"Xi'er!"

He rushed forward, only to realize upon seeing the other person's face that it wasn't Gu Chaoxi.

"Hehe! Imperial Uncle, why are you in such a hurry to enter the palace?" The main hall door of Zhongcui Palace opened, and the emperor slowly stepped out from inside.

"Could it be that Gu Chaoxi is very important to you? Is there something you're hiding from me, Uncle?"

At the same time, hundreds of armored imperial guards swarmed out from all around Zhongcui Palace, surrounding it in layers, their spears pointed directly at the man in the center of the courtyard.

Lu Zhao slowly straightened up. He was still wearing the thin armor he wore when training in the military camp, with a long sword at his waist. His sharp, eagle-like phoenix eyes swept around and finally landed on the emperor above the steps.

Standing alone amidst the crowd, he showed no less imposing presence.

"Hasn't His Majesty's actions already revealed the truth?"

"You, Lu Zhao! I have genuinely respected you as an elder, yet you have conspired with Gu Chaoxi to deceive me! Do you even consider me the ruler of the country?" the emperor roared.

Lu Zhao's tone was somber, "Truly respect me as an elder? The Emperor has repeatedly sent assassins to kill me, is it so that my memorial tablet can be placed in the royal ancestral hall for worship?"

"So you knew all along?!"

"You know you can still pretend nothing happened and lecture me without showing the slightest hint of it! Lu Zhao, you are truly cunning. You've been plotting to seize the throne all along, haven't you!"

At this point, the emperor's eyes hardened. "Lu Zhao has illegally entered the inner palace with weapons; his crime is tantamount to treason! Guards! Seize the traitor Lu Zhao!"