Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 589: Sudden Upheaval (8)

The cries of an eight-year-old boy echoed within the main hall.

The officials looked at the pitiable Prince Ping, as if a lamb awaiting slaughter, their hearts filled with gloom.

A plot to assassinate the Emperor and start a palace coup—such events have been recorded in the history books of previous dynasties. Who could have thought they would have the fortune to witness it firsthand?

Emperor Taihe’s life was cut short at a young age, and shortly after during the mourning period, the Heir of Prince Gaoliang incited a rebellion to force his way into the palace. There must be some connection between the two.

Rumors circulated within the palace that the Grand Empress Dowager had already secretly sent people to arrest Prince Dongping and his son and bring them to the capital. Perhaps there was another mastermind behind the plot to assassinate the Emperor...

"Stop crying!" Jiang Yi’s voice rang out again: "Aren’t you going to reunite with your mother? I’ll send you on your way now."

The last two words were sinister, obviously full of malice.

Jiang Hao couldn’t understand and really stopped crying, staring at Jiang Yi with wide eyes, calling him as his cousin.

Jiang Yi smiled, reaching out to touch Jiang Hao’s face, and then his hand moved down to his neck. His right hand suddenly applied force.

Jiang Hao’s throat was caught, his white chubby face suddenly flushed red, gasping and stammering. Soon his eyes rolled back, his limbs gradually weakened.

The ministers watched this scene, and some couldn’t help but cry.

"Release Prince Ping!"

A slender figure suddenly stood up.

It was Zheng Chen, the eldest son of Duke An and secretary.

Among the terrified and frightened officials, Zheng Chen appeared especially calm and composed: "Jiang Yi, if you want to ascend the throne as Emperor, release Prince Ping. He is just an eight-year-old child, no threat to you. Why must you kill him?"

"Let him go! We support you as the new emperor!"

Duke An swiftly turned his head to glare at his son.

Zheng Chen didn’t have time to exchange glances with his father, he continued: "Release Prince Ping quickly!"

Jiang Yi raised his eyebrows, relaxed his right hand, and Jiang Hao fell to the ground with a thud, his flushed face finally recovering, struggling to breathe.

"Zheng Chen, you are merely a secretary. Who do you represent?" Jiang Yi’s tone was full of sarcasm: "Can you represent the Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction?"

"I certainly can!" Zheng Chen replied decisively!

Duke An angrily shouted: "You scoundrel! Stop talking!"

Such words could not be recklessly spoken!

All the officials were present, only a few were killed in the chaos. Everyone was looking at Zheng Chen.

Zheng Chen looked at Duke An, both persuading him and speaking to the ministers: "Father, things have come to this point. If we insist on opposition, the Heir of Prince Gaoliang can kill us all. Then the Da Liang Court will be desolate, causing real turmoil and chaos."

"By then, even if we are underground, we will feel deep guilt, unable to face the late Emperor and the recently deceased Emperor."

Duke An retorted: "There is chaos in the palace, but outside there are loyal Imperial Army and the Heroic Guard Camp. They will soon come to quell the chaos."

Duke An’s words echoed what was in the officials’ hearts. Jiang Yi had suddenly taken action, forcing his way into the palace because he had bribed and colluded with the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, along with several military generals. The majority of the Imperial Army remained loyal to the Emperor.

Jiang Yi might seem to be jumping around happily now, but as soon as the army arrives, they can quickly restore order.

The officials just needed to delay to have a chance of being saved. Surely, Jiang Yi wouldn’t be so insane as to kill everyone.

In such a situation, the ministers could remain silent and feign compliance. But to outwardly support Jiang Yi as the new emperor would be tantamount to rebellion.

Duke An stared at Zheng Chen fiercely, his voice filled with frightened teeth: "You rebellious son, kneel down and take back those words immediately."

A father knows his son best.

Duke An knew his son was ambitious and unwilling to remain subordinate. This sudden upheaval today bore the mark of familiarity to him.

Among the military generals who sided with Jiang Yi, two were clearly those heavily bribed by the Zheng Family, yet they suddenly switched allegiance to Jiang Yi. And Zheng Chen’s astonishing action at this moment... all of this terrified Duke An, provoking a horrifying suspicion.

Zheng Chen exchanged a glance with his father, sighed long: "Father, please forgive your son’s unfilial behavior, but I cannot obey your orders."

"The Emperor has only this one brother. I cannot watch him sent to his death."

Then, he cupped his hands to Jiang Yi: "Heir, I, Zheng Chen, will uphold my promise. Please spare Prince Ping, and I am willing to draft the edict for your succession and convince the Grand Empress Dowager to establish you."

Duke An was so angry that he rolled his eyes.

The other officials were stunned.

Minister Zhang habitually looked at Prime Minister Wang, seeing instead the miserable sight of Prime Minister Wang barely alive, bleeding profusely. At this moment, Minister Zhang suddenly realized that Jiang Yi killed Minister Li’s grandfather and grandson to establish his authority. Prime Minister Wang is on the brink of death, sooner or later he will die. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

But Duke An and his son held ambiguous positions, their attitudes suspicious... To be precise, Zheng Chen seemed suspicious. For the sake of Prince Ping Jiang Hao, he was willing to bear the name of treason and endure shame. No matter how one looked at it, Zheng Chen didn’t seem like a man of great righteousness.

Minister Dai’s eyebrows furrowed, obviously realizing the same thing as Minister Zhang.

Minister Ji couldn’t help but mock: "Today I learned, that Zheng Sheren is such a loyal minister, willing to bear a lifetime of infamy for Prince Ping."

Suddenly, the emperor passed away without an heir. The Grand Empress Dowager and the court’s heavyweights should discuss the choice of the new emperor, then the Ministry of Rites would draft the edict of succession, and finally, seal it with the Imperial Seal.

Zheng Chen directly skipped these steps, and wanted to draft the edict in place of the Ministry of Rites. This wasn’t to protect Prince Ping, it was clearly colluding with Jiang Yi.

Zheng Chen looked at Minister Ji: "Minister Ji mocks me, but I don’t mind. I only want Prince Ping safe."

Minister Ji sneered repeatedly, wanting to say more, but a sharp arrow flew over, precisely piercing through the sleeve, firmly embedding in the ground.

Though it didn’t injure him, Minister Ji was still scared into a cold sweat.

Faced with the choice between integrity and his own life, Minister Ji hesitated for a moment, ultimately choosing to keep silent.

Before everyone’s eyes, Zheng Chen stepped forward and reached out to pull up Prince Ping Jiang Hao.

Jiang Hao cried with tears and snot, but he had been spoiled and unruly since childhood, unwilling to be close to strangers. Even though Zheng Chen had lived in the palace for years, he was still an outsider in Jiang Hao’s mind.

"Don’t touch me!" Jiang Hao cried loudly, pushing Zheng Chen away: "Go away!"

Zheng Chen’s eyebrow twitched, patiently coaxing Jiang Hao.

But Jiang Hao was frightened today, a little crazy, struggling and biting. Soon Zheng Chen’s clothes were messed up, even a tuft of his hair was grabbed by Jiang Hao.

The scene was extremely chaotic.

The officials watched this moment, the same thought silently surfacing in their minds.

Such a mischievous and foolish child, can he really become the Emperor of Da Liang? Compared to him, the Heir of Prince Gaoliang Jiang Yi was indeed much stronger...

Bam!

With a loud noise, the doors of Zhaohai Palace suddenly shook.