Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 600: Explanation
Plotting against the Emperor, raising troops for rebellion.
How can this be explained adequately?
A single life of Zheng Chen is clearly far from sufficient. What enormous price must the Zheng Family pay to preserve the lives of the entire clan? As for wealth, rank, power, and influence, such thoughts are but a distant dream.
A massive family lineage spanning hundreds of years, a prestigious family allied with the imperial family of the Da Liang Dynasty, all would be buried in the hands of this prodigal son, Zheng Chen!
Duke An’s face was ashen, and his lips trembled incessantly, unable to form coherent words. Tears unknowingly welled up in his eyes.
However, no matter how pitiful Duke An seemed, Jiang Shaohua could not muster a single shred of sympathy or pity. She coldly continued, "Duke An, consider carefully what must be done and make a swift decision. Otherwise, when the rebellion is quelled and the investigation of the treason begins, it will be too late."
Finally, Duke An bowed deeply to Jiang Shaohua and knocked his head heavily on the ground: "I beg the Commandery Princess to save the entire Zheng Family."
"As long as the Zheng Family can narrowly escape this calamity, they will henceforth regard the Commandery Princess as their leader and heed all her commands."
Duke An, fearing Jiang Shaohua might misunderstand, spoke even more candidly: "The Emperor has passed away and ascended to heaven. Someone must occupy the Dragon Throne of the Da Liang Dynasty. Prince Ping is naive and ignorant; state affairs on the court must be managed by someone. The Commandery Princess is the most suitable candidate."
The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng also understood at this time and immediately expressed her stance: "Once matters calm down and the new emperor ascends the throne, Shaohua should remain in the palace, attending court daily to manage affairs and assist the new emperor."
Everyone knew the infantile and foolish Prince Ping could only serve as a figurehead. True assistance to the new emperor meant wielding actual power over the Da Liang Empire.
Zheng Chen painstakingly schemed for precisely this position.
But now, facing the terrifying future of exterminating nine clans, Duke An expressed his attitude clearly. As the highest-ranking and most honorable member of the imperial family, the support of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng would provide Jiang Shaohua with the least resistance in becoming the Regent King of Da Liang.
All Jiang Shaohua needed to do was raise her hand and spare the Zheng clan.
By any measure, this was an exceedingly worthwhile trade.
Both Duke An and the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng considered this an offer no one could refuse. Indeed, upon hearing it, Jiang Shaohua fell silent.
Duke An felt a slight sense of relief, exchanging a glance with the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.
"Duke An, are you thinking that as a woman, I would need the full support of my aunt and the Zheng Family to become Regent King? That by doing so, I would not only have to spare the Zheng Family but also conceal and cover up Zheng Chen’s rebellion? So that at that time, I would be in collusion with the Zheng Family, unable to pursue Zheng Chen’s crime of murdering my brother?"
"Moreover, Prince Ping is young and ignorant, knowing nothing. I, Jiang Shaohua, possess some capability and can help stabilize the situation for the new emperor. After a transition of one or two years, when the court in the palace stabilizes, using the excuse of women not involving themselves in governance, you plan to expel me from Capital City?"
Jiang Shaohua’s voice, demanding, resounded in Duke An’s ears.
Duke An, seeing through his hidden thoughts, forced a pitiable and sympathetic expression: "The Commandery Princess overthinks. I have no intention of burning bridges."
The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng also said: "Shaohua, don’t worry. With me here, just rest assured and establish yourself firmly in the palace and court. Who dares to send you away?"
Jiang Shaohua glanced at Duke An, then at the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, clearly and firmly expressing her attitude: "I will not be a Regent King."
I, Jiang Shaohua, will never partake in sinister, deceitful dealings.
No matter what one does, it must be open and righteous, with rightful justification.
Unfortunately, the meaning behind Jiang Shaohua’s words was not immediately understood by the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Duke An. They both began persuading her to stay and oversee the situation.
Jiang Shaohua’s expression remained unchanged, and she did not speak further.
Knock, knock, knock!
The sound of urgent knocking at the door resonated.
Mr. Zhao hurried to open the door, and a bloodstained Imperial Guard entered to report: "There are still rebels in the palace, killing everywhere, spreading panic. Marshal Ma has already led men to hunt the rebels. Please, Grand Empress Dowager, take charge of the situation."
Are there still rebels in the palace?
The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng shivered and reflexively glanced towards the direction of the hidden door of the secret chamber. Clearly, she wished to hide again until all rebels were exterminated and the palace was safe before coming out.
"Now, the palace is in turmoil, and the people need my aunt to step forward to stabilize hearts." Jiang Shaohua reached out to support the Grand Empress Dowager and said softly, "I will assist my aunt outside."
Jiang Shaohua’s hand, white and slender, was nonetheless extremely powerful, firmly clasping the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s wrist like an iron vice.
With no choice, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng could only nod her head and, with Jiang Shaohua’s support, tremulously rose to her feet and slowly walked out.
...
"Grand Empress Dowager!"
The Duchess An came forward weeping, grasping the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s hand: "My Lady, it is so good that you are safe."
At this moment, the Duchess An was completely unaware that her precious son had already become a rebel, about to implicate the entire Zheng clan. She was still thinking of leveraging the Grand Empress Dowager’s influence to bask in glory before the crowd.
Duke An felt exceedingly gloomy and exchanged a glance with his wife. The Duchess An was startled by her husband’s utterly pale face, yet in front of the crowd, she dared not ask more.
The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s mind was in a tumult, too chaotic to pay attention to the Duchess An. She withdrew her hand, glancing over the weeping concubines and titled ladies.
Everyone was present, except for Empress Dowager Li and Princess Bao Hua.
In her muddled mind, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng suddenly recalled something Jiang Shaohua previously mentioned, and a sharp pain seized her heart: "Where is Bao Hua?"
She had only two grandsons and a granddaughter. Princess Bao Hua was filial and gentle, raised by her side from a young age. Her eldest grandson had been murdered, and her granddaughter was also killed by rebels...
Upon hearing the dire news initially, she hadn’t fully grasped it. It wasn’t until this moment that she clearly felt the anguish.
"Where is Bao Hua?" The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng turned, her eyes reddening, her voice trembling: "Where is she? I wish to see her one last time."
Jiang Shaohua’s heart felt a stab, her voice somewhat choked with emotion: "Sister Bao Hua is just outside the hall, and no one dares to touch her. I will ask someone to bring her in now."
At her command, soon, the body of Princess Bao Hua was brought into the hall.
The moment the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng saw her, she broke into tears.
The concubines and titled ladies in the hall also began to weep.
The most contagious sound is that of crying. Especially when outside the hall lay corpses and the air was thick with the stench of blood, it felt as if the sky was half-collapsed, ready to fall upon everyone’s heads.
The only one who remained calm and composed was Jiang Shaohua.
She took a deep breath and said to the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "Aunt, there are still rebels running amok in the palace. I will go to exterminate the rebels."
