Summon Valiant Generals from All Directions to the Capital

Hosted by these three people, gathering the core backbone of the Great Yu Dynasty, a discussion concerning the fate of the Great Yu Dynasty thus began.

Just as it started, Chen Liang from the young and vigorous faction was the first to step forward.

Like Gu Qingyue, he was also a Commander of the Tiqi. However, unlike Gu Qingyue, he did not have the backing of the Defender Duke's Estate. His background was ordinary, or one could even say he had none.

Therefore, even though he held the same official rank as Gu Qingyue, she could sit in the main seat and direct things, while he could only speak from below.

But this could not block his burning anger.

"Her Majesty is tyrannical. She slaughtered seventy thousand elite troops of the Chifeng Army for Tuoba Xiangtai, causing chaos in the world. Now, she has personally welcomed Tuoba Xiangtai and has stayed in the Yuchen Mansion for a long time without coming out, treating our Great Yu as nothing. In my eyes, how can such an Empress save the currently precarious Great Yu?"

"It would be better for us to support a new monarch to ascend the throne!"

Chen Liang's words were like dropping a bomb, instantly causing an uproar on the scene. Although before this meeting concerning the life and death of Great Yu, everyone had tacitly agreed that they could speak freely without taboos.

But wasn't this a bit too taboo-free?!

Opening his mouth to demand the Empress's abdication?

This was highly rebellious and treasonous!

Thus, the scene was filled with clamor. However, Chen Liang had quite a few supporters, or more accurately, there were many who agreed with his words.

Over this recent period, the glorious Great Yu had truly been tormented by the Empress until it was riddled with holes. Especially after the arrival of Tuoba Xiangtai, it was as if Great Yu had an emperor in name only.

Looking throughout history, how many emperors could go a whole month without showing their faces?

Such emperors were either pure tyrants or masters of political manipulation, but they certainly had nothing to do with being wise rulers!

Consequently, someone immediately stepped forward to support Chen Liang.

"Great Yu was originally strong and prosperous, suppressing the barbarians so they couldn't lift their heads. The world was at peace, and the people lived and worked in contentment. But Her Majesty's actions make it truly difficult for us to submit willingly. It's better to choose a new monarch!"

"That's right, by crowning a new monarch, our Great Yu might still be saved!"

...

For a time, everyone clamored to establish a new monarch.

The core force among them was naturally those who genuinely cared for Great Yu, such as Chen Liang and his ilk. But there were also quite a few who wanted to take this opportunity to gain the merit of supporting a new ruler.

As a result, this meeting seemed to have set its tone from the very beginning, with even the Prime Minister wavering.

Only Lu Qing frowned.

He had just been promoted by Xiao Mingzhao, who even arranged for his sister-in-law Ruyue to marry him. Naturally, he had to be loyal to the Empress. Just as he was about to state his position, he heard Gu Qingyue speak.

"Everyone..."

Lu Qing immediately shut his mouth, wanting to hear what Gu Qingyue had to say.

The other ministers had the same thought.

The Defender Duke's Estate, represented by Gu Qingyue, had extremely high prestige. Its influence in the court and among the public far exceeded that of the Auxiliary Duke's Estate and other ducal estates whose surnames expressed auspicious meanings.

Her words held a very strong decisive significance.

"Her Majesty cannot be deposed!"

Gu Qingyue directly set the tone: "Everyone says the world belongs to the public, but why has it never been that the world belongs to the mother?"

"Only as long as Her Majesty is here is there a possibility that one day the world will belong to the mother!"

"Her Majesty's actions are just slightly extreme, what big deal is that?"

"How can we depose her?"

"I, Gu Qingyue, representing our Defender Duke's Estate, pledge eternal loyalty to Her Majesty!"

Pausing, she looked at Lu Qing.

"General Lu, what do you think?"

"I think you are right!"

Of the three leaders hosting this meeting, two had firmly expressed their unwavering support for Empress Xiao Mingzhao. The remaining Prime Minister only wavered slightly before immediately declaring, "I swear loyalty to Her Majesty to the death!"

Chen Liang and the others instantly lost their spirit.

This plan, which had gambled all their courage, was directly rejected by the three superiors.

They suddenly felt hopeless.

However, if they couldn't depose Empress Xiao Mingzhao, they still had to think of a way; things couldn't go on like this indefinitely.

Otherwise, Great Yu would face major problems.

"Why not have the Ministry of Revenue cut off the rations for those barbarians? When the time comes, they won't have food. With tens of thousands of them guarding the Yuchen Mansion, how can they remain peaceful?"

This suggestion was vetoed as soon as it was brought up.

"Her Majesty is still in the Yuchen Mansion. Let alone the fact that Her Majesty wouldn't agree, even if she did, Tuoba Xiangtai would be angered by it. If he acts improperly toward Her Majesty and hurts her, wouldn't we become guilty ministers?"

Someone else proposed, "How about a forced attack?"

"Let General Lu Qing lead men to forcefully escort Her Majesty back to the palace first."

Lu Qing bluntly said, "Ridiculous, this is Her Majesty's family matter, how can I interfere?"

"Furthermore, let me tell you, abandon this thought completely, otherwise, the blade in my hand might prove to be quite sharp!"

Opinion after opinion was raised.

But one by one, they were all vetoed.

They debated from morning until afternoon, and from afternoon until evening. They argued for a long time, but the three people sitting in the main seats, the Prime Minister, Gu Qingyue, and Lu Qing, remained disunited, resulting in no feasible solution being produced.

All the ministers felt helpless.

Looking at this situation, even if they discussed it for three days and three nights, there would be no result.

Right at this moment, Gu Qingyue, who had basically said nothing else apart from stating her stance, spoke up: "I actually have a method!"

"Everyone, would you like to hear it?"

Everyone's spirits lifted.

They were eager for her to speak quickly, and the hall instantly fell silent.

They heard Gu Qingyue say, "Her Majesty has been living in the Yuchen Mansion for a long time, and we cannot persuade her to move, simply because our words carry little weight."

"But what if there is someone who can make Her Majesty feel pressure?!"

As soon as these words came out, everyone started to think.

But after much thought, the person who could most pressure Her Majesty was none other than the late Defender Duke. Yet, even when the Defender Duke was alive, he couldn't persuade Xiao Mingzhao, and now there was even less of a way!

However, since Gu Qingyue said this, she must be referring to someone, right?

Sure enough, Gu Qingyue said, "At this time of crisis, we should summon fierce generals from all directions to enter the capital, using military force to coerce Her Majesty into leaving the Yuchen Mansion, and even..."

Gu Qingyue's gaze turned sharp: "Even order them to slay Tuoba Xiangtai, completely severing Her Majesty's thoughts of intermarrying with the barbarians again!"

Boom!

This was nothing short of a clap of thunder.

It blasted everyone until their ears rang.

After all, this proposal was truly too shocking and unconventional!

Gu Qingyue immediately continued, "Tuoba Xiangtai commands ten thousand troops in the city, guarding Her Majesty. If we do not make him afraid, or even pull him up by the roots, he will certainly become a major disaster!"

"Her Majesty has the benevolence of a woman; we must rely on the coercion of external troops!"

Saying this, she looked at the Prime Minister.

"Prime Minister, what do you think?"

When the Prime Minister first heard those words, his eyes lit up, deeply feeling that this was a brilliant strategy of borrowing strength to strike. But he was somewhat worried and remained hesitant.

He gave no answer.

Gu Qingyue then asked Lu Qing, "General Lu, what do you think?"

"Anything works, as long as it ends early!"

Among the three, Lu Qing expressed indifference to Gu Qingyue's proposal, and although the Prime Minister did not agree, he did not oppose it either. Gu Qingyue's spirits instantly jolted as she said, "From my observation, there are only two people capable of taking on this heavy responsibility!"

"The first is Lin Zixiao, the son of Lin Yi from the south!"

"The second is Ren Tianye, the son of Duke Ren from the northern borders!"

"As for me, I am more inclined towards Ren Tianye!"

...