Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 630: The Struggle for the Throne (Part 3)
Chief Historian Chen’s words were logical and resonant, leaving no room for dissent.
The loyal officials were left speechless.
At this moment, Prince Ping was continuously crying. His sharp cries mixed with the desolate, hopeless wails of Imperial Concubine Fan, piercing the eardrums and causing the loyalists who insisted on orthodoxy to waver once more.
Can Prince Ping really hold the throne of Da Liang?
The lives of Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an were uncertain. Even if by chance they survived, they would never wholeheartedly submit to such a naive child. Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua had made her intentions clear to vie for the throne. Whether successful or not, it was impossible that she would support Prince Ping as Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had envisioned.
The seed of discord had already been sown. Unless a harsh and fierce new emperor ascends the throne, internal strife is inevitable.
Who can turn the tide?
Who should sit on the Dragon Throne?
Who is worthy to become the new emperor of Da Liang?
The loyal officials looked at the wailing Prince Ping, then at the cold and solemn Nanyang County Princess, and the balance in their hearts slowly tilted.
Nanyang County Princess was perfect in every aspect, except for the fact—or rather, the reason why the courtiers were uneasy and reluctant to submit—that she was a woman... If Jiang Shaohua were a man, the courtiers would have already eagerly invited her to ascend the throne.
Jiang Shaohua was well aware of this.
Under the gaze of everyone, she took a step forward, drawing closer to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.
In her fury, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng instinctively took a step back.
The might Jiang Shaohua had displayed when she led troops to quash the rebellion and executed the rebels had not only imprinted on the hearts of the courtiers but also instilled awe in Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Retreating in front of the entire court, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s posture now revealed a different significance.
Jiang Shaohua looked at Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and said slowly, "For the Da Liang dynasty and the stability of the country, I ask you, great-aunt, to open your mind and support me in ascending the throne as emperor."
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, brimming with anger, scoffed, her face twitching, making her look hideous: "Jiang Shaohua! As long as I live, you will never get your way!"
Zheng Chen had betrayed her this grand-aunt!
Jiang Shaohua had also betrayed her!
The two powerful arms she had prepared to support Prince Ping’s ascension were now severed. She hadn’t thought far about the future. Her only thought was that Jiang Shaohua must not get her way!
Jiang Shaohua remained calm: "What great-aunt says now in a moment of anger, I will not take to heart. In the future, I will take good care of my great-aunt. Prince Ping is my cousin, I will not treat him poorly, and I will ensure he grows up well..."
"I’ll fight you with my life!"
No one expected that Imperial Concubine Fan, suddenly like a maddened bull, rushed over. This usually delicate and weak concubine was actually from a military family and had learned martial arts since childhood. She had never displayed her skills before, so no one knew Imperial Concubine Fan was quite adept.
At this moment, if Imperial Concubine Fan’s charge hit, Jiang Shaohua would inevitably be knocked into a stagger.
Cui Du and Chen Jinyu’s expressions both changed.
Only they knew of Jiang Shaohua’s pregnancy. Right now, Jiang Shaohua was at her most fragile and needed exceptional protection around her waist and abdomen.
The two rushed forward together, trying to protect Jiang Shaohua, but they were several steps away, blocked by many courtiers, and couldn’t make it in time.
Among the courtiers, those with quick reflexes, the military generals, also moved to protect the Commandery Princess. But all their movements were a step too slow.
In the blink of an eye, Imperial Concubine Fan had reached Jiang Shaohua. Jiang Shaohua, undeterred by the crisis, quickly seized Imperial Concubine Fan, as if catching a wild bull, and tossed her out.
Imperial Concubine Fan, like a rabbit caught by an eagle, struggled in vain and was helplessly flung away.
Jiang Shaohua had restrained her strength, so when Imperial Concubine Fan landed, it wasn’t too hard. However, being thrown in public was the second most humiliating experience of her life. The first was having a dagger held to her throat by a rebel.
The nearest courtier reached out to help but stopped midway, recalling the gender propriety, and quickly withdrew his hand.
Thrown dizzy, Imperial Concubine Fan took a long while to recover, her body aching fiercely. Utterly humiliated, she opted to stay down and cried out, "Jiang Shaohua wants to seize Prince Ping’s throne, and the loyalists just stand by and watch us orphans and widows be bullied?"
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng glared at Jiang Shaohua, her eyes blazing with fury: "Jiang Shaohua! I do not agree with you taking the throne! I absolutely do not agree!"
Jiang Shaohua replied coldly, "The Grand Empress Dowager wishes for Prince Ping to ascend, but I absolutely do not agree! If the Grand Empress Dowager insists, first ask the courtiers present, and then consider what chaos this court will descend into."
The Prime Minister’s Faction had already fractured. Minister Zhang supported Prince Ping’s ascension but harbored intentions of becoming Prime Minister and usurping imperial power. Meanwhile, Wang Jin had firmly shown his support for Jiang Shaohua’s ascension, and so Minister Zhou and others tacitly agreed.
The Empress Dowager’s followers were not all united, with some already secretly pledging allegiance to Nanyang Prince Mansion.
Vice Minister Dong, Vice Minister Yang, and others had already shown their stance, supporting the Commandery Princess as Empress.
The civil servants were clear in their stance, yet the military generals holding power temporarily remained silent.
General Bao, most loyal to the Imperial Family’s Imperial Army, was still recuperating and could not attend court today.
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s gaze fell on the Left General: "Zuo Feng! Speak! Do you support Prince Ping or this traitorous Jiang Shaohua!"
The Left General’s expression was complex, and his emotions even more so. His gaze lingered on the sobbing Prince Ping, then over the confidently standing Nanyang County Princess, and finally met the distorted face of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "This humble general believes that the current Da Liang Dynasty cannot withstand more turmoil; what it needs is a young and promising emperor!"
Prince Ping had nothing to do with being young and promising. Clearly, the Left General supported Jiang Shaohua for emperor.
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s face turned black with rage, wanting to berate the Left General, but the words were swallowed back.
She turned to another military general with significant power: "General Liu, you speak now, who do you support to ascend the throne!"
General Liu was far more tactful than the Left General. He respectfully replied, "Regardless of who ascends, I will remain loyal to the new emperor."
The attitude of most courtiers was that they would swear allegiance to whoever was capable of sitting on the Dragon Throne. As long as the one on the throne had Jiang blood, it made no essential difference to them.
General Song was still leading troops back to the Capital City, and General Fan was stationed with the border army. The most significant military figure remaining at the court was General Sima.
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sternly addressed him: "General Sima, the late Emperor promoted you as the main general of an army. If you are grateful for the late Emperor’s kindness, you should be loyal to support Prince Ping."
