"This is outrageous!!"

"This is absolutely outrageous!!!"

Yuan Xiu's blank gaze turned to anger. He jumped up from the soft chair and roared, "My royal uncle was a great hero who stood tall and upright. He's gone just like that?"

Wen Hu said, "That Yang Taozhi is extremely hateful. She is capable of anything to avenge Zhao Huan and his son."

Yuan Li hesitated, but when he saw Wen Hu give him a wink, he swallowed his words completely.

Yuan Xiu asked, "What about the experts in the palace? Didn't anyone discover that Yang Taozhi had sneaked into the palace?"

Wen Hu said, "Yang Taozhi is a grandmaster. If we weren't on high alert, it would be difficult for the palace's experts to spot her. Besides, no one expected her to be so bold as to attempt to assassinate His Majesty."

Yuan Xiu, bewildered, lay back down on the soft chair and said, "So... it was my uncle who died in my place?"

"If the champion can save His Majesty's life, it wouldn't be a bad thing for the Great Jing, but please forgive my bluntness..."

Wen Hu snorted coldly and said, "His Majesty's Dragon Guards are not as capable as before. If Yang Taozhi comes again, who will be able to pay for His Majesty's life?"

"Where are your experts? Where is Luo Ying? Send him to protect me." After speaking to Wen Hu, Yuan Xiu pointed to Wei You and continued, "Where is Eunuch Lü? Tell him to stop training the Dragon Guards and come protect me too!"

Wen Hu quickly said, "That's exactly what I wanted to say! Your Majesty, I will have Luo Ying protect you. Luo Ying has also trained a group of experts whose skill level is definitely higher than that of the Dragon Guards. From now on, let them be responsible for Your Majesty's safety."

Yuan Xiu understood the implication and asked, "You want me to replace the Dragon Guards?"

Wen Hu retorted, "What's the point of keeping useless trash around?"

Yuan Xiu said, "They are utterly loyal to me..."

Wen Hu interrupted Yuan Xiu, saying sternly, "Your Majesty, life is the most important thing! You are the ruler of the country, you must not put yourself in danger!"

Yuan Li kept his head down and remained silent, thinking that removing the Dragon Guards and having Luo Ying lead people to replace them would be the real way to put Yuan Xiu in danger.

Unfortunately, Yuan Xiu had already panicked, or perhaps his mental state impaired his thinking ability; after thinking for a while, he actually nodded.

"Wei You, go find Eunuch Lü and tell him to withdraw the Dragon Guards and come to my bedchamber to keep me company."

"yes."

Yuan Xiu turned to look at Yuan Li and said, "Fifth brother, why aren't you saying anything?"

Yuan Li said with her head down, "Both Champion Wang and Yuan Qi are gone. My brother is very sad."

"Come here." Yuan Xiu spread his arms to Yuan Li.

After Yuan Li walked over, Yuan Xiu hugged him tightly and said, "I will not allow you to be sad. I need you, the Central Secretariat needs you, you cannot fall down."

Yuan Li put her mouth close to Yuan Xiu's ear, but just as she was about to whisper something, she found that Yuan Xiu had pinched the flesh on her arm hard.

Yuan Li suddenly realized the meaning behind Yuan Xiu's last sentence.

The rain stopped, but the weather didn't clear up.

Lu Lu stood on the Star Gazing Tower, gazing at the distant scenery outside the palace.

Wen Hu walked up from behind Lü Lu and said, "Eunuch Lü is in high spirits."

Lu Lu didn't turn around, saying, "The Dragon Guards have been withdrawn, so I can naturally enjoy some peace and quiet."

Wen Hu walked to Lü Lu's side, looked into the distance like him, and said, "His Majesty wants you to stay by his side and protect him."

Lu Lu said, "Standing here is the best protection for Jing Palace, if Yang Taozhi really comes."

Wen Hu said, "Eunuch Lü is a smart man. You naturally know whether Yang Taozhi has come or not, and whether she will come or not. Are you guarding this place to protect Jing Palace, or to monitor me?"

Lu Lu smiled and said, "The Marquis of Sha County is a smart man, so naturally I don't need to spell it out."

Wen Hu said, "It's no use just monitoring me. There are also Luo Ying and Wen Pojun in the palace. You can't manage them all."

Lü Lu remained silent.

Wen Hu continued, “There is no need for you to monitor me. I am His Majesty’s loyal subject and I am utterly devoted to the Great Jing. The reason I do all this is because His Majesty has become lazy in governing, and I must seize power with swift and decisive means so that the empire will not decline.”

Lu Lu asked, "What do you mean by saying all this to me, Lord Marquis?"

Wen Hu said, "Ordinary people only know that Eunuch Lü is the chief eunuch by His Majesty's side, but they don't know that Eunuch Lü is the number one expert in this Jing Palace. If our goals are the same, there is no need to waste each other's strength. Joining forces will make this Jing Palace safer."

Lu Lu then asked, "Does Your Excellency intend to win me over in the same way you won over Dian Chen?"

Wen Hu said, "It's not about winning them over, it's just about cooperation and mutual benefit."

Lü Lu said, "What if I don't agree?"

Wen Hu laughed and said, "Eunuch Lü doesn't agree, and I won't harbor any ill will. However, I'm afraid I'll have to find someone else to take over Lü Bin's business in Changsui City and his assets in Mujing Bay."

Upon hearing this, Lü Lu narrowed his eyes slightly.

Wen Hu continued, “When Wen Pojun came to Changsui City seeking revenge, it was I who had Luo Ying stop him at Mujing Bay, saving Lü Bin’s life. After Zhao Huan and his son were executed, His Majesty wanted to purge Zhao Cheng’s people, but it was I who persuaded His Majesty to let Zhao Cheng’s business in Changsui City continue and not to destroy them. The court’s involvement in the profit sharing was sufficient.”

"Eunuch Lü, Lü Bin is your only relative, you must know how to repay his kindness!"

"In other words, how can you, on your own, both protect His Majesty and protect Lü Bin?"

"Think about it carefully."

After saying this, Wen Hu turned and left.

Lü Lu stopped Wen Hu and asked, "How do we cooperate?"

Wen Hu stopped and said, "You stay by His Majesty's side as before. I will contact you if anything happens. As for Lü Bin, just give me a share. I will ensure his wealth and safety."

Lu Lu then asked, "If even I side with you, His Majesty will have no one left to rely on. Would you really go that far?"

"Won't."

Wen Hu answered as expected, then turned his head, a strange smile curving his lips, and said, "I am a pragmatic person."

Boom!

A muffled clap of thunder suddenly echoed in the gloomy sky.

...

When it rained in Changsui, it was also drizzling in Jingdong and Jiangyang counties. The rain washed over the rocks and forests, turning the surface of the mausoleum mountain silvery-white.

Zhao Cheng groggily opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was a figure busy in the room.

The room was simple and unfamiliar, but the figure was very familiar.

It was Zhou Nuo.

Zhao Cheng tried to get up, but perhaps because he had been unconscious for too long, he couldn't get any strength in his neck. He could only see Zhou Nuo bending over, but he didn't know what she was doing.

"Nuo... Little Nuo..."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Nuo suddenly sat up straight and looked at Zhao Cheng.

Seeing that Zhao Cheng had opened his eyes, Zhou Nuo ran to the bedside with a look of surprise and joy, grabbed Zhao Cheng's hand and said, "Cheng, you're finally awake!!!"