Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 588: Sudden Upheaval (7)

Li Boyuan had a rough personality and was hot-blooded and impulsive. Upon hearing the words, he suddenly wiped his face and leaped towards Jiang Yi, a dozen steps away, with a deadly determination flashing in his eyes.

Swish! Swish swish!

The personal soldiers beside Jiang Yi swiftly released their arrows.

It wasn’t unusual for the Vassal Kings to secretly raise soldiers. Prince Gaoliang was kept in the Capital City and had not yet assumed his fief, living under the Emperor’s watchful eye. Although he appeared to behave and be honest on the surface, he had actually raised an elite troop of around a thousand soldiers in secret.

Taking advantage of the chaos in the palace following Emperor Taihe’s passing, Jiang Yi colluded with Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard General Gao and several other military generals from the Imperial Army to stage a coup. Over a thousand elite soldiers disguised themselves in the uniforms of the Imperial Army guards and infiltrated the palace, fighting their way to the outside of Zhaohai Palace.

This group of over a thousand men was Jiang Yi’s true trump card.

Those guarding beside Jiang Yi at this moment were true masters, each capable of taking on ten, with exceptional archery skills. At such a close distance, it was impossible for their arrows to miss.

Swish swish swish!

Li Boyuan had barely rushed eight steps forward, and his body was already filled with arrows, resembling a hedgehog. One arrow struck him directly in the throat.

Li Boyuan’s eyes widened in fury, and with his last breath, he roared, "Jiang Yi, you will not die a good death!"

Then he fell heavily to the ground.

Even in death, his eyes stubbornly refused to close, fixed intently in the direction of Jiang Yi.

The officials were all struck silent with dread.

This Heir of Prince Gaoliang, ruthless and cruel, far surpassed everyone’s expectations. Just like that, he publicly shot and killed both Minister Li and Li Boyuan, grandfather and grandson.

Minister Li was a high-ranking official from the Ministry of Rites and Li Boyuan was the Emperor’s Companion, a childhood friend of Jiang Yi for over ten years. Yet Jiang Yi showed no hesitation in killing Li Boyuan. How insidious and vicious!

Nobody dared to make another sound, fearing that they would be the next to be targeted by the deadly arrows.

Seeing the officials’ terror-struck expressions, Jiang Yi was quite pleased with himself and laughed heartily, "Now, you should understand my determination, shouldn’t you!"

"Actually, there’s no need for you to be so stubborn. Da Liang belongs to the Jiang Family. As long as the one sitting on the Dragon Throne is of Jiang blood, what’s the difference in who becomes the Emperor? I, Jiang Yi, am much better than that foolish Jiang Hao."

"Once I sit on the Dragon Throne, you can continue your duties as before. I won’t treat you poorly. Now, who is willing to be the first to support me? Minister Li has already breathed his last, and the position of Minister of Rites is now vacant. Whoever speaks up first can have the position of Minister of Rites."

This almost childish promise remarkably stirred some interest.

A lean civil servant in his fifties stood up trembling, "The Princely Heir is the direct grandson of the founding ancestor, of Jiang blood. Now that the Emperor has closed his eyes, the court is in disarray and lacks order, it is essential to have a wise and decisive Emperor. I am willing to support the Princely Heir!"

The officials were all astonished, casting sideways glances.

Vice Minister Dong of the Ministry of Rites, his blood boiling, shouted angrily, "Vice Minister Xu! What are you saying!"

The first official to stand up was none other than Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of Rites!

Minister Li’s eyes had just closed, and the blood under him had not yet dried. The Ministry of Rites had already produced a traitor! No, that’s not accurate. Perhaps, Vice Minister Xu had long been secretly colluding with Jiang Yi! Now, he was merely putting on a double act in front of everyone!

Vice Minister Xu turned, glancing at Vice Minister Dong, with a trace of satisfaction in his eyes, "Where am I wrong? Should Da Liang truly be handed over to a fool?"

"The Heir of Prince Gaoliang is brave and wise, possessing the demeanor of a wise ruler. We serve in the same court and should rightfully support a wise ruler together!"

Vice Minister Dong still wanted to rebuke, but those sharp, cold-eyed archers had already aimed their arrows at him.

Vice Minister Dong had no choice but to temporarily hold his tongue to avoid the sharp point.

At such a time, dying at the hands of the rebels was truly not worth it. A loyal minister like him must preserve himself, keeping his body useful.

There were indeed quite a few officials like Vice Minister Dong, who, "with grand aspirations, endured humiliation for the greater good". Inside Zhaohai Palace, there was another silence.

After a while, another official stood up, expressing willingness to support the Heir of Prince Gaoliang as the new emperor.

This person’s surname was Cheng, an Imperial Censor, not highly ranked. However, Imperial Censors traditionally held low rank but wielded significant power, having the authority to impeach officials.

Vice Minister Dong secretly furrowed his brow. This Jiang Yi, ordinarily unremarkable, had privately amassed quite a bit of "power".

Sure enough, after Imperial Censor Cheng stood up, several other officials followed suit. Most of them did not hold high positions, mainly fourth or fifth-rank officials. Their careers were not too promising, secretly lured by Jiang Yi with promises of high positions and great rewards. At this moment, their disguises were finally peeled away, revealing their true faces.

Just as the minds of the officials were in turmoil, a loud cry of a young boy echoed from a corner, "Let me out! I want my mother!"

The hearts of the officials suddenly sank.

This young boy present in the mourning hall was the fool Jiang Yi referred to, the younger brother of Emperor Taihe, and the rightful heir of Da Liang, Prince Ping Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao had been mentally deficient since childhood, slow in speech. In recent years, as he grew older and taller, he became quite handsome with rosy lips and white teeth, a very pretty boy. Unfortunately, he couldn’t speak properly, revealing his foolishness whenever he opened his mouth.

Jiang Yi had never taken this foolish boy seriously. When he heard Jiang Hao crying loudly, he wasn’t angry but rather demonstrated a brotherly demeanor, waving his hand and saying, "Someone, bring Prince Ping over."

At Jiang Yi’s command, two sturdy and skilled personal soldiers immediately went over and picked up Jiang Hao. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Jiang Hao was held in mid-air, feeling uncomfortable with the pressure on his neck, struggling and crying continuously, "Let go of me! You bastards, let go of me!"

The personal soldiers, impatient, glared at him, their eyes filled with palpable killing intent. Frightened by the cold, nearly tangible murderous intent, Jiang Hao shivered. Then, with a thud, he was placed on the ground.

Jiang Hao wanted to cry loudly again, but saw Jiang Yi slightly lowering his head and smiling as he asked him, "How about I have someone send you to the harem to reunite with Imperial Concubine Fan?"

Jiang Hao didn’t understand anything else but was clear about his mother’s name and nodded vigorously.

Prime Minister Wang, hanging by a thread, wanted to speak to stop it, but slightest movement caused fresh blood to gush from his shoulder. Minister Dai and Minister Zhang couldn’t stand it anymore, simultaneously voicing, "Prince Ping is still a child!"

"Spare his life!"

Jiang Yi squinted his eyes, looking at Minister Zhang and Minister Dai.

Minister Zhang felt his heart tremble under Jiang Yi’s gaze, subconsciously shifting his sight. It was Minister Dai who still had the courage to meet Jiang Yi’s eyes and said, "There is constant killing outside Zhaohai Palace; it’s extremely dangerous. Sending Prince Ping to the harem now is sending him to his death."

Jiang Yi stroked his chin, leisurely saying, "That’s right, that’s exactly what I mean. You keep saying Prince Ping Jiang Hao is the rightful heir of Da Liang. Then as long as he’s dead, wouldn’t it be the Princely Heir’s turn next?"

Minister Dai’s courage, having been accumulated for some time, dissipated instantly under Jiang Yi’s gaze.

Seemingly perceiving something, Prince Ping Jiang Hao began crying loudly.