Chapter 11663 — The Might of Wei Zhao's Group Grows Ever Greater
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
The Queen's expression shifted slightly. Prostrating herself, she said, "Your Majesty sees clearly. Some matters this consort would not presume to speak of without permission. I only hope Your Majesty understands that this consort is of one heart with you, and that all I do is for Your Majesty's sake."
"I understand. I understand everything."
The Zhou Son of Heaven did not press her further, and said with a sigh, "In the Inner Royal Court of today, those truly of one heart with me are few and far between. Even Grand Preceptor Hou—it is hard to say whether he still stands with me."
He had, in the beginning, trusted Hou Chuang a good deal. Unfortunately, over the Edict of Self-Blame affair, he had been well and truly duped.
Especially since he had also heard that Hou Chuang had once gone to see Wei Zhao in private.
Even without knowing what the two had discussed in detail, as far as he was concerned, Grand Preceptor Hou was no longer trustworthy.
And it was precisely for this reason that he had deliberately kept Hou Chuang out of today's conspiracy. Otherwise, no sooner would he and Hou Chuang have settled on a plan than Wei Zhao would know every detail of it—which would be laughable.
The Zhou Son of Heaven said solemnly, "Success or failure in this plan rests entirely on this one stroke. Queen, you must lend me your full aid. Let husband and wife be of one heart, and together we shall break this deadlock!"
The Queen wore a look of deep emotion. "This consort is willing to give her life for Your Majesty."
One day later.
A great event suddenly occurred in the Son of Heaven's palace, and in an instant the entire Inner Royal Court was thrown into an uproar.
The Son of Heaven's Jade Seal had caught fire!
As the Son of Heaven's most important token of authority, the importance of the Son of Heaven's Jade Seal needed no elaboration. In the eyes of the vast majority, it was the very physical embodiment of the Mandate of Heaven.
However many reckless moves the Zhou Son of Heaven had made before, however vicious the backlash he had suffered, so long as the Son of Heaven's Jade Seal remained, his throne remained.
On this point, the entire court, civil and military, was agreed.
But now the Son of Heaven's Jade Seal had abruptly begun to burn. Even if it could not be utterly melted down in short order, the significance embodied in the event could not help but set imaginations racing.
Especially at this critical juncture, with a great upheaval about to arrive, it was impossible for the various factions not to read much into it.
The key point was that this wave did not stir only the various factions. Fanned by those with designs, even the lowliest common folk were swept into the current, watching every subsequent turn with rapt attention.
It was no exaggeration to say that, in terms of sheer reach and influence, this was the most sensational event in the Inner Royal Court in nearly a century—bar none.
The various grand maneuvers Wei Zhao had undertaken before, though they carried profound consequences for the power structure of the entire Inner Royal Court, had ultimately been, for the vast majority of common folk, the stuff of distant immortals battling in the heavens.
Never mind taking part—most could not even begin to grasp the basics of it. At most they would stand around in the streets and alleys, spinning a few fancies about the emperor's golden hoe and the like.
But this time was different.
The moment the Son of Heaven's Jade Seal caught fire, even the least worldly of commoners knew that something truly momentous had happened.
If this matter were not handled well, it would directly shake the entire Inner Royal Court and directly affect the lives of every last commoner!
And afterwards, under the deliberate guidance of various channels of dissemination, the people of the Inner Royal Court swiftly coalesced around a single consensus.
The Zhou Son of Heaven must not fall.