World's First Traitor System (374)

Chapter 374 - A Woman’s Rule

Time rewound to a few days earlier.

Within Great Jin.

News of Emperor Fan Li's capture had reached Five Stars City.

The patriarchs of the five prominent families, upon hearing the news, rushed to the Jin City Imperial Palace, eager to offer their assistance.

Lu Zhi of the Zhuo Commandery Lu Clan, a fifth-rank Unity Realm cultivator.

Zhang Xutuo of the Nanyang Zhang Clan, a fourth-rank Unity Realm cultivator.

Dou Wangsun of the Fufeng Dou Clan, a third-rank Unity Realm cultivator.

Yin Junling of the Nanyang Yin Clan, a third-rank Unity Realm cultivator.

Kou Ziyi of the Shanggu Kou Clan, a third-rank Unity Realm cultivator.

Lu Zhi and the other four arrived in Jin City and found that everything within the city was in order. Everyone was diligently attending to their responsibilities.

Chancellor Wang Ban was overseeing all affairs of state, assisted by Minister of Agriculture Huang Longshi.

Grand Marshal Hu Zongxian had taken charge of the fifty thousand Ming Wolf Troops, was drilling them and reinforcing their discipline outside the city.

The Imperial Hospital, the Censorate, and the other government bodies were all functioning as usual.

“Outrageous!”

Lu Zhi was furious, his beard bristling, eyes bulging in disbelief.

“The Emperor has been captured is a disgrace to his subjects! Yet these ministers remain unmoved, their hearts as cold as ice, where is their loyalty? Where is their filial piety?”

“Has Great Jin, so newly formed, already begun to repeat the mistakes of the Great Han, with a ruler ignored, and order reduced to chaos?!”

Lu Zhi had personally witnessed the downfall of the Han Dynasty and couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair.

The other four patriarchs, Zhang, Yin, Dou, and Kou, quickly tried to reassure him.

The five families had been at odds over the naming of the new city, but Lu Zhi's personal prestige was immense. The other four patriarchs had always treated him as a senior in the past.

"To the palace!"

"I...I must meet the Empress! I will beg her to rule from behind the curtain, and take charge of the situation!"

Lu Zhi suddenly had an idea.

Zhang Xutuo, hearing his words, advised, "Minister Lu, you have the respect of all, but we only recently pledged our allegiance to Great Jin and do not hold official positions. For us to implore the Empress to rule from behind the curtain, I fear it might be inappropriate, wouldn’t you think?”

“Yes, yes.” The other three patriarchs agreed.

They still felt like newcomers, unfamiliar with the court and not keen to meddle in national affairs.

“There is nothing inappropriate about it!”

Lu Zhi was known for his fiery temperament.

He observed the peaceful and orderly scene in Jin City, but his frustration only grew.

“We act with justice, for the sake of a righteous rule, for the integrity of the court. We are no Dong Zhuo, our intentions are pure, and the heavens, earth, sun and moon can be our witnesses!"

"Those of you who share my heart, follow me to the palace!"

"Those of you who don't, do as you please!"

The old minister’s impassioned words stirred the four patriarchs.

They were reminded of Dong Zhuo’s tyrannical rule, and suddenly felt it was their duty to act.

“We will go with you!”

“I too!”

“Of course, we will!”

The five patriarchs looked at each other and their previous conflicts instantly forgotten. They were united!

“Good!” Lu Zhi exclaimed excitedly, “I am not alone!”

The five men rushed toward the palace, expecting to be met with resistance from the palace guards.

However, they weren't.

Only a few eunuchs and palace maids were at the main gate, who, upon seeing the five men, with their imposing attire, retreated to the side without challenging them.

Lu Zhi and the others were puzzled, yet they continued toward the grandest palace in the city.

Finally, a young eunuch, holding a horsetail whisk, emerged from the hall, as if he had been sent to greet them.

“Honorable patriarchs, please proceed slowly in the imperial palace.”

Lu Zhi had expected the eunuch to stop them, but, only asked them to proceed slower, he could not help but slow his steps.

Lu Zhi frowned, asking, “Who are you? How do you know of our identities?”

He had just arrived in Jin City, yet a low-ranking eunuch recognized them, causing him to feel uneasy.

“This servant is the chief eunuch Qin Shun, I am here by order of the Empress to receive the five patriarchs,” Qin Shun replied.

The five patriarchs were surprised and confused.

“How did the Empress know of our arrival?” Dou Wangsun asked.

“Within Jin City, Her Majesty has established surveillance formations. She was aware of your arrival from the moment you entered the city,” Qin Shun answered with a smile.

"The Empress is a formation master?" Kou Ziyi exclaimed.

“Yes,” Qin Shun replied, patiently explaining, “Her Majesty, for the sake of her cultivation, has established various protective and surveillance formations throughout Jin City. Her Majesty has also stated, she will personally establish formations in each city in Great Jin, to protect all its citizens.”

“Her Majesty is so benevolent, this is wonderful!” Lu Zhi said, his face full of relief.

Yin Junling, remembering something, pointed at the palace behind Qin Shun, asking, “Is Her Majesty inside the Golden Luan Palace?”

They had assumed the Empress would be secluded within her harem, requiring their formal invitation for her to appear.

Qin Shun nodded, “Yes, recently, with His Majesty absent, Her Majesty has been temporarily managing the court affairs.”

The five patriarchs were stunned.

They had only intended to petition the Empress to rule from behind the curtain, but that was only a formality.

In their hearts, national matters should be handled by male officials.

They couldn't believe that a woman was capable of managing the affairs of state.

Lu Zhi frowned. “Absurd! When I entered the city, I saw the ministers all working diligently. How can an Empress, a woman, manage state affairs alone?”

Qin Shun’s expression turned grim. “Patriarch Lu, your words are inappropriate! You lack the respect a subject should show.”

"Ah?" Lu Zhi was startled and quickly bowed towards the Golden Luan Palace. “I spoke out of turn. I beg your forgiveness.”

Having seen Lu Zhi observe the proper protocol, Qin Shun's expression relaxed.

The five patriarchs were secretly amazed. This young eunuch, despite his age, possessed remarkable poise and presence. He was clearly destined for great things.

“Little Shunzi, let them enter.”

Suddenly!

A woman's voice echoed from within the Golden Luan Palace. The voice was gentle and calm, yet conveyed a sense of authority.

Lu Zhi nodded inwardly, understanding that this must be the Empress, with her impressive demeanor and the presence of an imperial matriarch.

“By order of the Empress, the five patriarchs are permitted to enter the Golden Luan Palace.” Qin Shun stepped aside, signaling for them to proceed.

Lu Zhi and the others, filled with both doubt and reverence, respectfully stepped into the palace.

Looking up, they saw a woman dressed in phoenix robes standing beside the Dragon Throne with a memorial in her hand.

"Excellent!"

"The Dragon Throne is the Emperor’s seat. No one, not even the Empress, should dare overstep its bounds. Her Majesty is well-versed in the proper decorum, a blessing for Great Jin!”

Lu Zhi was old, and was a stickler for rules.

If Lu Fubao had been seated on the Dragon Throne, reviewing memorials, even if her intent was to serve the kingdom, Lu Zhi would have found her conduct abhorrent.

But he was still worried. Lu Fubao was, after all, a woman. Did she truly possess the ability to manage state affairs?

But then he saw Lu Fubao’s calm expression, possessing the hint of a smile. She picked up a vermilion pen and added a few words to the memorial.

Lu Zhi, a scholar of great learning, was intimately familiar with the art of crafting documents.

Just by observing Lu Fubao's movements, he understood what she was writing.

"In governing a kingdom, the first priority is to ensure the people's well-being.”

“To ensure the people's well-being, one must emphasize agriculture, and promote trade.”

“Provide food and clothing, and create wealth, then manage taxes and labor…”

Lu Zhi, though surprised, was also delighted.

A woman's insight was no less profound than that of any seasoned scholar.

Then he remembered, the Empress's surname was Lu!

As he marveled, he noticed Empress Lu Fubao gently place the memorial down, and look at them with a smile.