The ministers were the most anxious and fearful.

As officials, they had a broader perspective than the common people.

Throughout history, all battles to support the King were almost always initiated by ambitious people trying to overthrow the current regime, or even change dynasties.

Regardless of which side wins, there would be a major reshuffle in the Court.

The loyalists, when successful, would replace the Three Departments and Six Ministries with their own people.

The current Court has already gone through two major reshuffles.

Today, most of the civil and military officials are Lu Sheng's people, with a few from the Liang Family, and only a handful truly loyal to the Emperor.

If Chen Mo enters, those deeply colluding with Lu Sheng will inevitably face retribution.

Whether asleep or awake, at this moment, the ministers couldn't sleep, getting dressed hastily and rushing to the Prime Minister's Mansion to discuss countermeasures with Lu Sheng.

The quickest in action was King Chong.

King Chong arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion in a rage, the guards wanting to report his presence, but he barged in directly, loudly demanding to see Lu Sheng.

Lu Sheng knew King Chong would come; upon hearing the commotion, he came out.

But as they met, before Lu Sheng could speak, King Chong started angrily shouting, directly calling Lu Sheng by name:

"Lu Sheng, what exactly do you plan to do? I thought you were gathering strongmen everywhere to make a desperate stand in the Capital against the Chen Army, but you sent them all to Jushan Pass, and even then, you sent a eunuch who fled as soon as the Chen Army attacked.

Are all your generals dead? Tens of thousands of troops wasted just like that."

King Chong was truly furious, even forgetting he was now living under someone else's roof.

But facing King Chong's angry shouts, Lu Sheng not only didn't get angry but instead laughed and said, "Prince, don't worry, everything is within my plans."

King Chong frowned: "What on earth are you plotting at such a critical time? Are you still planning to keep it from me?"

"Don't be anxious, Prince, tomorrow you will understand. You came at the right time; I need your help with an affair," said Lu Sheng.

...

In Luonan, the civil and military officials were the most anxious and fearful, followed by the people in the Imperial Palace and harem.

Whenever there was a major change in the Court, those closely tied to the Imperial Family suffered. If the army entered the city, they might face being reduced from palace maids to slaves.

If lucky, they could become personal slaves or private pets of commanders.

If unlucky, they might be ravaged by low-ranking soldiers, repeatedly.

The Emperor Yong'an, too, was worried and uneasy.

Even though he was born merely as a deposed Emperor or Crown Prince by a slave woman, he clearly understood what supporting the King represented.

If supporting the King were a command from the Court's central authority, asking local forces to rise for support, it would be better.

But if local forces took initiative without central command and rose for support, clearing the Emperor's side, essentially it would be rebellion.

And Chen Mo's "supporting the King" was evidently without central command.

If Chen Mo enters, Emperor Yong'an faces three outcomes.

The worst outcome is Chen Mo directly claiming the throne, and he would be a hindrance, certainly not surviving.

The second outcome would be continuation as a puppet as now.

The last outcome is becoming a deposed Emperor like his father.

In his heart, Emperor Yong'an hoped he could be deposed; at least it offered more freedom and dignity than being a puppet.

What he feared most was the first outcome.

And this outcome seemed most likely.

Chen Mo was not Xu Guozhong or Lu Sheng.

Currently, most of the nation has fallen into Chen Mo's hands.

Once Lu Sheng is eradicated, nothing in this nation could threaten him, and he has no need to "raise" the Imperial Family further. He could change dynasties and crown himself Emperor.

...

Meanwhile, in the Empress Dowager's bedroom.

Since learning her father was captured by Chen Mo and his life uncertain, Liang Ji seemed to fall ill, languishing in bed, spiritless, her complexion pale and becoming extremely haggard over time.

Yet, having been Empress for over ten years, even in such a state, she did not lose her noble and dignified air of someone in power.

And being able to ascend as Empress and then Empress Dowager, Liang Ji was naturally a stunning beauty, well-kept in the palace, even her pallid, frail look could stir a man's lust.

At this point, a palace maid hurriedly walked in, calming her steps after passing the screen, came to the bedside and whispered into Liang Ji's ear.

Liang Ji's pallid face, with neatly groomed eyebrows, slightly lifted before she laboriously sat up.

Seeing this, the palace maid rushed to assist, placing a pillow behind Liang Ji once she sat up.

Liang Ji weakly said, "Lu Sheng and King Chong are nominally allies, but they are fundamentally at odds, each with their own agenda. I have long anticipated they are no match for Chen Mo. Now with the Chen Army at the gates, what is the family planning?"

"Actually, the family has already contacted Chen Mo. The Patriarch is still alive but imprisoned by Chen Mo, who said freeing the Patriarch depends on the family's sincerity." The palace maid answered irrelevantly.

"Sincerity? Probably demanding money and provisions." Liang Ji coldly spat, then asked, "How does the family plan to show sincerity?"

The palace maid glanced at Liang Ji, then hesitated to speak.

"What is it?" Liang Ji frowned.

"The family's idea is to apply the right remedy, and if Chen Mo does break into Luonan, have the Empress Dowager feign compliance to rescue the Patriarch…" The palace maid spoke softer and then lowered her head immediately upon finishing.

Upon hearing, Liang Ji first trembled violently, understood these words, then self-deprecatingly laughed, "Feign compliance? I see rescuing my father is just an excuse; preserving family interests is the family's true hope."

How could she not understand?

They just wish for her to behave like that Former Princess Consort Huai.

The palace maid dared not respond.

...

February 7th, morning.

Luonan greeted the end-of-winter heavy rain, dropping temperatures significantly.

The once bustling Capital was now sealed, tightly controlled, the streets deserted save for patrolling soldiers.

At the South Gate's Zhou Mansion.

Several carriages stood on the street at the back gate, surrounded by dozens of armored warriors in raincoats, wearing bamboo hats, cautiously watching the surroundings.

Then, the back gate creaked open.

"Hurry, damn it, the Chen Army is about to attack. The South Gate is under our control, we must quickly exit through it..."

A stout Zhou Qin, clad in fur, cloaked, emerged from the back gate.

Zhou Qin, one of Lu Sheng's confidants, a Fifth-Grade Martial Artist, led the Imperial City Department, held palace prohibition, Zhou Lu Guard.

Logically, at such a critical moment, as Lu Sheng's confidant, Zhou Qin should remain alongside him, weather the storm together.

But Zhou Qin had long lost confidence in Lu Sheng, believing Luonan couldn't be held.

Using his authority over the South Gate, Zhou Qin intended to escape Luonan with his family.

Once the family boarded the carriages, they rushed towards the South Gate in panic.

Meeting patrols, Zhou Qin would show his Imperial City Department token, and they passed unimpeded.

But nearing the South Gate, Zhou Qin's group was surrounded by a squad of armored warriors.

Leading them was Housekeeper Le from the Prime Minister's Mansion, a Fourth-Grade Martial Artist.

"General Zhou, where are you headed?"

"Oh, Housekeeper Le, this General is taking people to defend the South Gate."

"Bringing family to guard the South Gate?" Housekeeper Le's eyes cooled, "Chancellor Lu has ordered, deserters must be detained, seize them."

Similar fates befell dozens of Court officials, all captured by Lu Sheng's men.

Not only were they not executed, but also not imprisoned; instead, they were all sent to the Prime Minister's Mansion.