Time is not a horizontal line drawn on paper, which can only be listed as one, two, three, four, five after being drawn.
It is multidimensional.
This means that these things can happen simultaneously.
Whether it was Lü Zhi turning Consort Qi into a human swine, or other actions, all of her actions ultimately aimed to conceal the fact that she had the Emperor bestow titles upon the Lü Clan's descendants, while also ensuring these Lü Clan descendants maintained their positions in the central government.
Only in this way could Lü Zhi remain the powerful Empress Dowager Lü even after everyone realized what was happening.
Just like Empress Dowager Dou.
Why was Empress Dowager Dou so formidable, even causing Emperor Wu of Han to tremble in fear while she was alive? Was it merely because Empress Dowager Dou was Emperor Wu of Han's grandmother?
Don't be ridiculous.
Would a political creature like Emperor Wu of Han, who was even more ruthless than his ancestors, relax his grip just because you were his grandmother?
Empress Dowager Dou's initial restraint and control over Emperor Wu of Han was due to the tiger tally!
This was real power!
With this in hand, Empress Dowager Dou possessed military authority, moral righteousness, and responsibility—her son, Emperor Jing, had entrusted the nation to her care before his death.
This was a concrete, verbal 'imperial decree.'
Therefore, Chen Cheng's primary purpose in coming this time was to sever these tentacles extended by Lü Zhi.
Titles cannot be conferred haphazardly—he also wanted to tell Lü Zhi, "You want to test the waters by bestowing a King title upon the Lü Clan?"
"No."
A glint appeared in Chen Cheng's eyes. He slightly raised his head, planting the long sword in his hands on the ground, and looked at Lü Zhi, saying, "May I ask, Empress Dowager, what is your current status?"
This question bewildered Lü Zhi. She had thought Chen Cheng had discovered her minor actions and was continuing to question her, but was that not the case?
A hint of excitement flashed in her heart.
Did Chen Cheng not discover it? If he didn't, that's good news!
Everything else is minor!
Lü Zhi thought to herself, "When I finally control the imperial court, I will make this Chen Xi regret it!"
"I am naturally the Empress Dowager!"
Chen Cheng nodded slightly, "Since you are the Empress Dowager, may I ask why you reside in Changle Palace, where the Empress resides? Just now, the Empress Dowager repeatedly spoke of etiquette, but how can you forget that this is also part of etiquette?"
"Does the etiquette the Empress Dowager speaks of only bind others, but not you?"
Hearing this neither light nor heavy, nor painful rebuke, Lü Zhi breathed a sigh of relief again, "So it's just such a minor matter."
She didn't dwell on it, only wanting Chen Cheng, this harbinger of disaster, to leave quickly. So she readily agreed, "So it was about this. Emperor Xian passed away, and my heart was filled with grief. The current Emperor said nothing after his ascension, so I shamelessly resided here for a few days."
"I will tidy up the palace today and move out tomorrow."
Chen Cheng nodded, not arguing with Lü Zhi about a day or two, then he exhaled softly, expelling everything in his heart.
He was preparing to launch his final attack.
Whether it was the human swine Consort Qi earlier, or occupying Changle Palace, it was all merely a prelude to this matter.
His eyes instantly became incredibly sharp, like a precious sword.
"Then, this subject has only one last matter."
Chen Cheng said coldly and solemnly, "May I ask, Empress Dowager, why do you interfere in court affairs?!"
"May I ask, Empress Dowager, what merits do the many descendants of the Lü Clan possess that they can be granted titles?!"
"Among them, what virtue and ability does Lü Tai possess to be conferred as Marquis of Distinction, with an income of ten thousand households?"
Chen Cheng's eyes were wide with fury. His voice at this moment was not a roar, nor even loud, but Lü Zhi could still hear a bone-chilling coldness in it!
"Marquis of Liu, Zan Marquis, and others followed His Majesty in establishing achievements, overthrowing the tyrannical Qin during chaotic times, and then fighting against the King of Chu, diligently assisting His Majesty. Only with such great merits were they granted an income of ten thousand households."
"What merit does Lü Tai possess that allows the Empress Dowager to bypass the Emperor, and even force the Emperor to confer him as Marquis of Distinction?"
"Bang—"
Chen Cheng slammed the long sword in his hand onto the ground again, producing a sound that shook the entire hall. He looked at Lü Zhi in front of him and said, "If the Empress Dowager cannot give a proper explanation today, do not blame Chen Xi's sword for being blind; tomorrow, I will send Lü Tai down to follow Emperor Xian!"
When Chen Cheng's voice fell, Lü Zhi felt the heavy stone in her heart drop.
This was indeed the matter she worried about most, and also the most excessive action in her recent test—in fact, if this action had not been stopped by the former court, she would have subsequently conferred Lü Tai as King, and even promised him the right to establish his own state!
This was Lü Zhi's ultimate plan.
To allow the Lü Clan to enjoy the same treatment as the Liu Clan.
This was also the reason, and indeed the main reason, why the group of meritorious officials and imperial clan members in the former court suddenly could no longer tolerate it.
The Liu Clan conquered this empire; why should you, without reason, enjoy the same treatment?
Lü Zhi said in a deep voice, "This was a posthumous conferment by His Majesty; what does it have to do with me?"
"Lü Tai is His Majesty's brother. It has nothing to do with me whom he wishes to reward. I also tried to obstruct this matter, but it ultimately came to nothing."
She looked at Chen Cheng and said directly, "If Guandu Marquis has an objection, he can go find His Majesty."
Find Liu Ying?
This was actually ridiculous, because the decree conferring Lü Tai as Marquis of Distinction was indeed issued by Liu Ying, but it was also because Lü Zhi had forcefully demanded it, which was why Liu Ying issued it.
Liu Ying still had that much sense.
He just couldn't disobey his mother.
He was just a bit timid.
Chen Cheng sneered, and he looked at Lü Zhi and said, "The Empress Dowager says this matter has nothing to do with you?"
Lü Zhi nodded slightly.
She had made up her mind to resist to the death; this matter absolutely could not be withdrawn. Once withdrawn, a major problem would arise! She would have to obediently shrink back into the inner palace and be her auspicious Empress Dowager!
How could this be!
This was something Lü Zhi absolutely could not tolerate.
Chen Cheng didn't waste words, directly cupping his hands towards Lü Zhi and saying, "Good, in that case, I shall take my sword and ask Marquis Su if he can sit firmly in that position!"
Politics in this era had not yet developed intricate complexities; it was still relatively primitive.
The moment this sentence was uttered, it meant... Chen Cheng was going to kill Lü Tai!
Could Chen Cheng do such a thing?
Lü Zhi had no doubt that he absolutely could!
Did Chen Cheng have the ability to do such a thing?
Does that even need to be asked? Of course, he had the ability!
Otherwise, why would Lü Zhi waste so much time talking to Chen Cheng here?
She quickly stood up, "Guandu Marquis, wait!"
Lü Zhi waved her hand, dismissing those around them, a hint of sorrow on her face. She gestured for Chen Cheng to sit down, then personally poured tea for him. After a long sigh, she said, "I was a bit secretive just now. It's just that Emperor Xian just passed away, and I have no one to rely on in my heart, so I thought of having His Majesty promote a few of our own nephews and brothers."
She looked up at Chen Cheng and said, "Guandu Marquis, why must you make things so difficult for me? This is unnecessary."
"Earlier, His Majesty conferred you as King of Wei. This was also your honor, but His Majesty was somewhat overly suspicious before his death, which is why he reduced your King title."
"But being conferred as King was originally an honor you deserved."
Lü Zhi pondered for a moment, then said tactfully, "If you can understand the panic in this woman's heart, I can make the decision on behalf of His Majesty to re-confer you with the honor of a King, and relocate your fiefdom from Guandu to Qi. From then on, you will be the King of Qi, and you will even be allowed to establish your own state."
"All of the former Qi territory will be included in your fiefdom and state. From then on, you will be a true King of Qi."
Lü Zhi looked up, a hint of ambition in her eyes, "I, a mere woman, only wish to find a livelihood for my nephews and brothers in the family. I implore Guandu Marquis to show leniency."
She understood that the biggest obstacle to her desire to confer titles upon the Lü Clan was Chen Cheng. So she first conducted a series of tests, and after discovering that Chen Cheng was completely immune to this approach, she began another strategy.
Namely: temptation.
Was this temptation great?
Extremely great.
It was infinitely greater than the "King of Wei" position Liu Bang had previously promised Chen Cheng.
Why?
It's a very simple reason.
No matter what, Liu Bang never promised Chen Cheng the power to "establish his own state," and even set his fiefdom in "Guandu."
Was Guandu a good place? It was excellent, located in the Central Plains, flat and open.
Was Guandu a good place? It was terrible! Located in the Central Plains, flat and open, as soon as the Emperor's army arrived, it would be completely unstoppable, even falling in an instant.
What about Qi?
Qi was the territory once enfeoffed to "Jiang Ziya." It was coastal, rich in fish resources, and because it was by the sea, salt could be refined, making it practically the most fertile place in the entire Han Dynasty at that time!
That Lü Zhi was willing to give such a fertile place to Chen Cheng only showed that she had indeed gone all out.
Chen Cheng looked up at Lü Zhi, who had a gentle expression on her face. In his eyes, Lü Zhi at this moment was not offering a gentle "sweet treat," but rather a devil setting a trap!
Qi was indeed good, even very prosperous, but now... why could Chen Cheng be so arrogant and even completely disdainful towards the Empress Dowager?
Was it because of Chen Cheng's merits?
Was it because of Chen Cheng's martial prowess?
Was it because of Chen Cheng's status?
No! None of them!
Chen Cheng's arrogance today stemmed entirely from the blood oath Liu Bang swore with him before his death, in front of the Three Excellencies, Nine Ministers, and numerous imperial clan members!
The covenant stated: "Chen shall not betray Liu, Liu shall not abandon Chen!"
These eight characters alone were the entire foundation for Chen Cheng's arrogance.
Were Chen Cheng's actions today out of line?
If he were just Chen Cheng, he would be out of line, because even an official of the highest status could not rebuke the Empress Dowager in such a manner. This would be disrespectful to the Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and Emperor Xian.
But Chen Cheng was not just Chen Cheng; he was also the one who made a covenant with Emperor Xian!
He represented Liu Bang!
Therefore, let alone Chen Cheng merely questioning Lü Zhi now, even if he were to slap her twice, as long as he was in the right, he could claim to be acting on Emperor Xian's behalf, unable to bear seeing such a demonic Empress bring chaos to the nation.
This was Chen Cheng's foundation.
But what did Lü Zhi want to do? She wanted to confer Chen Cheng as King.
Once Chen Cheng accepted this King title, all of his "invincibility" would collapse without a fight!
Why?
Because there was another clause in the covenant that day.
"Those not of the Liu Clan who claim the title of King shall be attacked by all under Heaven!"
As Emperor Xian's covenant partner and a witness to the golden knife prophecy, if he were to be the first to trample upon this oath, what right or face would he have to rebuke the Lü Clan here?
And once the Lü Clan gained power, could he still remain unscathed?!
Dream on!
At that time, the Chen Clan, stripped of its invincibility, would be the first to be purged! And the Chen Clan would not even have a reason to resist!
Chen Cheng slowly exhaled, expelling all the slight "temptation" he had felt along with a mouthful of turbid air.
It was impossible not to be tempted, but he only felt a brief moment of temptation before looking at Lü Zhi with a half-smile, "The Empress Dowager wants to confer me as King of Qi?"
Chen Cheng's voice was calm, which made Lü Zhi somewhat excited. Could it really have worked? Had Chen Cheng lost his mind? Was he tempted?
But in the next moment, Chen Cheng made Lü Zhi's heart tremble.
Chen Cheng slowly spoke, "What authority does the Empress Dowager have to confer me as King of Qi?"