Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 633: The Grand Scheme (Part 2)
Empress Dowager Li was carried back to her bedchamber.
Jiang Shaohua held the hand of Prince Ping and walked to the side of Imperial Concubine Fan.
Imperial Concubine Fan’s emotions were in turmoil today, leaving her in a state of emptiness, without any reaction.
Jiang Shaohua, facing Imperial Concubine Fan, naturally did not show the patience she had for Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, nor the gratitude she showed to Empress Dowager Li. With a calm expression, she said, "From the beginning, I never intended to be a Commandery Princess who assists in governance. Everything has been your own self-generated fancy and wishful thinking."
"I also did not seize Prince Ping’s throne. You know very well in your heart that Prince Ping cannot secure this position. Rather than being a puppet at the mercy of others, always in danger of losing his life, it’s better to be a wealthy Vassal King and live happily for a lifetime."
"It would be best if you could come to terms with this. If not, and it still weighs on your mind, that is also up to you. I don’t care what you think."
"However, I advise you not to act clever and not to do anything that might anger me. I will take good care of Prince Ping as he grows up, but that absolutely does not mean I will unconditionally tolerate your words and actions."
Imperial Concubine Fan finally reacted. Her lips trembled endlessly, and she wanted to point at Jiang Shaohua and lash out with curses. But her body had its own will, unable to extend a hand or squeeze out a sound from her mouth.
Jiang Shaohua had no intention of listening to her speak; after declaring her stance, she said, "You should return to your chambers first!"
Imperial Concubine Fan struggled to stand, reaching to take Prince Ping away.
Jiang Shaohua said, "Grand Empress Dowager is faint and unconscious. When she wakes up, her first action will be to seek out Prince Ping. Prince Ping should stay here."
Imperial Concubine Fan’s eyes were filled with anxiety and unease: "I will stay too."
How could she dare let her son stay alone with Jiang Shaohua? Jiang Shaohua’s divine power was frighteningly strong, and with just two fingers, she could easily kill Prince Ping, eliminating troubles once and for all.
Jiang Shaohua glanced at her: "I, Jiang Shaohua, have always kept my word. Since I said I would take good care of him, I have no other intentions."
In fact, at such a critical moment, she was the one most concerned about Prince Ping’s safety. She wanted to ascend the throne openly and honorably as Empress; Prince Ping could not afford to have any mishap. If anything happened to Prince Ping, there would be no way to clear her name.
It was evident that Imperial Concubine Fan was not truly clever, unable to see such a simple logic.
Stung by Jiang Shaohua’s sharp gaze, Imperial Concubine Fan had no choice but to swallow her grievances and turn to leave.
As she reached the gates of the hall, Imperial Concubine Fan couldn’t help but look back. She saw Prince Ping, happily staying beside Jiang Shaohua, say something while looking up, causing Jiang Shaohua to smile slightly. This pair of cousins looked as harmonious as real siblings.
Imperial Concubine Fan felt increasingly stifled and aggrieved as she gritted her teeth and left.
At last, everyone who needed to leave had left.
Jiang Shaohua exhaled slowly.
This breath had been held since she first spoke of vying for the throne, and now it finally relaxed.
In just a short half-day’s time, it was even more tense and exciting than the day she led her trusted aide into the palace to kill the rebels. In the eyes of others, she was calm and steady throughout, imposing in her demeanor. Only she knew how torturous the experience was.
Thankfully, the result was the best possible outcome.
Otherwise, whether she could walk out of Jinluan Palace safely was uncertain. In that situation, she would have no choice but to rise in rebellion and seize the throne.
Ascending the throne without bloodshed, with a relatively mild and harmonious gesture, was naturally the best outcome.
But it by no means implied that the road ahead would be smooth. A heap of difficult problems still lay before her.
Where exactly had Zheng Chen fled to?
How was she to repay the enormous favor of Empress Dowager Li?
Should Wang Jin and Vice Minister Dong, who were the first to express support for her today, be promoted or used to show gratitude?
Would General Fan, who controlled the border army, grow resentful over the loss of Prince Ping’s throne and develop thoughts of "restoring order"?
The Prime Minister Faction was powerful; even split into two factions, they remained a hard nut to crack. How could she gradually divide and dissolve them until fully in command?
If Grand Empress Dowager Zheng insisted on causing trouble for her, secretly inciting ministers to stir things up, how should she deal with that?
As for the father and son of Prince Dongping, who had been imprisoned for several days, how should they be handled to placate the public? Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an were another big headache; they couldn’t be released or wantonly killed for now...
One thing after another, countless threads, all were troubles.
Jiang Shaohua sighed silently in her heart.
Song Yuan had already brought a chair over, murmuring, "Commandery Princess, please be seated and wait."
Jiang Shaohua acknowledged gently and sat down. Prince Ping sat beside her, quietly calling out, "Grandmother! Grandmother, please open your eyes and look at me."
The Imperial Physicians bending over, threading needles, all had a twitch at the corners of their mouths.
Jiang Shaohua patiently consoled the anxious Prince Ping, "Great-grandmother will wake up shortly; please wait patiently."
Prince Ping responded with an "oh," his chubby little hands clinging tightly to Jiang Shaohua’s sleeve.
Though his mind was not fully developed, he understood that something significant must have happened today. His mother was absent, and his grandmother was asleep. The one person he was familiar with and could rely on was his cousin Shao Hua in front of him.
Jiang Shaohua allowed him to grip her sleeve as she silently waited.
The furious heartburn from Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had surged up, leading to her fainting. After a few needles from the Imperial Physician, results were seen. After about one incense stick’s time, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s breathing became rapid, and she slowly opened her eyes.
She lay flat, facing upwards, and the first thing she saw was the Imperial Physician. A turn of her gaze revealed a face all too familiar.
The most filial and sincere, always concerned with the court, generous and unwavering in support for Emperor Taihe was the Nanyang County Princess!
But it turned out to be all pretenses and deception.
Clearly a woman with a sinister heart and burgeoning ambition! She had seized Prince Ping’s throne! What was more vexing was that the ministers had one by one stood by her side, even Empress Dowager Li had clandestinely colluded with her. All this had taken place right under her nose!
The fury and unwillingness within Grand Empress Dowager Zheng manifested as a raging fire in her eyes.
But she truly lacked the strength to curse, otherwise, she would have already done so.
Having already won this round, Jiang Shaohua was particularly magnanimous, gently saying to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, "It is good that Great aunt has awoken. I will have someone carry you back to Jingyang Palace to recuperate. As for the court’s affairs, rest assured; leave everything to me."
What "leave everything to me," this was simply intended to enrage her!
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s breathing grew rapid again, and her face flushed bright red.
The Imperial Physician was startled and hurriedly said, "Grand Empress Dowager, please stay calm and composed. If you faint again, it might not be easy to revive you."
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "..."
Emperor Taikang had fainted and never awoke, as did Emperor Taihe. The Imperial Physician’s reminder truly struck at Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s weakest point.
She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.
