Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 578: Heaven Collapses (Part 1)

Emperor Taihe passed away so suddenly!

The heavens of Da Liang have crumbled!

Jiang Shaohua was suddenly struck by the tragic news, standing in place, her mind blank, unable to move for a long time.

It seemed she could hear a familiar voice nearby. She tried hard to listen to what those around her were saying, but for some reason, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hear clearly.

She seemed enveloped by an endless cloud, enduring the thunderstorm alone.

"Commandery Princess!"

"Commandery Princess, calm down! This is how things are now; the most important thing is how to respond next."

"Commandery Princess must hold on!"

Who is speaking?

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyes, revealing confusion, and after observing for a while, recognized it was her attendant, Chen Jinyu, who had accompanied her for years.

Chen Jinyu’s eyes were red, clearly in turmoil. She had accompanied the Commandery Princess twice to the Capital City, lived in the palace for quite some time, and was not unfamiliar with Emperor Taihe. Emperor Taihe was gentle and mediocre in ability, not really a wise ruler, but was very good to the Commandery Princess; he was a rare good brother.

The Commandery Princess spared no effort in supporting Emperor Taihe, nearly giving up all her family wealth to repel the Rouran Barbarians. Now the Nanyang Army and Personal Guard Camp were still on their way back to Nanyang County, yet the terrible news of the Emperor’s sudden passing reached them, making it unbearable even for her.

Chen Jinyu held Jiang Shaohua’s hand tightly, choking in a low voice: "Commandery Princess, if you’re sad, just cry! Don’t hold back till it hurts your heart."

Jiang Shaohua neither shed tears nor spoke, maintaining her posture in silence.

"Commandery Princess!"

A familiar voice, accompanied by hurried footsteps, reached her ears. Cui Du, who was busy in the experimental fields, rushed over upon hearing the news.

Cui Du had never met Emperor Taihe, and wasn’t particularly sad about the sudden death of the Emperor. He was worried that Jiang Shaohua was overly distressed by this severe blow.

Chen Jinyu immediately stepped back a few steps. Cui Du came over in big strides, wrapping Jiang Shaohua into his arms: "Shao Hua, if you want to cry just let it out."

Leaning against the familiar warm embrace, Jiang Shaohua’s cold and numb limbs finally mustered a little strength; her lips moved, wanting to say she wouldn’t cry, but warm tears already streamed down.

Tears flowed incessantly.

Cui Du sighed deeply and embraced her even tighter.

"Cui Du, my cousin is dead," Jiang Shaohua cried uncontrollably, her voice faltering: "I tried my best, but still couldn’t change this outcome."

Cui Du softly acknowledged and whispered comfortingly in her ear: "Everyone has to die. The Emperor passed away during his youth; it’s indeed a pity. But once a person dies, they cannot come back to life. You shouldn’t be too sad. Right now, the most important thing is to think about how to handle the chaos ahead."

Jiang Shaohua, eyes closed and face wet with tears, was unable to utter a response.

Chen Jinyu’s eyes reddened again, retreating further. A group of trusted aides also stepped back and dispersed.

"In a few days, the Emperor was going to be wed," Qin Zhan whispered, lamenting: "Who could have thought that the Emperor would suddenly pass away?"

Meng Sanbao also sighed: "Who knows how much grief the Commandery Princess is in."

They had served at the Prince Mansion for several years, accompanying the Commandery Princess closely, never seeing her cry publicly before.

Qin Zhan hesitated for a moment, then lowered his voice: "This happened too suddenly. Do you think someone secretly assassinated the Emperor?"

Meng Sanbao gasped, his eyes widened suddenly: "No way! Who could be so bold? Aren’t they afraid of extermination for nine generations?"

"I’m just thinking, even though the Emperor was ill, surrounded by skillful Imperial Physicians, he shouldn’t have died young," Qin Zhan whispered: "The late Emperor was sickly yet lived into his thirties! The Emperor hasn’t even reached nineteen."

Meng Sanbao scratched his head vigorously: "I also don’t understand. Such matters are not for you and me to worry about. The Commandery Princess certainly has to go to the Capital City for mourning, we must be prepared to accompany her."

騑騑騑騑!

The sound of galloping hoofbeats moved swiftly closer.

Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng, among others, were rushing on horseback.

Chief Historian Chen, usually meticulous about his appearance, was also disturbed by the shocking news, galloping quickly to the field manor, his hair blown untidily, unable to bother about it. He dismounted and hurried to the Commandery Princess: "Commandery Princess! The Emperor passed away!"

Chief Historian Feng was a step slower, eyes red, voice choking: "Commandery Princess, the heavens of Da Liang have crumbled!"

Jiang Shaohua cried a while, barely pulling herself from the tragic news, and upon hearing this, once again felt bone-chilling pain.

She took a deep breath and took a handkerchief from Cui Du, cleaning the tears from her face before saying: "I know."

"It’s fortunate you have come. I need to discuss the response strategy with you."

...

Two incense sticks later.

Everyone was seated in the main hall.

For several years, Jiang Shaohua would often come to the field manor for short stays. The courtyard here wasn’t large, but cleaned and arranged neatly and elegantly.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes were somewhat swollen, but her expression had gradually calmed down.

Once Chief Historian Chen, Chief Historian Feng, and others were seated, they exchanged glances, realizing their disheveled state. There wasn’t time to change clothes or tidy appearance, at most they could just straighten out their messy hair.

Chief Historian Chen spoke first: "The Emperor has passed, Da Liang is in mourning, the Commandery Princess must immediately go to the Capital City for mourning."

This was undeniable; she had to go to the Capital City. Not only must she go, but she must go as quickly as possible to stabilize the chaotic situation.

Jiang Shaohua nodded, looking at Song Yuan.

Song Yuan, too distraught from the sudden news, hadn’t yet regained his senses, instinctively saying: "The Emperor was fine before, why suddenly pass away?"

"The Emperor must have been harmed by treacherous ministers!" No one expected it, but the one who carried on the conversation was Yang Zheng. Yang Zheng, red-eyed, gritted his teeth in anger: "Someone certainly assassinated the Emperor!"

Everyone was surprised. As they galloped all this way, the possibility had crossed everyone’s mind. However, being so far apart, with no evidence, none knew what happened before the Emperor’s death. No one dared voice this suspicion.

No one expected, the usually slick Yang Zheng, to bluntly reveal what everyone thought.

Jiang Shaohua deeply looked at Yang Zheng: "Why are you so certain?"

Yang Zheng took a deep breath: "To be honest with the Commandery Princess, our Yang Family has served as criminal officials for generations. Among my generation in the Yang Family, I’ve made some achievements, learning investigation and case-solving from a young age, having an innate intuition for major criminal cases."

"There’s certainly something peculiar about the Emperor’s sudden death!"

"Please take me along when you go to the Capital City. Perhaps I can offer minor assistance."

Actually, once the news arrived, and by the time they reached the Capital City, the Emperor’s corpse would long have grown cold, and the funeral arrangements should begin. It’s unlikely for Nanyang County’s officials to handle the investigation.

Jiang Shaohua, however, nodded in agreement: "Alright, you shall accompany me."