In the winter of the sixth year of Shenghe.

The capital city, Luojing.

Ziji City, Taiji Hall.

Early morning court session.

“I, Lu Chen, a scholar of the Engineering Department, earnestly implore the Empress Dowager to return power to Your Majesty!”

In the resplendent Taiji Hall, a forceful and resounding voice echoed throughout the grand hall, causing ripples in the hearts of everyone present.

As soon as the words fell.

On the faces of the officials and ministers, a shared expression of astonishment appeared, as if they had heard an unbelievable tale.

Even the palace maidservants attending to the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, the eunuchs around, and the imperial guards standing on both sides, all wore expressions of disbelief.

They couldn’t help but be astonished.

Ever since the sudden and mysterious deaths of the late Emperor and numerous imperial family members six years ago, Empress Zhao swiftly stabilized the situation with her exceptional wit and blood-soaked methods. She had ascended to the position of Empress Dowager, ruling the court single-handedly and controlling the realm.

Six years had passed, and by now, her supporters had permeated every corner of the court. The 800,000-strong imperial army of the capital was under her control.

It could be said that if she wished, she could carry out acts of enthronement and removal at will.

The young Empress seated on the dragon throne was not biologically related to Empress Dowager Zhao.

Because only royal members aged ten or above could inherit the Imperial Seal of the Great Xia Empire, and at the time, she and the late Emperor’s youngest legitimate son were not yet four years old. Thus, she had to support a puppet Emperor until her own son could inherit the Imperial Seal.

The Empress was one of the royal members aged ten or above, selected from among the survivors. Despite having no foundation, she was the easiest to control.

Now, she and the late Emperor’s eldest legitimate son, the Qin Crown Prince, who had gained fame at the tender age of nine, were about to turn ten. The situation that would unfold was quite predictable.

Everything was already set, waiting for the moment when the time was ripe.

As for what fate awaited the Empress, who had been a puppet for the past six years, almost everyone was well aware.

Hence, they couldn’t fathom that now, with the inevitable enthronement of the Qin Crown Prince, there would still be someone loyal to this Emperor who was destined to be deposed, challenging the supreme authority of Empress Dowager Zhao, who held the highest power in the Great Xia Empire.

Due to their shock, there was complete silence in the court for a while, and you could hear a pin drop.

On the dragon throne, the young Empress, though only in her twenties, had reigned nominally for six years. Her delicate hand suddenly clenched under the robe, a trace of brilliance flickering in her initially timid eyes.

Just at that moment, a voice with a chilly tone sounded from beside her:
“Oh?”

It was Empress Dowager Zhao, hidden behind the beaded curtain.

At this point, the gaze she directed at Lu Chen was filled with an unending chill, as if she were looking at a dead person.

“I am aged, my hearing is not as sharp as before, I didn’t quite catch that earlier. I request that this gentleman repeat it for me.”

As she spoke, a terrifying aura surged out, instantly spreading through every corner of the Taiji Hall.

Lu Chen felt his body suddenly become heavy, the air around him solidified, and it felt like a mountain was pressing down on him, making it hard for him to breathe.

If it were an ordinary official of the Great Xia, facing the terrifying aura of the Empress Dowager, they would probably have been scared out of their wits and fallen to their knees, begging for mercy.

But Lu Chen gritted his teeth and stubbornly endured.

Despite his somewhat frail appearance, he didn’t bend his knees or waist for a moment!
Even though he swayed like a candle in the wind, he never fell.

His face was resolute, without a trace of wavering.

Under the suppressive force of the invisible terrifying aura, he laboriously lifted his head and then struggled to open his mouth, speaking slowly, almost as if each word was stained with blood:
“Your Majesty… I humbly implore Your Majesty… not to be greedy for power…”

Seeing his tenacity, as though he had cast aside life and death, dedicating himself to the Empress, some of the expressionless courtiers were moved.

While the young Empress still appeared timid, she secretly observed Lu Chen with deep eyes, silently imprinting his image deep in her heart.”