Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 597: Chaos (Part 8)

Jiang Shaohua gripped the long spear tightly, caught in a dilemma.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, killing the rebels would mean abandoning the lives of Empress Dowager Li, Imperial Concubine Fan, and Princess Bao Hua.

Empress Dowager Li is Emperor Taihe’s own mother, Imperial Concubine Fan is Prince Ping’s birth mother, and Princess Bao Hua is the only legitimate princess of Da Liang.

As Nanyang County Princess, she conducts herself with integrity, refusing and unable to engage in treacherous acts. How could she disregard their lives?

But to continue this stalemate is not a solution. She cannot put down her weapons and let the rebels turn the tables.

What choice should she make?

The rebels continued to taunt, demanding Jiang Shaohua to lay down her weapons and kneel for mercy.

Empress Dowager Li’s neck was severely injured, blood flowing relentlessly, her face turning pale.

Imperial Concubine Fan’s eyes revealed despair, evidently aware she could be killed anytime.

Princess Bao Hua’s eyes showed a hint of determination. Suddenly, she lowered her head and charged forward. The rebel who held her at knifepoint never expected such resolve from a seemingly fragile girl willing to face death. Unable to react in time, Princess Bao Hua hit the shining blade.

"Sister Bao Hua!"

Jiang Shaohua’s expression changed drastically, her voice trembling.

Princess Bao Hua was instantly lifeless, her body soft against the blade, blood dripping down its edge, as she met her end during her prime.

In a past life, Princess Bao Hua was sent far away to marry and died depressed within a few years.

In this lifetime, Jiang Shaohua had stopped the arranged marriage, and Emperor Taihe, doting on his elder sister, also firmly opposed it. Princess Bao Hua avoided the fate of dying in a foreign land, only to perish in this palace upheaval.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes burned, her heart pierced deeply, the pain overwhelming.

But she didn’t even have time for grief. The perfect opportunity Princess Bao Hua died for must not be wasted. Otherwise, her death would be in vain.

Jiang Shaohua swung her long spear, sending Wei Xiong’s body flying.

The rebels were stunned by Princess Bao Hua’s unexpected death, and now with Wei Xiong’s body flying towards them, they were momentarily caught off guard.

The rebel holding Empress Dowager Li shouted wildly, threw her down, and reached to grab Wei Xiong’s body. But he never anticipated the astonishing power behind Jiang Shaohua’s throw. The rebel held onto Wei Xiong as they flew backwards several steps, crashing heavily to the ground.

The rebel holding Imperial Concubine Fan was shocked, quickly swinging his blade, intent on taking her down with him before dying. As his wrist moved, suddenly a flash of light struck and his wrist fell away.

The rebel only then felt the excruciating pain and screamed miserably.

Song Yuan rushed over, kicking the rebel flying. Imperial Concubine Fan had long turned pale, unable even to cry. She fell straight down, and if she hit hard, she might suffer broken head and blood, possibly destroy her face.

Imperial Concubine Fan closed her eyes in despair.

A strong hand pulled her up. She stumbled and hastily fell into a stranger’s arms amid the life-and-death moment. This stranger’s embrace did not frighten her, instead providing a long-lost sense of security and solidity.

She opened her eyes to see a man’s face close by. This man was about forty, with thick black eyebrows and a determined gaze. He fought his way here, covered in blood, even his face was bloody. The strong scent of blood wafted into her nose. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

"Please stand steady and step back, Concubine." Song Yuan, after rescuing Imperial Concubine Fan, did not take a closer look, quickly letting go, instructing his trusted aide to protect the Concubine, then picked up the long knife from the ground, continuing to vigorously kill the rebels.

Imperial Concubine Fan, still terrified, huddled behind the trusted aide, soon gathering the courage to peek, first glancing at the lifeless Princess Bao Hua, then at the fallen Empress Dowager Li whose fate remained uncertain, overwhelmed with sadness, yet unable to resist a silent relief.

At least, now she was safe and sound.

Since Nanyang County Princess had led troops to the harem, the rebellion in Zhaohai Palace should have been quelled. Her son should be fine, right? Who would purposefully harm an innocent child without threats or understanding...

Imperial Concubine Fan desperately tried to convince herself, attempting to overlook the fact that Prince Ping was rightfully the heir to the throne. Anyone plotting rebellion would first want to kill Prince Ping.

Tears continuously welled up at the corners of her eyes.

Imperial Concubine Fan shivered as she reached out, slowly wiping away the tears.

Jiang Shaohua continued to kill enemies, too busy to notice Imperial Concubine Fan’s condition.

After killing all the rebels who charged out of the palace, Jiang Shaohua finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She walked over to Princess Bao Hua’s corpse and squatted down.

Princess Bao Hua’s resolve was evident, as she used all her strength to thrust herself onto the blade, her neck nearly sliced in half by the sharp edge. Much blood had flowed, now slowly coagulating. Her beautiful face was forever frozen in that moment.

Tears shimmered in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes as she gently wiped: "Sister Bao Hua, rest in peace! I will kill all the rebels and console your spirit above."

Princess Bao Hua’s eyes finally closed forever.

Nearby, Empress Dowager Li, lying in a pool of blood, mustered all her strength to lift her hand, grabbing Jiang Shaohua’s clothing, pulling forcefully to signal there was still someone breathing here.

Jiang Shaohua blinked, forcing her tears back. She reached out and held Empress Dowager Li’s hand, softly comforting: "Lady, don’t be afraid. I’ll get the Imperial Physician to save you."

Blood from Empress Dowager Li’s neck stained her collar red, the mangled flesh looking quite horrifying. She could no longer speak, only desperately clenching Jiang Shaohua’s hand, like a drowning person clutching a lifeline.

In truth, she never liked Jiang Shaohua, even detested and feared Jiang Shaohua’s formidable power. She envied her son’s regard for Jiang Shaohua.

Under her family’s instigation, she once harbored low ambitions of seizing Nanyang County. Yet, her hand was cut off before she could even reach out. A grand Empress Dowager, confined for self-reflection, humiliated.

However, what do those past grudges count for in a life-and-death situation?

Her son was murdered by the rebels and had passed away. Today, the rebels raised troops and nearly forced her to the Yellow Springs.

It was Jiang Shaohua who quelled the rebellion in time and saved her life.

She had a premonition that her future life would depend on Jiang Shaohua before her.

She clung desperately to Jiang Shaohua’s hand, pleading with her eyes: "Save me."

Jiang Shaohua let Empress Dowager Li hold her hand, sending someone into the palace to find the Imperial Physician. Shortly after, two frightened Imperial Physicians hobbled out, supporting each other.

It turned out that when the rebels forced their way into the palace, the Imperial Physicians fled in panic, and both of them fell.

"You must immediately attend to the Empress Dowager." Jiang Shaohua ordered sternly.

The two Imperial Physicians responded timidly.

Jiang Shaohua stood and made way, Empress Dowager Li still wanting to hold onto her, but unfortunately, Jiang Shaohua’s strength was extraordinary, and she couldn’t hold on. Empress Dowager Li’s blood surged, and she fainted.

Jiang Shaohua turned to Song Yuan, Ma Ji, and the others: "Follow me into the palace."

The crowd responded loudly, surrounding Jiang Shaohua as they charged into Jingyang Palace.