Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 596: Turmoil (7)

This shot was precise, fast, and ruthless.

Jiang Shaohua’s face was cold, her right hand twisted, and the spear quivered, stirring in Wei Xiong’s chest.

Wei Xiong let out a thunderous roar and instantly died.

Song Yuan shouted, "Wei Xiong is dead! Drop your weapons immediately, those who surrender on their knees won’t be killed!"

More than twenty trusted aides shouted along with Song Yuan, echoing the news of Wei Xiong’s death. The rebels who followed Wei Xiong indeed became disheartened and disorganized.

Zheng Chen, who had been pretending to fight, was suddenly startled and turned his head. Through the dense crowd, he couldn’t see Wei Xiong’s dead look or Jiang Shaohua’s figure.

Yet, for some reason, Jiang Shaohua’s face was so clear, flickering before his eyes.

If the news of Wei Xiong’s death hadn’t shocked the rebels, this moment of distraction would have been enough to lead Zheng Chen to his death without a burial place.

Gao Shan is dead!

Jiang Yi is dead!

Now, Wei Xiong is also dead!

The rebellion could be said to have completely failed!

What should he do next?

Zheng Chen relied entirely on his body’s instinctive reactions to dodge, occasionally swinging the long knife in his hand, his mind in turmoil. In his plans, he and Jiang Yi would suddenly raise troops and force the palace, taking over in no more than two hours.

When all the Vassal Kings entered the Capital City, it would be a done deal. He would then seize the opportunity to expose Jiang Yi in front of everyone and execute the rebels, restore order, and support Prince Ping to ascend the throne. Prince Ping, being clueless, would naturally allow him, the meritorious official, to govern on his behalf and become the actual master of the Da Liang kingdom.

The first half of the plan was going very smoothly. However, Jiang Shaohua came three days earlier than expected, bringing unforeseen variables.

Today, he has shown flaws... even if there weren’t any, Jiang Shaohua would kill him as she knows him well enough to eliminate him as a future threat.

What should he do now?

A familiar figure suddenly bumped into him. Zheng Chen’s shoulder was hit, causing him to stagger. Luckily, the person reached out, pulling him to safety, narrowly avoiding a spear.

"Quick, go!"

A face extremely familiar to him came into view, whispering through gritted teeth: "Find a way to escape the palace and the Capital City immediately, the farther you go, the better."

Zheng Chen’s heart jumped heavily: "Father!"

Duke An was swinging a spear, killing a rebel while urgently saying, "You know best what you’ve done. After a thorough investigation, you can’t argue your way out. Jiang Shaohua desires to kill you, you must escape!"

He didn’t want to escape!

He was unwilling!

In his past life, he wielded power in the Capital City, and in this life, he schemed painstakingly to reach the top soon. Why, after all his calculations, should he end up fleeing in disgrace?

How could he lose to Jiang Shaohua?

"Quickly, go!" Duke An turned his head, glaring fiercely at his son: "If you don’t go now, I’ll tie you up myself to secure the Zheng Family’s peace."

Zheng Chenjun’s face turned pale, gripping the long knife tightly.

He had secretly contacted Jiang Yi, inciting Wei Xiong and other military generals to rebel. These matters were unclear to others, but Duke An understood upon slight contemplation. Perhaps even his hidden intention to remove his own father was noticed by Duke An.

Now, Duke An was warning him, offering him his last way out. Staying in the palace meant certain death.

The only way out is the best road ahead. He couldn’t afford to overthink.

Zheng Chen said nothing, suddenly turned, and left. Fortunately, the rebels were already collapsing, kneeling to beg for mercy. Those who didn’t beg were desperately struggling, and no one stopped Zheng Chen.

Duke An momentarily felt an impulse to throw the spear and kill this rebellious son. However, no matter what, he couldn’t bring himself to do it. This was his proud heir, extraordinarily wise, the pride of the Zheng Family, cultivated with all their resources.

Sadly, he hadn’t paid attention, and his son went astray, daring to commit all sorts of treasonous acts, even harboring the dreadful thought of removing his own father.

Disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, unjust! How could he have fathered and raised such a wicked child!

Duke An’s eyes suddenly reddened, gripping the spear tightly as he fought fiercely against the enemies.

From dozens of steps away, amidst the harrowing slaughter, Jiang Shaohua couldn’t look back and didn’t know Zheng Chen had fled in panic.

Jiang Shaohua lifted Wei Xiong’s corpse high into the air with her spear. Her trusted aides around her shouted, "Wei Xiong is dead! Those who kneel and beg for mercy won’t be killed!"

Soon, rebels were throwing down their weapons and kneeling.

The remaining ones refusing to surrender were still putting up a stubborn resistance, but the outcome of the battle was already decided. The extermination of the rebels was only a matter of time.

Hurried footsteps approached, accompanied by cries of alarm from several women of various ages.

Jiang Shaohua felt a heavy weight in her heart, her gaze fixed.

Five or six rebels with hideous faces emerged from the hall, dragging several women. The first, about forty years old, looked panic-stricken and pale—Empress Dowager Li.

Another crying woman, much younger, was Imperial Concubine Fan.

The last was a young, beautiful, slender girl—Princess Bao Hua.

The highest-ranked women in the harem, except for Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, had all been found by the rebels, taken hostages.

The rebel holding Empress Dowager Li sneered, mania flickering in his eyes, "The Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Fan are here, the Princess is in our hands too, drop your weapons at once."

Empress Dowager Li cried out loudly, "Jiang Shaohua, drop your weapons quickly and save us!"

Imperial Concubine Fan was in no better state, crying out repeatedly, "Please save me, Commandery Princess!"

Princess Bao Hua, who had been ill for more than half a year, showed great spirit, straightening up, "Shao Hua, ignore us, kill the rebels immediately!"

Jiang Shaohua’s face remained expressionless; her spear did not waver, still impaled in the tall corpse.

These rebels were all Wei Xiong’s trusted personal soldiers. Seeing their master killed by the Commandery Princess and exposed so disgracefully, their eyes were red with hatred.

Empress Dowager Li cried wildly, the rebel’s eyes flashed ruthlessness, and he applied force. Blood marks appeared on Empress Dowager Li’s neck, spraying blood out.

Empress Dowager Li seemed to have been hurt in her windpipe and could no longer cry out, struggling to wave her hand.

Imperial Concubine Fan was terrified, trembling, but didn’t dare to cry out again, afraid of provoking the rebels behind her to kill her too.

"Shao Hua, kill them quickly!" Princess Bao Hua’s body was also trembling uncontrollably, her voice shaking severely.

As a pampered noblewoman in the harem, the most frightening thing she had ever encountered was being entangled in rumors. She never dreamed there would be a day she’d be held hostage by rebels, waiting to be killed like livestock.

Tears streamed down the corners of Princess Bao Hua’s eyes, yet she bravely kept them wide open, looking at Jiang Shaohua, shouting loudly, "Kill the rebels!"