Nine dragons fight for the throne, I don't want to sit on this throne

Chapter 1614: With great fanfare!

The sky in Los Angeles was as dark as iron, and the lead-gray clouds were so low that they seemed like they would fall at any time.

The biting north wind, carrying heavy snow, swirled around the city walls, shrouding this thousand-year-old capital in desolation.

It is the twelfth lunar month, a time when people should stay indoors, but today Los Angeles is exceptionally lively.

"Here they come! The Cui family's convoy has arrived!"

Following a loud shout from the city gate guard, the Cui clan members who had been waiting outside the city gate for a long time straightened their clothes and stood solemnly on both sides of the road.

In the wind and snow, a large flag embroidered with the golden word "Cui" first caught the eye. The flag fluttered in the strong wind, looking imposing.

Cui Gaoyi sat upright in a gilded carriage pulled by eight pure white horses. The curtains were half rolled up, revealing a sharp-edged face.

His temples were slightly frosted, and his eagle eyes were as sharp as knives, as if they could see through people's hearts.

As the current head of the Qinghe Cui family, Cui Gaoyi has the longest seniority and the highest prestige among the eight great families, so he is naturally ranked first to enter the city this time.

"Father, everyone in the city is ready." Cui Minghao rode his horse close to the car window and reported in a low voice.

He is Cui Gaoyi's eldest son, in his forties, and his face is 70% similar to his father, but his eyes are less experienced and more sharp.

Cui Gaoyi nodded slightly, his eyes sweeping over the tribesmen kneeling on both sides of the road. He said calmly, "Tell them there's no need to be so ostentatious. The Empress has many eyes and ears, and being too ostentatious would only lead to harm."

Cui Minghao hesitated to speak, but finally nodded in agreement.

He knew that his father had always been cautious. This time, the eight great families entered the city at the same time, ostensibly to participate in the Winter Solstice Ceremony, but in reality, to respond to the dramatic changes in the court.

The Chu Emperor Chu Ning has been frequently entering and leaving the palace recently, having secret talks with Empress Wu Zetian. There are even rumors that the Empress intends to incorporate the Great Zhou into the Chu State.

At this moment, Grand Marshal Pei Yan suddenly died, which made the eight major families feel a sense of crisis.

"The convoy of the Taiyuan Wang family has arrived!" Another shout came from the city gate.

Following closely behind the Cui family, the Wang family convoy led by Wang Yan slowly drove over.

Wang's carriage was entirely black, with only a piece of white jade inlaid on the door, engraved with four seal characters "Taiyuan Wang Family". Its simplicity revealed an undeniable majesty.

Wang Yan was about forty-five or forty-six years old, with a gaunt face. He wore a blue shirt and a fox fur coat. He looked more like an elegant scholar than the head of a noble family who controlled half of Hedong Road.

"Mr. Cui."

Wang Yan bowed to Cui Gaoyi's carriage from a distance, and their eyes met briefly in the air, and they understood each other tacitly.

The wind and snow grew stronger, but there was an endless stream of convoys entering the city.

The third person to enter the city was Xiao Hongde of the Lanling Xiao family. His carriage was the most magnificent, with the roof covered with peacock feathers and golden bells hanging from the four corners, making crisp sounds as it drove.

Xiao Hongde himself was much more low-key and never showed up. Only when the car curtain was occasionally blown by the wind could one catch a glimpse of a dark purple corner of his clothes.

"The Xie family of Chenjun has arrived!"

Xie An's carriage was plain, but the six horses pulling it were all rare Arabian horses, demonstrating that the Xie family was low-key but powerful.

Xie An himself lifted the curtain of his carriage and greeted with a smile the clansmen who were bowing on the roadside.

He looked to be only in his early forties, with picturesque features and an extraordinary bearing. Although he was the youngest patriarch of the eight great families, no one dared to underestimate him.

"The Zheng family of Xingyang is here!"

Zheng Huan's carriage was the most peculiar. The outside of the carriage was hung with bamboo slips and silk books, which swayed gently as the carriage moved, like a mobile library.

Zheng Huan himself loved reading and was said to be able to recite 50,000 volumes of classics. He was recognized as a great scholar of his time.

"The Longxi Li family has arrived!"

Li Chong's carriage was pulled by four pure black war horses. The body of the carriage was covered with marks of swords and knives, obviously having been on the battlefield.

Li Chong himself was wearing armor and carrying a sword, looking more like a general than a scholar. In fact, the Longxi Li family had been guarding the western frontier for generations, and most of their family members served in the army.

"The Wang Clan of Langya has arrived!"

Wang Su's carriage was the largest, occupying almost half of the street.

The Wang family of Langya and the Wang family of Taiyuan have the same origin, but they have been separated for a long time, and the two families often have conflicts when they meet.

Today, Wang Su deliberately slowed down his carriage and drove side by side with Wang Yan's. The two talked for a while through the window, and it was unknown what they talked about.

The last person to enter the city was Yang Yan of the Hongnong Yang family. The Yang family had risen the fastest in recent years, and Yang Yan himself was known for his tough tactics.

His carriage was completely red, like a ball of fire moving through the snow, making it particularly eye-catching.

Yang Yan did not bring many followers, but each guard had sharp eyes and was obviously a master.

The convoys of the eight great families entered the city one after another, and each family was greeted by hundreds of clansmen. The main streets in the city were almost completely blocked.

Ordinary people hid behind the windows at the alley entrance, peeking and whispering.

Such a scene has not been seen in Los Angeles for many years.

Just as the convoys of the eight noble families were slowly moving towards their respective residences in Luo City, a chess game was reaching a critical point in the Purple Palace of the Imperial Palace.

Empress Wu Zetian held the black piece in her hand and was reluctant to drop it.

Her pair of phoenix eyes were intimidating without even being angry. At this moment, her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she was thinking about the chess game, or as if she was pondering a deeper issue.

"Your Majesty, it's your turn." Chu Ning, who was sitting opposite, reminded softly.

He changed into a white suit today, which made him look even more elegant.

Wu Zhao came to her senses, but did not make a move immediately. Instead, she asked, "What do you think of the outcome of this game?"

Chu Ning smiled faintly: "A chess game is like the world, changing rapidly. Who can predict the outcome until the last move?"

A hint of admiration flashed in Wu Zhao's eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she heard hurried footsteps outside the hall.

"Report——!"

A guard knelt outside the palace gate and said, "Your Majesty, the heads of the eight great families have entered the city simultaneously! The motorcades of Cui Gaoyi, Wang Yan, Xiao Hongde, Xie An, Zheng Huan, Li Chong, Wang Su, and Yang Yan have entered through the south gate one after another. Each family has hundreds of people welcoming them inside the city. The momentum is enormous!"

Wu Zhao's hand holding the chess piece paused slightly, and then she casually placed the black piece in a corner of the board: "I understand, please step back."

After the guards left the hall, Wu Zhao raised her eyes to look at Chu Ning, a sharp glint in her eyes: "It seems that they are worried that you will attack them! Pei Yan's death has frightened them."

Chu Ning's expression remained unchanged, his slender fingers tapping the chessboard lightly. "Pei Yan is so stubborn and has evil intentions that he deserves death. If the eight great families have nothing to hide, why are they making such a fuss?"

Wu Zhao sneered, "This time, if you want to convince them to agree to the annexation of the Great Zhou into your Chu State, I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

"The eight great families have dominated our dynasty for hundreds of years. They are so powerful and deeply rooted. How could they easily give up their power?"

Outside the hall, the wind and snow howled, while inside the hall, the charcoal fire crackled. Chu Ning stared at the chessboard and suddenly chuckled:

"The more they brag, the more guilty they seem. Don't worry, I have plenty of ways to deal with them."

Wu Zhao narrowed her eyes slightly. "Oh? What's your plan? Please tell me in detail."

Chu Ning did not answer, but simply placed a white piece gently in the center of the chessboard, and the entire chess situation suddenly changed.

He raised his head to meet Wu Zhao's gaze, a meaningful smile playing on his lips: "Your Majesty, it's your turn."

Seeing that he didn't want to say anything, Wu Zhao could only shake her head helplessly.