander of the Zhengui Division. If they attacked him, the commander of the Zhengui Division, without cause, it would easily cause dissatisfaction within the entire Zhengui Division. This would not be good for the Empress Dowager, since the Zhengui Division was a force she had always wanted to control.

However, if you help the Empress Dowager get rid of Lu Chen, it would be equivalent to having a blood feud with the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. The Zhennan Prince's Mansion will not care what kind of Earth Realm expert you are or what kind of Commander of the Zhengui Division you are.

Therefore, He Dongqi knew very well how to choose.

Seeing that He Dongqi was unwilling to stand on her side, Pei Shuhua was too lazy to continue the conversation and said, "I'm tired, let's go back."

He Dongqi quickly bowed and said, "This humble subject takes his leave."

As soon as he finished speaking, He Dongqi fled the Imperial Study as if he were escaping.

Seeing He Dongqi's departing figure, Pei Shuhua couldn't help but unleash her spiritual energy, which instantly swept through the entire Imperial Study.

The spiritual energy on her body was a very deep color, just like the black energy on the King of Zhennan. However, she did not suffer any backlash from the spiritual energy, and the color of the spiritual energy on her body remained the same.

After a while, Pei Shuhua calmed down her anger. Even if she was unhappy, she couldn't directly touch He Dongqi.

Pei Shuhua thought to herself, since He Dongqi is unwilling to take the blame, then let's find someone else who is capable of taking the blame. She doesn't believe that everyone in the Zhengui Division is so cowardly.

……

Upon returning to the Zhen Gui Si (a local administrative division), He Dongqi's first act was to write a memorial requesting to resign from his position as commander of the Zhen Gui Si.

In the office of the Zhengui Division.

He Dongqi held his pen, looking at the memorials on his desk, his brows furrowed slightly, indicating that he was not entirely satisfied.

If he simply submits his resignation, the Empress Dowager may not approve it.

The Empress Dowager and the Pei family would certainly not directly clash with the Zhennan Prince's Mansion. To eliminate Lu Chen, a scapegoat would be needed, and clearly the Empress Dowager had her eye on the Zhengui Division, wanting them to take the blame. (End of Chapter)