20demayo Chapter 881 The assassin attacks, Lu Zhi panics!
Chapter 881 The assassin attacks, Lu Zhi panics!
But at this time, Lu Zhi was completely different. Although Gao Yao gave Lu Zhi the opportunity to display her abilities, he did not allow Lu Zhi the opportunity to get involved in political issues. Moreover, she did not rely too much on Gao Yao, the foreign relative. Instead, the foreign relative was completely dependent on Gao Yao.
Although Lu Gong's self-righteous rebellion was eventually played down, it completely cut off Lu Zhi's chance to get involved in politics, and even her power was greatly reduced by Gao Yao.
This also led to the suddenness of the incident. Gao Yao was able to hand over power to Lu Zhi at this time, which made Lu Zhi very excited. This has already explained her status in Gao Yao's heart. But the difficulty lies here. Lu Zhi did not have much experience in dealing with many things. She was completely crossing the river by feeling the stones. If it were not for Li Zhao's help, she would have collapsed long ago.
The candlelight in the hall was bright, casting a long shadow on the palace wall painted with black bird patterns, swaying slightly. The candle wax on the copper lamp tree silently piled up, just like the bamboo slips and silk books piling up on her desk.
It was deep into the night, and all was silent. Only the scraping of a pen across bamboo slips and the occasional faint clatter of a night watchman from the distant palace walls signaled the passage of time. She was absorbed in the planning of Xianyang's market and the distribution of grain, her brow furrowed slightly as the several suggestions Li Zhao had presented that evening still swirled in her mind, requiring her to weigh and decide.
At that moment, a burst of hurried yet subdued footsteps shattered the tranquility of the palace. A maid dressed in a pale pink palace dress hurried through the palace gates, her breathing rapid from her pace, a hint of panic on her face that she couldn't quite conceal.
"Madam," she knelt and saluted, her voice trembling slightly. "There's a fire at the east gate. It's flickering, not an ordinary light. I suspect... I suspect there's some kind of disturbance!"
Upon hearing this, Lü Zhi slowly raised her head from her desk. In the candlelight, her face looked slightly fatigued, but her eyes remained sharp. She didn't immediately show panic, only a slight frown, as if assessing the severity of the news. Her thoughts were briefly drawn away from the complexities of government affairs, and she focused on the scene the maid had described. East Gate? It was a relatively prosperous area within Xianyang City, and a key garrison point, where most of the elite troops of the Southern Border Army were stationed.
"Fire?" Lu Zhi repeated with a cautious and inquiring tone, "Have any soldiers on duty come to report? Have any military reports been received?" She subconsciously thought that if there really was a large-scale riot, the well-trained Southern Border Army would definitely report it to her at the first opportunity.
While powerful enemies surrounded Xianyang, forcing everyone to remain vigilant, the city itself, under the Southern Border Army, which Gao Yao had single-handedly led, had taken full control since his departure. Security was tight, and the laws were strict. She couldn't imagine who would dare so brazenly cause trouble near the inner courtyard of the Xianyang Palace, or even within the city's core districts. The possibility seemed remote to her. Perhaps a flood had accidentally caused the disturbance, and the maid had misjudged it.
The maid hurriedly shook her head, her expression even more uneasy: "My mistress, no soldier has come to report. It is precisely because no one reported that I felt something was wrong. The fire looked really unusual. My mistress, it is late at night and the situation is unclear. Otherwise... you should move to the back hall to rest for a while? It is more secluded and safe there. After the soldiers in front have investigated clearly and explained the details, we can deal with it later. How about it?" The maid's suggestion was full of obvious worry. She was deeply afraid that if something really happened, it would endanger the safety of her mistress.
Lü Zhi's gaze had already returned to the city defense map on the table. She pondered for a moment, then waved her hand. Gao Yao had entrusted her with such a heavy responsibility. How could she lose her composure and retreat to the back hall over a single, unverified sign of fire? Wouldn't that make her appear cowardly and incompetent? She recalled the unfathomable look in Gao Yao's eyes as he entrusted her with power, a test far more than a trust.
"It's nothing," she said, her voice calm again, even carrying a hint of unquestionable indifference. "It's just a minor disturbance. Perhaps a householder accidentally let the water leak out, alarming everyone. It's harmless. There's no need to panic." She paused, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table. "Immediately dispatch two reliable eunuchs with imperial orders to investigate the east gate. Have them determine the situation and report back to me immediately! There must be no mistakes."
"Yes!" Seeing that Lu Zhi had made up her mind, the maid didn't dare to say anything more. She responded respectfully, turned around and walked quickly towards the palace gate, ready to convey the order.
Silence returned to the hall, but the previous atmosphere of intense concentration had been shattered. Lü Zhi's pen hung suspended in mid-air, not immediately falling. Her mind could no longer fully focus on the blueprint. The maid's words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, stirring up tiny ripples. She couldn't help but think that her ability to sit here and make decisions was entirely due to the urgency of a high-ranking official. This wasn't based on her established authority or secure position, but simply a precarious, temporary assignment. She knew better than anyone that her position was precarious, with a bottomless abyss beneath her feet.
Undercurrents surged within Xianyang City. Although Lü Gong's earlier, foolish rebellion had been suppressed, who knew how many eyes were still watching from the shadows, waiting to see her make a mistake, waiting to see the Lü family completely overthrown? Gao Yao's choice of her, rather than Yu Shu, who was more beloved and perhaps easier to control, to deal with the situation after his departure, itself sent a very complex signal.
This at least proves that, in Gao Yao's calculations, Lü Zhi's abilities and value temporarily surpass those of other options. This is a crisis, but it also presents an unprecedented opportunity, a long-awaited opportunity to truly reach the core of power and perhaps reverse the passive disadvantage previously caused by her family's foolish actions! Everything that happens tonight will be a test of her abilities. She must handle it appropriately, remain calm, and demonstrate the courage and wisdom worthy of this power.
Just as her mind raced, weighing the pros and cons repeatedly—
"Kill Lü Zhi! Quick, go!"
A violent roar, like a bolt from the blue, suddenly exploded from the night sky not far from the palace gate! Following closely behind was the chaotic clatter of footsteps, the harsh clang of weapons clashing, and short, shrill screams! These sounds merged into a terrifying wave of sound that instantly penetrated the heavy palace gate and swept across the entire hall!
Lü Zhi's entire body stiffened, and the pen in her hand fell to the bamboo slip with a "smack," staining a large black mark. Her glimmer of hope and composure was completely shattered by the sudden cries of killing! An icy chill instantly shot up from her feet to her head, nearly stopping her breath.