Mythical Qin: I, Gao Yao, will never be a eunuch!

Chapter 1016 The power struggles within the palace!

Seeing that her son finally showed some reaction, Lü Zhi felt a little more at ease, knowing she couldn't push him any further and needed to give him clear guidance. She softened her tone, but it still carried an undeniable authority:

"Alas, you..." she sighed, both helplessly and as a final admonition, "Listen, from now on, put away your useless fears. Tomorrow, prepare generous gifts and personally visit Grand Secretary Xiao He."

"Lord Xiao?" Gao Lin asked, somewhat puzzled. "Lord Xiao is my father's most trusted minister, he..."

"Precisely because he is your father's most trusted advisor, holding a position of extraordinary importance, his attitude is crucial!" Lü Zhi interrupted him. "When you go to see him, you don't need to directly ask for his support. Simply show humility, a thirst for knowledge, and concern for the country. Ask him about the current situation and express your determination, as the eldest son, to share your father's burdens and serve the country. The key is to let him see your presence and your attitude, to make him understand that if you ascend the throne, Xiao He will still be the head of all officials, and his position and ambitions will not be affected in any way. Even if he doesn't openly express his support for anyone, as long as he doesn't side with the other princes, that will be the greatest benefit for us!"

Gao Lin nodded as if he understood, "Your subject... understands."

“Secondly,” Lü Zhi continued, her eyes sharp, “go contact General Gao Niu. Bring even more substantial gifts, and be exceptionally respectful. General Gao Niu is your father’s absolute confidant, commanding nearly 70,000 elite troops around Xianyang. His attitude, to some extent, can determine success or failure.” She paused, lowered her voice, and uttered the most crucial sentence, “Furthermore, you must imply to him—no, explicitly promise—that if you succeed to the throne, you are willing to marry his second daughter as your principal wife, the future queen!”

"What?!" Gao Lin was startled, his face showing resistance. "Mother, this... General Gao Niu's daughter, I have only met her once, and there is no... no affection between us, and besides, her family background..."

"Foolish!" Empress Lü scolded, exasperated. "Is this the time to talk about romance or social standing? Gao Niu may not be of high birth, but he is a trusted confidant who followed your father from the very beginning of his rebellion. He has distinguished himself in battle, has deep connections within the army, and is utterly loyal to your father. He is the most reliable ally! Marrying his daughter is not for love, but to bind him and his 70,000 troops firmly to our cause! With this marriage alliance, he will become a relative of the emperor, the future father-in-law! This merit of supporting the new emperor will be enough to ensure that he and the military group behind him fully support you! This is the most direct and powerful military guarantee we can obtain right now! Do you understand?"

Gao Lin was stunned by his mother's barrage of words. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but under Lü Zhi's extremely oppressive gaze, he swallowed his words and lowered his head, saying in a hoarse voice, "Yes, Your Majesty... understands."

"Go," Lü Zhi waved her hand, her face showing undisguised exhaustion. "Make preparations immediately, and take care of it first thing tomorrow morning. Remember, be sincere and courteous. This is not only about your own future, but also about the life and death of my son and me, and even the entire Lü clan behind us! Do not be negligent!"

"Yes! Your subject takes his leave." Gao Lin bowed and left Chang Le Palace with heavy steps.

The palace doors slowly closed behind him, shutting out the light and shadows between inside and outside, and seemingly separating him from that cruel world that demanded he grow up immediately. He stood on the steps outside the palace, gazing at the deep darkness of Xianyang Palace, the cold wind blowing against his clothes, bringing a biting chill.

For the first time, he felt that the palace where he had grown up was so unfamiliar and dangerous. His mother's words still echoed in his ears like thunderclaps. He didn't want to fight, but did he have any way out? Recalling the fate of the losers that his mother had described, he couldn't help but shudder.

Inside Chang Le Palace, Empress Lü sat alone in the empty hall, motionless for a long time. Gao Lin's departing figure, still carrying a hint of bewilderment, cast a shadow over the nascent hope that had just risen within her. She rubbed her temples, feeling a deep sense of powerlessness. She felt like an inexperienced helmsman, steering a ship that was never sturdy enough, about to sail into a raging storm. And her only reliance was on the heir she had personally crippled.

"I hope it's not too late... I hope he can understand soon..." she murmured to herself, her voice sounding particularly weak in the empty hall.

Palace intrigues never involve only one side making a move. Just as Lü Zhi was deep in thought about her next plan, a trusted maidservant quietly and quickly entered, approaching her and whispering, "Your Majesty, news has just arrived that Lady Yu Shu secretly summoned her brother, General Batu, an hour ago. Shortly afterward, the Second Prince, Gao Zhe, also entered Yongle Palace, and the mother and son have been having a private conversation ever since."

Upon hearing the maid's report, a cold glint flashed in Lü Zhi's eyes, and a chilling, predictable smile curled at the corner of her lips. Sure enough, Yu Shu had already begun her operation. Batu was Yu Shu's maternal cousin; although his position wasn't as illustrious as Gao Niu's, he still wielded considerable influence in the army. Gao Zhe, though younger than Gao Lin, was more lively and, it was said, quite adept at horsemanship, archery, and making friends. It seemed Yu Shu intended to leverage both her maternal clan's influence and cultivate Gao Zhe's personal charisma.

The situation was clear: this was a war without gunfire, yet equally brutal. She and Yu Shu stood at a crossroads of fate, neither with a way out. Lü Zhi didn't believe that if she did nothing, Yu Shu would spare her and Gao Lin out of consideration for their past relationship after Gao Zhe ascended to power. Similarly, no matter what promises she made now that wouldn't threaten her position, Yu Shu would never believe them.

Now, both sides have revealed part of their cards. Next, it's up to each player to see who can make their moves faster, more accurately, and more ruthlessly, pushing their chips step by step toward that supreme throne.

The night deepened. Beneath the silence of Xianyang Palace, undercurrents surged, and a storm surrounding the succession of power was quietly brewing.

Meanwhile, above ground, around the area suspected to be the entrance to an underground palace, a grueling excavation project, a race against time, against the mountain, and against death, is proceeding slowly but persistently. Thousands of soldiers and top craftsmen conscripted from all over are facing an unprecedented challenge in their careers.

The violent explosion that occurred earlier, intended to seal the entrance and prevent some entity inside from escaping, had consequences far exceeding initial estimates. It was like a double-edged sword; while it temporarily achieved its tactical objective, it also completely destroyed the fragile geological structure inside the mountain.