The Great Zhou Dynasty, the capital city, Tongtian Palace.
The magnificent palace appeared exceptionally solemn under the candlelight, and its resplendent decorations reflected the heaviness in Zhou Jianjia's heart.
She had just experienced a devastating defeat, and her heart was churning like a stormy sea, unable to find peace.
The civil and military officials in the hall looked at each other, and a tense atmosphere filled the air.
“Your Majesty, this defeat is truly…” an old minister began, his voice trembling with reproach.
"Shut up!" Zhou Jianjia interrupted sharply, her voice echoing throughout the hall, silencing all the civil and military officials.
Inside the Tongtian Palace, the atmosphere was tense, and the faces of the civil and military officials were filled with worry and unease.
Zhou Jianjia's angry shout plunged the entire hall into a deathly silence, with only her breathing clearly audible in the air.
As Zhou Jianjia shouted angrily, the atmosphere in the hall became even more tense.
The civil and military officials were divided into two factions: one loyal to Zhou Jianjia, and the other full of doubts about her decisions.
Zhou Jianjia was filled with conflicting emotions. She knew undeniably that she had lost to Chen Zhennan.
However, as an empress, she cannot show any weakness in court, otherwise she will be harassed in every way by those who oppose her.
After a moment of silence, Zhou Jianjia suddenly announced in a loud voice: "Strengthen the training of soldiers. The Great Zhou will recruit 500,000 soldiers. When winter comes, we will muster our troops and launch another campaign against the Great Wu!"
"But if we lose again, how will Emperor Zhou face himself?" a civil official asked coldly, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Zhou Jianjia was startled, but she remained outwardly calm, not wanting these civil officials to see her wavering.
Looking around, Zhou Jianjia said coldly, "If my Great Zhou suffers another defeat, it will be my fault, and I will not shirk responsibility!"
These words struck like a hammer blow, stunning everyone present. Some nodded silently, while others still looked doubtful.
...
As night fell, the palace was brightly lit. Zhou Jianjia sat alone in front of the carved window, toying with an exquisite jade cup filled with amber-colored wine.
Zhou Jianjia frowned, her eyes revealing deep worry. The evening breeze blew through the window, bringing a chill and seemingly an ominous premonition.
Zhou Jianjia sighed softly and drank the wine in her glass in one gulp. The wine slid down her throat, but it could not dispel the sorrow in her heart.
Just then, two male concubines tiptoed into the room. Dressed in gorgeous clothes and with smiles on their faces, they tried to ease Zhou Jianjia's sorrow with gentle words and attentive companionship.
One of the male concubines said softly, "Your Majesty, it's late. Why don't you rest earlier?"
Another person handed over a fresh lychee, saying with a smile, "This was just delivered from the south by fast horse. Your Majesty, try it; it might help relieve your fatigue."
Zhou Jianjia nodded slightly, accepted the lychee, but had no heart to taste it.
Her thoughts had already drifted beyond the palace walls, and she asked softly, "Is there any movement outside the palace?"
The two male favorites exchanged a glance, and one of them cautiously replied, "Your Majesty, everything outside the palace is normal, and there is nothing unusual."
As night fell, Feng Zirou and Gu Siyao's figures were hidden among the dense foliage on the ancient trees outside the palace walls.
Feng Zirou's gaze was as sharp as a hawk's as she whispered to Gu Siyao, "Tonight is the best opportunity. As long as we kill Zhou Jianjia, the commander-in-chief can pacify the world."
Gu Siyao gripped the dagger tightly in her hand and replied, "We must be careful; the palace guards are not to be trifled with."
Their eyes met in the night, and Feng Zirou whispered, "I'll distract the guards, and you can sneak into the inner palace."
Gu Siyao frowned and shook her head without thinking: "No, this is not the Great Wu Imperial Palace. Our people are everywhere. If we try to lure them away from the mountain here, we will surely die."
A resolute glint flashed in Feng Zirou's eyes as she pulled Chen Zhennan's pistol from her waist and said coldly, "It's time to put this gun to good use."
"That won't work either. We only have a few dozen bullets. How can we possibly escape the pursuit of hundreds of guards?"
The two argued for a long time, then Feng Zirou's expression suddenly changed, and she let out a deep sigh.
"I'm going to trade my life for Zhou Jianjia's, and I have a reason to die. I'll tell you this secret now."
"Secret? What secret?"
Feng Zirou blinked and recalled, "Do you remember when we were by Song Xuan's side in the Great Wu Palace..."
Upon hearing Feng Zirou's words, Gu Siyao was shocked, and a feeling of heartache welled up in her heart.
“Zirou, if the Commander-in-Chief were here, he would absolutely not agree to you doing this, and neither would I. No, you have to go back and explain this to the Commander-in-Chief yourself, wait…”
Before Gu Siyao could finish speaking, Feng Zirou suddenly turned around and jumped down from the tree, her movements as swift and decisive as an arrow.
She gripped her pistol, pointed it directly at the two guards outside the palace gate, and fired four shots without hesitation. The gunshots boomed like thunder, shaking the entire harem.
"Quickly! An assassin has broken into the palace!"
The guards were shocked and rushed towards Feng Zirou.
Feng Zirou's face showed determination, and a fighting spirit ignited in her heart. She rushed into the palace gate with her gun in hand, and shouts of battle immediately followed behind her, as if a bloody battle was about to unfold.
Gu Siyao witnessed all of this from the tree and prayed silently that Feng Zirou would be safe and sound.
Feng Zirou moved nimbly through the palace, her movements as swift as the wind. She would roll and leap, each shot accompanied by the screams of the guards. Blood splattered everywhere, and the stench of blood filled the air, making it suffocating.
"Feng Zirou, you're crazy!" Gu Siyao was anxious and wanted to jump down to help, but then she thought that killing Zhou Jianjia was more important.
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