Empress: Your Majesty, please respect yourself, I don't want to be promoted

"I have no regrets, and I have always believed that if Your Majesty has the opportunity to rule in person, she will definitely become a holy emperor with virtue, benevolence, and merit equal to that of Taizu."

regret?How can it be?Everything he did was to offend Saint King Cangming in order to be demoted. Otherwise, would he keep this broken official body for the New Year?

Now there is no suspense that Saint King Cangming will become the new emperor. As long as he goes to Ziji City to cause trouble for Saint King Cangming at this time, there is a 100% chance that he will be fired from his official position on the spot and thrown into a prison.

Then... ascend to immortality on the spot!

With such a good situation, Lu Chen felt that he could definitely get what he wanted this time.

After all, the flying dragon is riding on my face now, tell me how to lose?

Unless Saint King Cangming really followed the slogan he put out when he first appeared, "Ask the Demon Queen to slay the demon queen and return power to the empress to rectify the world." The reason for raising troops to go south is really just to help the empress regain power.

But how is this possible?

Therefore, Lu Chen decided to go to Ziji City and even the saints could not stop him, he said so!

Chapter 22 Don't Deceive Your King

After bidding farewell to Xiao Yun, who suddenly became worried for some reason, Lu Chen arrived at Ziji City in less than an hour.

In front of Xuanji Gate, the hundreds of guards who usually waited here turned into dozens of Xuanwu guards wearing black armor.

When the Empress Dowager Zhao was in charge, she would naturally keep Ziji City firmly in her hands. Whether it was palace maids, eunuchs or guards, most of them were her people. Now that the Empress Dowager Zhao is in trouble, Jiang Chengdao will naturally not stay in Ziji City. any hidden dangers.

Seeing that someone actually came to Ziji City at this time, a handsome young man among the soldiers frowned. After looking at Lu Chen for a while, he led more than a dozen Xuanwu guards towards him, and soon walked to Lu Chen. In front of the morning.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

As soon as the young man spoke, the Xuanwu guards behind him surrounded Lu Chen.

However, Lu Chen did not show any signs of panic. He put his hands behind his hands and said calmly: "I am Lu Chen from the Engineering Department. I am here to work in the Sixth Section Gallery."

Hearing this, the young man subconsciously took a closer look at Lu Chen's court uniform, and a look of surprise quickly appeared on his face.

Like Wu Zongyun and Xiao Yun, he never expected that at such a time, Shenghe courtiers would come to Ziji City for business. Isn't this person afraid of offending the Holy King Cangming?

Out of curiosity, the young man said with some meaning: "His Royal Highness the Holy King is about to enter Beijing. Are you sure you want to go to the government office for work at this time?"

"What does Saint King Cangming have to do with me when he comes to the capital?"

Lu Chen snorted softly: "You guys, why are you blocking my way here? Don't you know that obstructing official duties is illegal? Or do you want to rebel?"

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly became tense. The Xuanwu guards surrounding Lu Chen all tightened their weapons and took a step closer to him.

However, the young man's eyes suddenly flashed with appreciation when he looked at Lu Chen.

However, he didn't say anything more. He just waved to the Xuanwu Guards and told them to step back. Then he took a deep look at Lu Chen, then turned around and returned to his original position with the Xuanwu Guards, making way for Lu Chen. the way.

Lu Chen walked in without any hesitation.

After passing through the Xuanji Gate, Lu Chen found that the huge Ziji City was eerily quiet at this time. Walking on the road with high vermilion walls on both sides, he could only hear his own footsteps, and the outside world seemed It seems to be completely isolated from this place.

None of the officials who used to travel together in twos and twos could be seen now, and he didn't see a single figure until he came to the familiar court room of the Engineering Department.

Obviously, among all the courtiers in the entire Shenghe Dynasty, he was the only die-hard loyalist.

Although he had expected it, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel sad for Emperor Sheng He.

When she was still ignorant, she was promoted to the throne by the ambitious Empress Dowager Zhao with ulterior motives, and she served as the puppet emperor for six years. Now she is about to be deposed from the throne by the Holy King Cangming, and she will end up miserable.

This girl, who is only twenty-eight years old, has never really taken control of her own destiny and has always been trapped by power and ambition.

He is said to be an emperor, but he is essentially just a chess piece on a chessboard.

Although Lu Chen felt that she was very pitiful, he just sighed a little and didn't think much about it.

Sitting in his seat, Lu Chen began to flip through the pile of documents that had been in front of him for who knows how long.

He came here just to show off in front of Saint King Cangming. He didn't really want to work, he was just pretending.

Next, all he had to do was wait for the Holy King Cangming to jump out and commit suicide, and then wait to be dismissed from office.

Opening a volume of official documents, Lu Chen's eyes were focused on the reports and proposals related to the progress of the construction of the imperial mausoleum, but his mind had already flown to the ethereal fairyland.

I don’t know what kind of life it will be like to become a fairy queen.

Is the Xuannv who is above the nine heavens really as magnificent as the legend says?

Time also passed quickly while he was traveling in the immortal world.

Unknowingly, the morning coolness no longer felt in the court room. The dazzling sunlight shone through the window sill on the wooden floor, dispersing the darkness and making the court room as warm as spring.

"Aha……"

Lu Chen put down the official document in his hand, then opened his hand, stretched hard, and groaned comfortably.

"Whoo~"

He exhaled a breath, then turned his head and looked out the window.

"Well...calculating the time, it's almost time."

After murmuring, he prepared to stand up.

However, at this moment-

"When?"

Suddenly there was a sound like an oriole coming out of the valley.

Lu Chen was suddenly startled and quickly turned around to look.

Soon, he saw not far away that on the main seat where engineering students usually sat, there was a girl wearing a golden dragon robe, who looked about sixteen or seventeen years old, sitting there. He was leaning on the desk with one hand and looking at himself calmly.

After seeing the girl's appearance clearly, Lu Chen stood up immediately, then bowed to the girl and saluted, and solemnly said: "I didn't know that your majesty was coming, and I was a little disappointed to welcome you from afar. I hope your majesty will forgive me."

That's right, that young girl who was only twenty-eight years old but had already begun to show her splendor was the current ruler of the Great Xia Empire, the Great Xia Emperor who nominally ruled over hundreds of millions of beings in the Central Continent—Emperor Sheng He, Jiang Chengwan.

Lu Chen was naturally very familiar with the Empress, and he would recognize her even if she wasn't wearing a dragon robe.

Although he is just a minor official from the seventh rank, in fact, he is responsible for attendants, admonitions, repairs, collections, and inspections of six departments and hundreds of affairs among the six subjects. He is an important official position directly responsible to the emperor, which is the real meaning. The position above is humble and important.

Because he had direct contact with the emperor, even if it was only in name, his predecessor had many opportunities to contact the emperor. Lu Chen, who inherited the memory of his predecessor, was naturally extremely impressed by the empress.

Seeing Lu Chen salute him seriously, Jiang Chengwan's eyes became a little subtle for no reason.

"It's okay."

She waved her hand and said calmly: "I came without telling you. Huaiyu did not do anything rude."

Lu Chen couldn't help but be startled when he heard Jiang Chengwan actually call him by his name. After he realized what he was doing, he hurriedly said:

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your understanding."

With that said, he took back his hand and asked Jiang Chengwan: "May I ask why your Majesty came here?"

Regardless of his words, deeds, or attitude, Lu Chen's behavior at this time was no different from usual, as if he didn't care about the Holy King Cangming's preparations to usurp the throne, and had nothing else in his heart except the king's affairs.

"It's nothing."

As Jiang Chengwan spoke, he stood up slowly and came to Lu Chen with his hands behind his back. He looked at him carefully, as if he wanted to get to know him again, his eyes full of curiosity.

"I just want to come over and see. When almost all the courtiers are avoiding me and leaving all their official duties to think about how to survive the difficulties and keep their power, what is the fate of the only unparalleled loyal minister who is willing to give up everything for me? It’s just what it looks like.”

Lu Chen: "..."

Even now, you still have such interest?Holy King Cangming will enter Beijing soon!Aren't you worried about the cruel methods that the first Holy King in the history of Central Continent who covets supreme imperial power will use to deal with you?

I really don't understand where this guy got such a good attitude.

Several black lines crossed Lu Chen's heart, but his expression remained normal on the surface.

He cupped his hands and said calmly: "Your Majesty's words are serious."

Jiang Chengwan shook her head. To Lu Chen's humble and polite words, she actually responded seriously: "I'm just discussing the matter."

After saying that, she walked to Lu Chen's desk, stretched out her hand, picked up the official document he had just dropped, and said while flipping through it: "What did Huaiyu mean by 'the time has come' just now? Can you tell me?" ?”

Hearing this, Lu Chen's eyes couldn't help but twitch slightly.

Of course it was when Saint King Cangming entered the capital, but how the hell can I tell you this directly?

Fortunately, he reacted quickly and thought of an excuse in a moment: "Return to your Majesty, what I just said was related to the Ministry of Industry..."

However, before he finished speaking, Jiang Chengwan suddenly sighed.

"Don't try to deceive me."

She closed the official document and said softly to Lu Chen: "Huaiyu, were you just about to get up and go to Ziwei Palace to escort me?"

Lu Chen: "..."

Chapter 23 The Darkness Before Dawn

On the tower of Huangji Gate.

Dozens of courtiers faced the cold north wind and stood in front of the door eagerly, waiting for the Holy King Cangming to return to the capital with the Tiger and Wolf Division.

Behind them, there was also a rather large honor guard.

Since only the emperor is qualified to lead the crowd on the Shenglin Road in front of the Huangji Gate, this extremely well-repaired road is usually used either for the emperor's personal expeditions, major sacrificial activities, or when the emperor dies and is sent to the imperial mausoleum for burial. Good roads, so there are basically no pedestrians here.

As soon as the Cangming Army appears, they will be able to discover it immediately.

However, they waited for a long time, and until a quarter of noon, no one could be seen on the extremely spacious Shenglin Road.

"Ah!"

One of the courtiers couldn't bear it anymore and sneezed loudly.

The other courtiers couldn't help but frown.

They all subconsciously felt something was wrong.

Li Zheng said in the letter that Cangming's army would definitely arrive at Huangjimen at this time, but it was already noon, but not even a ghost was seen on Shenglin Road.

This is obviously a bit abnormal.

Li Zheng has been an official for many years and has always been tactful in dealing with things. He will definitely not stand up for anything that is not absolutely sure. Since he has categorically stated that the Holy King intends to seize the throne, and also definitely stated the time, it stands to reason that he should not There will be mistakes.

but now……

"What's going on? Why hasn't the Cangming Army shown up yet? Is there an accident?"