Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 594: Chaos (Part 5)

Even Duke An couldn’t refuse, so Zheng Chen had even less reason and excuse. Moreover, Jiang Shaohua, with an air of authority brought by quelling rebellions, issued commands righteously.

Zheng Chen could only bow his head and accept the order.

Jiang Shaohua then looked at the ministers: "There are still rebels in the palace. I will lead troops to quell the chaos and rescue the ladies of the harem. Those who can’t fight need not follow and cause trouble. Stay here and wait. Those who have the ability to fight, all step forward, pick up a knife, and follow me to kill our way through."

The last three words were spoken with murderous intensity, making hearts shudder.

The civil servants looked at each other in dismay. They were the "useless ones who would only cause trouble if they went to fight" as mentioned by the Commandery Princess. As for the military generals, those not injured, like General Bao, all stood up. Roughly counting, there were seven or eight.

These seven or eight military generals silently dispersed to pick up weapons. The hall had been a battlefield, with corpses everywhere, and the blood on the fallen weapons had not yet dried. After picking up their weapons, they automatically stood behind the Commandery Princess.

Song Yuan’s eyebrow twitched, and with a gaze signal, more than twenty trusted aides immediately surrounded them, isolating the armed generals behind them.

The military generals: "..."

Jiang Shaohua finally spoke to General Ma: "The Zhaohai Palace needs someone to guard it. General Ma, select two hundred Imperial Guards to stay behind. The rest, come with me!"

General Ma, who fought desperately for half the day, was covered in wounds and had not realized the severe toll of the earlier battle. Now, as he relaxed, he couldn’t even lift a knife. Without putting on a brave face, he accepted the order with cupped hands.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t waste words, and simply pressed the dumb acupoint on Prince Ping, sending him to General Ma’s side.

Prince Ping blinked pitifully, tears streaming continually, but alas, no one paid him any mind.

Jiang Shaohua was preparing for the worst. No matter what, with Prince Ping Jiang Hao present, the ministers would have more peace of mind.

While saying this, Jiang Shaohua took a brief rest and recovered much of her strength. She grasped the Red Tassel Spear and walked briskly out of Zhaohai Palace.

The ministers watched as Jiang Shaohua led the personal soldiers, military generals, and Imperial Guards away, not knowing whether to feel sad or happy. Someone rejoiced: "Luckily the Commandery Princess is here."

Someone grieved: "That the Da Liang Palace has fallen into such chaos, and in the end, it relies on a woman to save it, is truly lamentable."

The one lamenting was Minister Zhang.

Minister Zhang had always had opinions about Jiang Shaohua, believing women should not be so eager for power, nor so strong. Even being saved by Jiang Shaohua today, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy despite his gratitude.

Minister Ji retorted stiffly: "Minister Zhang, if you have such integrity, why linger here to prolong your life? Why not go save the people at Jingyang Palace immediately?"

Minister Zhang was flustered into silence: "I am a civil servant, not capable of such battles. Otherwise, I would have gone long ago."

Vice Minister Dong sneered: "So many military generals here were just suppressed by the rebel Jiang Yi and couldn’t move. Minister Zhang’s comments are rather presumptuous."

Minister Zhang glared: "Vice Minister Dong! You, a senior high official, supporting a woman and always waving the flag for the Nanyang County Princess, aren’t ashamed?"

Vice Minister Dong coldly retorted: "The only thing left for Minister Zhang to criticize is this, isn’t it? Besides being a woman, what else is wrong with the Commandery Princess?"

Minister Zhang was at a loss for words.

Indeed! Jiang Shaohua had already proven herself with formidable strength. The only reproach was her being a woman. If Jiang Shaohua were a man, even with a slightly distant lineage, she would be the best heir to Da Liang’s throne...

"Stop arguing." The older and more seasoned Minister Dai sighed, attempting to mediate: "The crisis in the palace isn’t over, the rebels haven’t been suppressed. Once we get through this ordeal, there’ll be plenty of time for debates. If the rebels surge and once again reach Zhaohai Palace, we will all head to the Yellow Springs together to serve the late Emperor!"

No one spoke again.

General Ma ignored all this and had someone fetch several Imperial Physicians. Among the many senior ministers in the hall, some were seriously injured, while many others were lightly injured, all needing urgent treatment.

...

It was nearly midday, the sun at its brightest.

The glaring sunlight poured over palaces and the jade ground, reflecting dazzling rays.

Outside Zhaohai Palace, corpses littered the ground, the blood soaking through the floor. The sounds of fighting continued from afar. Behind Jiang Shaohua, hundreds of Imperial Guards with remaining fighting strength no longer hid or concealed their forms, heading straight for Jingyang Palace.

On the way, they caught two eunuchs hiding in a corner.

The two eunuchs were brought over, kneeling and knocking their heads, pleading for mercy: "Spare us, Commandery Princess! This servant fled from Ning An Palace."

"This servant is from Jingyang Palace, where rebels have revolted, and many people have been killed. This servant escaped by chance and hid here. Please spare our lives, Commandery Princess!"

Jiang Shaohua was not about to trouble the two eunuchs; she slightly nodded a gesture, letting them go. Continuing swiftly towards Jingyang Palace.

The sounds of battle drew closer.

Some unruly soldiers became alarmed, shouting loudly: "Reinforcements are coming from that direction, hurry and kill them!"

"General Wei! Someone’s coming! They’re coming from Zhaohai Palace’s direction!"

The bloodstained rebel leader Wei Xiong trembled all over, suddenly turning to look.

He had a pact with Gao Shan to rise and kill simultaneously. Gao Shan was responsible for "eliminating" those outside Zhaohai Palace, and he led the men to massacre the inner palace.

Now, with reinforcements coming from Zhaohai Palace, it’s clear Gao Shan has been defeated.

He, having blood on his hands, had no strength or possibility of turning back. He could only tread this dark path alone.

Fury flashed in Wei Xiong’s eyes as he wiped the blood off his face, raising the long knife viciously: "No matter who comes, just kill them."

The rebels roared in agreement.

The harem was similarly well-defended, but its manpower and combat strength weren’t as robust as Zhaohai Palace’s. Thus, when Wei Xiong acted, he gained the upper hand. Some even broke into the harem, killing everywhere. Wei Xiong wasn’t in a hurry to join the slaughter, aiming instead to intimidate his subordinates and guard against any mishap to make quick decisions.

Now it seemed, this was the correct decision. Gripping a thick-backed long knife, Wei Xiong sneered and charged forward.

Unexpectedly, he was met not by Ma Ji or any other generals, but by a graceful woman.

Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua!

Wei Xiong’s pupils contracted sharply, quickly resuming a cold smile. Although others proclaimed Jiang Shaohua’s prowess, he wasn’t about to fear a young girl still wet behind the ears.

Familiar faces surrounding Jiang Shaohua soon came into view, making Wei Xiong’s eyebrows twitch.

His rebellion was spurred on by Zheng Chen’s incitement. Naturally, no one knew this. Even Duke An was kept in the dark.

Now, Duke An and his son were both here, standing beside Jiang Shaohua, what did this mean? Were they all coming together to suppress him?