Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 116 The Prince's Struggle [Two in One! ]

In front of Fengtian Hall.

The Empress Dowager's phoenix chariot came to a quiet stop.

A lieutenant came forward quickly, speaking in a somewhat hurried tone:

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager and General Lu, the spies reported that the Yulin Army is coming from the Meridian Gate in a mighty force, with as many as 4,000 men!"

As soon as these words were spoken, they were like thunder and echoed in the venue in an instant.

Everyone looked at each other with different expressions. In addition to shock, they were also filled with a bit of disbelief and confusion.

When the Empress Dowager heard this, a trace of surprise flashed across her brows, and she said calmly.

"Understood, let's go!"

Although a hint of surprise flashed across Lu Lu's face, he quickly regained his composure.

He secretly wondered in his mind: Why is there still no news about the hundreds of elite soldiers at the Meridian Gate?

But even so.

He was not overly worried. Although the Yulin Army had 8,000 men, the combined forces of the city gate lieutenant and the palace guards led by Guanglu Xun and Weiwei still held the upper hand.

Why did the Yulin Army suddenly intervene?
If he really wanted to help Zhou Zhen, he would have come a long time ago. Why wait until now?

Coming here now, I am suspected of being the one who reaps the benefits!
Moreover, it offends both sides and is a thankless task!
Zhou Jinyu, the Queen of Daqing, looked even more charming today, with her beautiful eyes half closed.

After hearing the news, she stared intently in the direction of Chong'an Gate.

She didn't take this incident to heart.

There had been plans to involve the Yulin Army before, but they were slow to show up.

It's too late now.

Soon!
The sound of horse hooves came from afar, and a group of people and horses poured out from the gate like a dragon soaring and a fish leaping, which was a spectacular sight.

This team was none other than the elite among the imperial guards - the Yulin Army. They numbered 4,000 men in total, riding on tall horses, and they came like a long dragon.

The 4,000 infantrymen following closely behind were clad in "Mercury Ring Mail Armor" that shone with a cold light. Their steps were uniform and their momentum was majestic, which was awe-inspiring.

It is said that the reason why the Yulin Army has such sophisticated equipment and generous military pay is that there is a mysterious financial backer behind it, who is the richest man in Kyoto and the owner of Penglai Tower.

This man's name was Liu Wen. His origins were a mystery, but he was a business genius with superb skills. In just over a decade, he had turned the Kyoto business world upside down. Except for the business monopolized by the royal family, he had encompassed almost all other fields and was thriving.

This person also played a role in promoting the prosperity of Kyoto, making it a prosperous place where people from all over the world came to congratulate him and all businesses flourished.

Once upon a time, Zhou Jinyu wanted to hand over the northern jade business to Liu Wen, which would definitely help it to reach a higher level.

What is unexpected is!

Liu Wen, who was good at socializing, rejected her mercilessly.

From then on, Zhou Jinyu felt resentful towards Liu Wen, but she had to admit that it was the support of this mysterious businessman.

Zhou Zhen was able to rise rapidly in a short period of time and train a Kyoto military force of his own.

Only then did he have the confidence to seize power from the Empress Dowager at this time, laying the groundwork for today's changing situation.

What is even more unexpected is that the relationship between Liu Wen and Zhou Zhen was actually created by Xie Chunan.

It was also because of Xie Chunan's step-by-step support that Zhou Zhen was able to gain a firm foothold under the great families in Jiangnan, and even quell uprisings and rebellions, and truly sit firmly on the throne.

From then on, Xie Chunan also completely gained Zhou Zhen's trust.

At this moment, the Yulin Army suddenly arrived, their intention was unclear and puzzling.

The situation has been decided and the dust has settled.

Zhou Jinyu smiled lightly. Most of the Jinwu Guards had been killed and the situation was irreversible.

There is no hope of a comeback!

She turned to gaze at the elegant middle-aged man leading the front of the Yulin Army, and an inexplicable sense of familiarity arose spontaneously.

Outside the Fengtian Hall, the atmosphere suddenly became tense and full of expectation.

The eyes of all the Jinwu Guards were focused on the direction of Chong'an Gate, where the Yulin Army was slowly approaching.

"It's really the Yulin Army!"

The eyes of the Jinwu Guards suddenly lit up and their breathing became rapid, as if they had caught a glimmer of hope in a desperate situation.

"The Imperial Guards are coming! The Imperial Guards are coming!"

This exciting news spread quickly among the Jinwu Guards outside the palace like wildfire, and the voices became louder and louder.

The Jinwu Guards in the hall reported excitedly, alarming Zhou Zhen and Dong Jie.

Lu Yu could hardly hide the excitement on his face. He knew very well that the arrival of the Imperial Guards meant a reversal of the situation and the outcome was unknown.

As long as he still has troops, he is not afraid of the so-called Lu Lu people.

The enemies are just several times his number, but he still dares to fight!

Zhou Zhen walked out of the hall even faster.

He knew that Xie Chunan would not betray him.

In a solemn atmosphere!
Everyone's attention was drawn to the slowly marching Yulin Army.

As the team got closer, an elegant middle-aged man riding on a tall horse stood out.

Lu Lu stood beside Zhou Zhen, his eyes closely following the figure of this leader.

At first, he was delighted and confirmed that it was indeed the Yulin Army.

But then, his brows furrowed tightly, and his face was full of confusion.

In this team, he neither saw Xie Chunan nor the original commander of the Yulin Army - the general he was very familiar with and who was loyal to his master Zhou Zhen.

Although this middle-aged leader looked familiar, Lu Lu could not remember who he was.

Just as Lu Lu was trying hard to search for the answer in his memory, he suddenly heard a sneer from his master Zhou Zhen, with some complex and difficult to discern emotions in the laughter.

"Eighth brother, here I come!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Lu turned to look at his master Zhou Zhen in astonishment, only to see that Zhou Zhen's face instantly became gloomy and terrible the moment he saw the Yulin Army, like the calm before the storm, hiding endless anger and chillness.

The words "Eighth Brother" that came out of his mouth made everyone present even more confused.

The Empress Dowager was standing aside, and her eyes suddenly focused the moment they met the elegant middle-aged man, as if touched by some deep memory, and her whole body trembled involuntarily.

But then!
She quickly regained her composure, with an indescribable complex expression on her face. Under her old face, she softly said, "Old Eight is here."

"Eighth Brother" and "Old Eight", these two names echoed in everyone's ears.

Zhou Jinyu finally recognized the middle-aged man in front of him—Prince Jing, Zhou Cheng.

Prince Jing Zhou Cheng, why are you here!

All this is so illogical and unbelievable.

Why would Prince Jing come to the capital at this moment, and bring the Yulin Army with him!
Lu Lu also murmured to himself, "Eighth... Your Highness!"

His eyes were also filled with shock and confusion.

Although Zhou Cheng's face had changed drastically due to what happened in the clan house, Lu Lu was still able to recognize the outline of the eighth prince.

He was full of confusion and didn't understand why Zhou Cheng would so blatantly bring the Yulin Army to the palace.

Dong Jie was so surprised that he was speechless. He couldn't understand why Zhou Cheng would appear with their troops.

All this seemed to be beyond his understanding!
at this time!

Zhou Zhen stepped out of the palace gate, his eyes first passed through the numerous officers and fell on the Empress Dowager and Zhou Jinyu. He had a sneer on his face, and that smile contained too many complicated emotions, including anger and unwillingness.

When Zhou Jinyu found out, he openly told Zhou Zhen, the Emperor of Daqing.

Cast a look of contempt and ridicule.

They are obviously husband and wife, but they seem like enemies!

at this time!

Zhou Cheng led his troops and slowly approached, followed by the old Taoist in gray and Chen Ji.

The appearance of Chen Ji, as Zhou Cheng's personal eunuch, undoubtedly confirmed the identity of the visitor.

Prince Jing of Zhou Cheng.

Lu Lu was finally able to see the true appearance of Prince Jing clearly. He looked much older than Zhou Zhen.

Zhou Zhen is a few years older.

However, his temperament was more calm and decent than many years ago, and he was intimidating without even getting angry.

Prince Jing of Jiangbei, the eighth prince back then!
When he was still some distance away from the crowd, Zhou Cheng stopped and bowed to the Empress Dowager from a distance.

The Empress Dowager stared at Zhou Cheng, the youngest of the princes but also the most handsome one, and had once been her most beloved child.

He is proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and is extremely elegant and talented.

At this moment, I look at the "Old Eight" in front of me whose appearance has changed drastically.

Hot tears could not help falling from the old man's eyes, and he wiped them away quickly.

As Zhou Cheng stopped, the Yulin Army also stopped, and the whole scene fell into a brief silence.

The Empress Dowager was closely guarded by elite soldiers from the five schools at the city gates, more than 4,000 in number, with a magnificent momentum.

Lu Lu was well prepared. He had already called back other troops, who were now joined by the five schools at the city gate. The total force had reached more than 20,000 people, ready for battle.

The weakest on the field were the Jinwu Guards, with only about a thousand people left. When they saw the Yulin Army arriving, their morale was boosted, and they thought that reinforcements had arrived.

Three parties!

At this moment, everyone remained extremely calm and did not rush into action.

There was a tense and delicate atmosphere in the air, like a taut string that could break at any time.

Zhou Cheng, the Prince Jing who had not returned for many years, finally returned to the palace where he grew up in his childhood.

Looking at the Fengtian Palace, and the second brother Zhou Zhen who is now in a rather down and out state.

This was the place my second brother liked to go to most when he was a child. Zhou Zhen often talked about wanting to achieve achievements that surpassed those of his ancestors.

ridiculous!

Zhou Cheng smiled, a rather complicated smile, and said loudly:

"Brother, we meet again!"

In the Fengtian Hall, Zhou Zhen couldn't help but burst into laughter after hearing this, his expression revealed a bit of madness:
"Old Eight, Old Eight, how dare you come back? Aren't you afraid that I will imprison you in the clan residence again and make you relive the days of being the 'Pig Emperor'?"

When Chen Ji heard this, his face turned bad and anger rose to his brows.

The Empress Dowager sighed softly. She knew everything about Zhou Zhen's past and the humiliation Zhou Cheng suffered in the clan house.

However, she did not intervene!
In the battle for the throne, the loser must bear the consequences.

When Dong Jie heard this, he understood that the grudge between His Majesty and Prince Jing was irreconcilable.

The arrival of the Yulin Army is by no means a good thing, and the crisis still lurks.

He knew very well that Prince Jing had a strong temper and that the Eighth Prince had enforced the law strictly in Jiangbei.

There are old accounts and new grudges, how could Prince Jing let them go easily?

The soldiers of the Jinwu Guard were at a loss. The changing situation in the palace made them not know what to do. Aren’t the Yulin Army their own people?

Why does it seem like there is a conflict between you and His Majesty?
Zhou Cheng said with a hint of "concern":

"In recent years, if I am second to those who care about my second brother's health, no one dares to claim to be first, not even my sister-in-law." His smile was cold, and he changed the subject.
"It's just that I'm more afraid that something might happen to my second brother. That would be a great benefit to you."

"I hurried here, full of worries, all because I was worried that something bad might happen to you, and that your death was too easy."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhen was furious and shouted:
"Zhou Cheng! Do you know who you are talking to? You are facing the emperor, the supreme ruler!"

He shouted angrily.

"Your Majesty, please!"

"Emperor?"

Zhou Cheng's smile was full of disdain and ridicule. "Is there such a Majesty as you? You have no power in the army, no one in the court, and you can't even control the harem. Your so-called Son of Heaven is nothing but an empty shell."

After hearing this, Zhou Zhen was so angry that he trembled all over.

"You're talking nonsense, you're talking nonsense!" he retorted at the top of his voice.

"I set up the East Factory to monitor all officials, check and balance the Jiangnan clans, revise the national history, the Hongwen Academy emphasizes education, reduces the criminal law, quells uprisings and rebellions, and establishes the Jinwu Guard and Yulin Army to consolidate the capital..."

Zhou Cheng just listened coldly, shook his head slightly, his tone full of disappointment.

"Until now, you are still dreaming and deceiving yourself."

He said slowly, "If you didn't have the support of the Empress Dowager's Western Factory behind you, how could you check and balance the officials? When you revised the national history, why didn't you dare to record the fact that the world was divided into three parts during the time of the Northland?"

"And how many people in the Hongwen Academy you mentioned are truly talented and learned? Who is in charge of the imperial examinations nowadays?"

"As for suppressing the rebellion, if it weren't for the help of the Jiangnan nobles, what could you have accomplished with just your Jinwu Guards, which numbered less than 5,000 at that time?"

"If it weren't for Xie Chun'an, helping you balance the inside and the outside, second brother, second brother, would you be able to hold on to this throne?"

Every word Zhou Cheng said was like a sharp knife, piercing Zhou Zhen's heart.

He turned around, pointed at the Yulin Army behind him, and asked coldly:
"Second brother, look at the Yulin Army behind me. Do they recognize you as the emperor?"

This sentence was like a heavy hammer, completely breaking down Zhou Zhen's psychological defenses.

He turned pale and was so angry that he fell backwards involuntarily.

"you you"

I can't say a word!
Seeing this, Dong Jie hurried forward to support Zhou Zhen, and shouted with a worried look on his face:

"Your Majesty, is everything alright?"

Dong Jie's voice was full of anxiety, but Zhou Zhen seemed not to hear it. He just stared blankly ahead.

Zhou Cheng looked at this scene with only a sneer on his face.

He said slowly: "You are such a failure as an emperor. Do you think the Jiangnan clans chose you to be the emperor because of your outstanding talents?"

"You are wrong, second brother, you are just a mediocre person with great ambitions but little talent, cowardice and incompetence.

"After ten years of being an emperor, have you not woken up from your dream?"

The Empress Dowager interrupted and said:
"Old Eight, no matter what you think of Old Two, it doesn't matter."

"But you own the land and you are proud of it. How much do you have in the world? Are you worthy of your ancestors' legacy?"

Zhou Cheng just smiled.

PS: It’s too rushed!
Kyoto shivered for the last time, I will open a separate article to talk about it

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(End of this chapter)