Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 629: The Struggle for the Throne (Part 2)

This statement hit like a thunderbolt.

All the ministers turned to look.

The twenty-year-old secretary Wang Jin, his gentle and handsome face full of passion, shouted loudly, "Let the Commandery Princess ascend the throne as Empress!"

In terms of official rank, Wang Jin was merely a seventh-rank scholar.

But he also held another identity. He was the beloved son carefully nurtured by Prime Minister Wang, the future head of the Wang Family, and the acknowledged future leader of the Prime Minister Faction.

Wang Jin’s sudden and explicit support for Jiang Shaohua left the officials of the Prime Minister Faction utterly dumbfounded.

Minister Zhang, unable to tolerate further, stood up and said, "Ridiculous! Nonsense! In all of history, there has never been a precedent for a woman to become Emperor! It’s already breaking precedent and national law for the Nanyang County Princess to enter the court as a regent. How can she sit on the Dragon Throne? I am the first to oppose!"

Minister Dai, who came to court despite a twisted ankle and was the oldest veteran minister in the court, did not rush to express his stance. His cloudy old eyes wandered around.

Minister Zhou, a staunch supporter of the Prime Minister Faction, deeply grateful for Prime Minister Wang’s patronage, customarily followed his lead. Wang Jin’s firm stance clearly impacted Minister Zhou significantly. After a moment of hesitation, Minister Zhou remained silent, neither supporting nor opposing.

However, several officials of the Prime Minister Faction, who usually had close interactions with Minister Zhang, spoke out one after another in agreement with Minister Zhang: "Minister Zhang is right! We owe the Commandery Princess our lives and are grateful beyond measure. If the Commandery Princess is willing to assist Prince Ping, we all support it. But making her Empress is absolutely impossible!"

"Exactly, such absurdity, we absolutely cannot agree!"

Amidst the noisy clamor, Vice Minister Dong glanced at the indignant Minister Zhang and loudly asked, "Does Minister Zhang support Prince Ping’s ascension?"

Minister Zhang, full of righteous indignation, declared, "This is the legitimate succession of the country; it is only natural."

Vice Minister Dong coldly questioned, "May I ask Minister Zhang, once Prince Ping ascends, who will govern on his behalf?"

Among the closely related powerful vassal princes, five remained. The father-and-son pairs of Prince Gaoliang and Prince Dongping conspired to rebel and are either dead or awaiting execution.

Prince Huaiyang found himself trapped in the whirlpool of "rebellion" under the watchful eyes of all and has yet to clear himself. Prince Wu’an is in a similar situation. Whether these two vassal princes can preserve their lives remains uncertain. Evidently, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng will not allow them to be tainted by imperial power.

This means that the only vassal prince capable of assisting Prince Ping is Jiang Shaohua.

However, Jiang Shaohua is unwilling to make sacrifices without benefit. If they want her contributions, they must give her genuine status and power.

How could this problem be resolved?

Minister Zhang, full of righteousness, exclaimed, "The ambitions of the Nanyang County Princess are excessive, making her unsuitable for regency. The Da Liang Dynasty has many loyal ministers. Why not do as in the past and let the Prime Minister assist the new Emperor?"

Vice Minister Dong, not yielding an inch, countered, "Prime Minister Wang suffered serious injuries, barely surviving, and will likely not be able to attend court to manage affairs. Who should assume the Prime Minister position then?"

Under the watchful eyes of all, Minister Zhang, exuding a posture of a pillar of the royal family, bowed to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "Your Grace, Grand Empress Dowager, I have served as the Minister of Personnel for many years and am well-acquainted with the officials and political affairs. If Your Grace trusts me, I am willing to fully assist His Highness Prince Ping."

The furious Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s eyebrows twitched continuously, and she directed her full anger towards Minister Zhang: "Pah! Taking advantage in times of trouble, are you? Look in a mirror and see yourself first! Do you think you’re fit to be Da Liang’s Chief Minister?"

In the past, when Emperor Taikang and Emperor Taihe were on the throne, Prime Minister Wang, as the head of the officials, managed all political affairs. This was permissible because both Emperor Taikang and Emperor Taihe were adults and could barely suppress or pacify Prime Minister Wang, preventing the court from entirely falling into his hands.

However, Prince Ping is merely an eight-year-old child with low intelligence, understanding nothing. If Minister Zhang becomes the new Prime Minister and takes charge of political affairs, whose last name should the dynasty bear, Jiang or Zhang?

Just as Jiang Shaohua previously said, the best outcome after Prince Ping’s ascension would be to endure patiently until giving birth to heirs who grow up healthy. By estimation, this would take at least twenty years. Once the royal authority is handed over to ministers for twenty years, could it be reclaimed?

It would be better to let Jiang Shaohua take the throne directly! At least she carries Jiang family blood! What does Minister Zhang amount to?

As Grand Empress Dowager Zheng thought more about it, her anger intensified, and she lashed out at Minister Zhang: "A traitorous minister with wolfish ambitions! A scoundrel deserving a thousand deaths!"

Minister Zhang’s face swelled red with humiliation.

Imperial Concubine Fan, her mind in chaos, was completely frantic. At this moment, she spoke up, "Grand Empress Dowager, I believe Minister Zhang is not entirely unreasonable."

"You know nothing!" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, furious, directly cursed, "Shut your filthy mouth!"

Imperial Concubine Fan, reduced to tears by the rebuke, wiped her eyes with her sleeve and turned to plead with Jiang Shaohua: "Commandery Princess, there is no logic in a woman sitting on the throne. This matter is destined to fail. Don’t cause trouble."

Imperial Concubine Fan extended her hand to push her son forward, her voice full of panic: "Hao’er, beg your cousin, beg her not to take your throne."

Previously crying incessantly, Prince Ping was now frightened by the solemn atmosphere of the Jinluan Palace. He stared blankly into Jiang Shaohua’s stern eyes, trembling all over.

Suddenly, Prince Ping turned and ran away from Imperial Concubine Fan.

Imperial Concubine Fan hurriedly turned to chase after him.

To evade her, Prince Ping ran even faster and more urgently. The threshold of the Jinluan Palace was too high. As he tried to cross it, he tripped and fell flat onto the threshold. His stomach was hurt, causing him to cry out in pain.

Tears streamed down Imperial Concubine Fan’s face as she sat on the threshold, hugging Prince Ping and sobbing, "Oh, my son, why is your fate so bitter, encountering such a wolfish and ambitious Nanyang County Princess, wanting to seize your throne. I must go underground to see your father and let him see clearly how the Jiang family bloodline is being bullied..."

Among the ministers in the hall, there were still some genuinely loyal to the Imperial Family and upholding legitimacy, who immediately stood, furiously denouncing the Nanyang County Princess for her excessive ambitions, calling her an upstart.

Chief Historian Chen immediately spoke out, defending his commandery princess: "Our Commandery Princess is also of the Grand Ancestor Jiang bloodline. Consider for yourselves, who among the imperial vassal princes has greater capability and skill in governing than the Commandery Princess?"

"The succession of the throne is not merely a family matter but a significant affair concerning the country and the Da Liang Dynasty’s fortunes. You support Prince Ping, thinking this is loyalty. But little do you know, this is the true beginning of chaos."

"To enthrone a child with insufficient intellect is like a child showing off a treasure in public. Not only does it harm Prince Ping, but it greatly endangers the fortunes of Da Liang Country."

"By then, internal unrest, foreign enemies will eye us covetously, and the Da Liang Dynasty will be unstable. It may even face the danger of being destroyed. This is the calamity caused by you so-called loyal ministers!"