Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 593: Chaos (Part 4)

The continuously crying Jiang Hao, upon hearing Jiang Shaohua’s voice, dared not wail loudly but switched to soft sobbing.

An eight-year-old boy, his height reached around Jiang Shaohua’s waist. Nonetheless, Jiang Hao was plump and rounded, quite substantial.

Jiang Shaohua had fought with all her might today, not knowing how many rebels she had killed; her strength was depleted. Holding Jiang Hao was actually quite taxing.

However, she remained composed outwardly, not letting anyone see the slightest hint.

After calming Jiang Hao, her gaze swept around, passing over the corpses of Minister Li and Li Boyuan, brushing past a few other unfortunate souls shot dead, and then the critically wounded Prime Minister Wang and heavily injured General Bao.

As for the few military generals with lighter injuries, at least they were in no immediate fatal danger.

Vice Minister Xu of the Ministry of Rites had long been kneeling in fear. When Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over, Vice Minister Xu was ashen-faced, trembling as he defended himself: "Earlier the rebels were arrogant, and I stood up to deceive them to prevent them from further harming my colleagues. My loyalty is as clear as day and moon!"

Vice Minister Dong was the first to be unable to bear this, spitting forcefully at Vice Minister Xu: "Shameless and foul wretch!"

Vice Minister Xu turned red, unwilling to be nailed on the pillar of shame, and pulled along several colleagues who had "surrendered" to the rebels for mercy.

Jiang Shaohua coldly said: "Now the chaos is unresolved, I have no time to deal with you all. Stay here honestly, if you dare to move, I’ll take your lives!"

Vice Minister Xu and the others dared not move.

Today, the Nanyang County Princess stormed into Zhaohai Palace, executed rebels, her bravery and ferocity far exceeded what ordinary people could imagine. Heir Jiang Yi of Prince Gaoliang was thus killed by a single stab, to survive, they must bow their heads.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze fell on Zheng Chen: "Zheng Sheren!"

Zheng Chen steadied himself, stood up, and met Jiang Shaohua’s eyes: "I had to strategize with the rebels to save the lives of many officials. Everyone saw it!"

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes were full of sarcasm: "Zheng Sheren turns the spearhead so fast, I’m impressed."

Among the officials, someone loudly echoed: "This Zheng Chen has been making eyes with the rebels, he might have been conspiring all along. Commandery Princess mustn’t spare him easily!"

Zheng Chen turned angrily, seeking the speaker: "Who is speaking falsely!"

Among the officials, one immediately stood up. This was Assistant Minister Yang of the Ministry of Justice. Today, Assistant Minister Yang was quite fortunate; aside from being excessively frightened, he suffered no other injuries.

Assistant Minister Yang retorted angrily with a cold smile: "Whether it’s true or not, an investigation will reveal it. Today, the palace suddenly erupted in rebellion, relying solely on the Gao Liang Prince Mansion wouldn’t have such capacity. After capturing all rebels, I’ll personally interrogate them to ensure that any rebel accomplices are brought to light."

Zheng Chen also sneered: "Then wait for Assistant Minister Yang to find conclusive evidence, then come arrest me. Without evidence now, don’t think to frame me by chasing shadows."

"Silence!"

Jiang Shaohua frowned: "Now quelling the rebellion is urgent, I have no time to hear your nonsense."

Assistant Minister Yang immediately fell silent and sat back down.

Zheng Chen also wished to sit back down but, for some reason, couldn’t bend his waist.

He and she had been entangled over lifetimes for decades. He had always held the upper hand. Now, with the situation reversed, he finally tasted the feeling of being suppressed tightly.

Jiang Shaohua no longer looked at him, turned and instructed: "General Ma, go outside the hall now, bind all rebel soldiers, and find a few to inquire about the rebellion situation."

General Ma bowed in acknowledgment and departed.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Song Yuan: "Commander Song, immediately gather and count the manpower, have them come to me at once."

Song Yuan raised his head: "Commandery Princess, all our people are here."

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao each took some men to the military camp to move reinforcements, leaving one hundred and sixty personal soldiers to follow her into the palace. Throughout this journey, they protected her to the death, with many casualties.

Now, those who could still stand within Zhaohai Palace, at a glance, would not exceed thirty people.

Jiang Shaohua’s heart felt heavily pierced, the pain was unbearable.

They were her most loyal aides, by her side for years. No matter where she was, they followed loyally. But today, they died one after another in this chaos...

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes heated, her nose tinged with sourness.

She turned her head aside, after a moment, she returned: "Count those able to move, gather them to follow my orders."

Commander Song bowed to accept orders, quickly counting. Soon, more than twenty people gathered.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept: "I must now rescue the Grand Empress Dowager and the Empress Dowager, are you willing to go with me?"

No sooner had the words fallen than a voice rang out: "Our lives belong to the Commandery Princess. Today we are willing to follow her through fire and water." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The speaking aide, aged around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, strong and sturdy, dark-skinned and resolute, was precisely Sun An.

Sun An bore three minor injuries, his body speckled with bloodstains. Yet, he still stood and could wield a knife, already counting as fortunate.

The other aides echoed passionately: "Willing to die for the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua’s nose grew more sour, her face quickly composed: "Good, follow me."

"After quelling the rebellion, those who survive will be richly rewarded. Those who unfortunately die in battle, their wives and children will be supported by the Prince Mansion."

The aides responded thunderously in agreement.

This scene fell into the eyes of the officials, surprisingly eliciting a surge of passionate emotion.

The civil servants knew not the weight of this, but the military generals, such as General Bao, Left General, General Liu, sighed with emotion.

With such fearless and valiant personal soldiers, the Nanyang County Princess could accomplish any grand task!

General Ma strode in hastily, bowed to Jiang Shaohua: "Commandery Princess, I interrogated two rebels, they confessed that Jingyang Palace is also besieged. The leader is Wei Xiong."

Wei Xiong is a military general in the Imperial Army, similarly claiming to be unfulfilled. A few years ago, he was drawn in by the Zheng Family, and quite a few knew of this affair.

Upon hearing Wei Xiong’s betrayal, General Bao’s eyes flashed with anger, he turned to look at Duke An.

Duke An’s heart trembled, he forced calm, even took the initiative to shout: "This rebel Wei Xiong dares to conspire rebellion, plead to Commandery Princess to execute this fiend."

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept: "Minister Zheng exudes righteousness, admirable. Come with me to Jingyang Palace to slay the rebels."

Duke An: "..."

Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Duke An could not refuse, nor could he admit cowardice.

Several military generals were wounded, as the Minister of War, he had to step up.

Furthermore, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was the Zheng Family’s greatest support. If anything happened to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, the Zheng Family would be utterly finished.

"Yes, I will now accompany the Commandery Princess." Duke An gritted his teeth and stood up.

Jiang Shaohua lightly said: "Zheng Sheren will go too."