Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 635: The Bigger Picture (4)

The earth-shattering change at the Grand Assembly reached the ears of Prime Minister Wang almost instantly.

Lying injured, Prime Minister Wang was as though struck by lightning, nearly passed out from anger. Fortunately, the Imperial Physician was always by his side, timely acupuncture and a dose of herbal medicine helped him catch his breath.

In the midst of the Wang Family’s flustered chaos, Wang Jin returned from the palace.

Wang Jin walked to the bedside, knelt down: "Father, your unworthy son has returned."

*Damn it, still dared to come back!

Prime Minister Wang cursed, pointing at Wang Jin, angrily scolding: "Get out of the Wang Family! From today onwards, I don’t have you as a son! Get out! The farther, the better!"

Wang Jin did not leave, he continued kneeling upright, his refined, handsome face resolute: "I know Father is angry and upset. But I have examined my conscience, and I have not made the wrong choice."

"For the throne, Jiang Yi and Zheng Chen secretly colluded with Prince Dongping and his son to conspire against the Emperor. If it weren’t for the Commandery Princess leading troops into Jinluan Palace that day, would we father and son still have our lives?"

Prime Minister Wang: "..."

This life-saving grace blocked the angry words that Prime Minister Wang was about to curse.

Prime Minister Wang’s face turned red, gasping for breath, glaring at his son fiercely.

Wang Jin softened his tone, speaking lowly: "My support for the Commandery Princess’s ascension is not just to repay her for saving our lives. Prince Ping is merely an eight-year-old child, ignorant of everything. How can he be the Emperor of Da Liang?"

"Why can’t he?" Prime Minister Wang regained his voice: "Jiang Shaohua is too ambitious. She, a woman, is not content with being the assisting Commandery Princess, and actually wants to be Empress!"

"The Commandery Princess has the ability to govern the court; why can’t she directly be the Emperor?" Wang Jin answered sharply: "Assisting the Commandery Princess sounds nice but it’s serving others. Twenty years later, if all power must be returned to Prince Ping’s line, she might even be purged and lose her life. The Commandery Princess is not foolish; why do such thankless work?"

Prime Minister Wang was again speechless.

Wang Jin’s expression became agitated, feeling injustice for the Commandery Princess: "In the palace, the Grand Empress Dowager and Imperial Concubine Fan all think the same way. They take it for granted that the Commandery Princess should assist Prince Ping and be grateful for the matter of governance. This attitude is inherently an insult."

"The Commandery Princess can govern the court with skill, wield the spear to slay rebels, and embrace the world with care for the people. Why can’t such a Commandery Princess be the first Empress in history?"

"Even if there hasn’t been an Empress before, let’s start a new era with the Commandery Princess!"

Wang Jin looked openly at Prime Minister Wang: "I support the Commandery Princess out of respect for a wise ruler, devoid of any romantic relationship. If Father wants to be angry, to hit, slap, or punish me, I’ll accept it. Please don’t spread false rumors and sully the Commandery Princess’s reputation."

Prime Minister Wang burst out with laughter, cursing again: "* I never thought, after all these years, I’d raise the world’s greatest romantic fool!"

Wang Jin calmly endured his father’s insult: "After meeting a woman like the Commandery Princess, no other woman can catch my eye."

Prime Minister Wang didn’t want to look at him or talk to him, pointed at the door and said just one word: "Get out!"

Wang Jin refused to leave, kneeling by the bed.

Prime Minister Wang cursed viciously, in a fit of anger, spouting profanity and coarse language. Wang Jin neither retorted nor spoke, silently enduring the scolding.

With his throat dry and tongue parched after a tirade, Wang Jin fetched a cup of warm tea to serve his father. Prime Minister Wang, after drinking the tea, soothed, continued to harshly scold his son.

The attendants, once tense and apprehensive, gradually relaxed.

The situation was set. Wang Jin had publicly declared his support for the Commandery Princess in court, and Prime Minister Wang couldn’t refuse to acknowledge it. After all, he had to keep face and couldn’t go back on his words.

Supporting Prince Ping at this moment was too late. The Wang Family couldn’t be the despised opportunists; they could only accept it with resignation.

No matter how fiercely Prime Minister Wang scolded, it was merely to vent his anger. When the anger subsided, then was the time for father and son to talk and communicate again...

"Prime Minister!" The gatekeeper hurried in to report: "The Commandery Princess is here."

Prime Minister Wang’s scolding abruptly stopped.

Wang Jin turned his head, ecstatic: "The Commandery Princess really came?"

The gatekeeper quickly smiled: "Positively! The Commandery Princess has arrived at the Wang Family with Chief Historian Chen to visit the Prime Minister. She is waiting at the gate."

Prime Minister Wang was furious again, cursing: "You bastard! Hurry and open the main entrance to welcome the Commandery Princess."

No matter how unwilling, Prime Minister Wang knew well that Jiang Shaohua’s ascension was a settled matter, the overall situation was determined. Under such circumstances, Jiang Shaohua’s personal visit to the Wang Family was a compliment. It was also a reward for Wang Jin’s show of support.

The face given by the Commandery Princess must not be refused.

Prime Minister Wang glared at Wang Jin: "You go welcome the Commandery Princess!"

Wang Jin accepted the order with clasped hands, his mouth slightly lifted as he lowered his head.

Even though he knew the Commandery Princess came to reassure Prime Minister Wang, her standing up for him was just incidental. He still felt a sweetness in his heart.

The Wang Family opened the main entrance. Wang Jin led all members of the Wang Family together to the main entrance to welcome the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua rested briefly in the carriage, now fully rejuvenated, spirited: "Everyone rise. Wang She Ren, where is the Prime Minister, lead me to him."

Wang Jin clasped his hands: "Please, Commandery Princess, follow me."

Jiang Shaohua nodded, accompanied by Chief Historian Chen and Song Yuan, went to meet Prime Minister Wang.

Bringing Chief Historian Chen was also to show the Wang Family the importance placed on this visit. Chief Historian Chen was the Left Chief Historian of Nanyang Prince Mansion, in Nanyang County, a position like Prime Minister Wang among the officials.

If Jiang Shaohua ascends the throne and becomes the ruler, it is still unknown who will serve as Prime Minister. However, no one can shake Chief Historian Chen’s political position.

Song Yuan is Jiang Shaohua’s personal soldier commander, as well as Nanyang County’s top military general.

With a literary and military presence, together they accord Prime Minister Wang due respect.

Prime Minister Wang understood, and his inner anger greatly subsided. With a long sigh, he said: "This old minister is injured, cannot rise to greet the Commandery Princess, I beg the Commandery Princess’s pardon."

Jiang Shaohua was courteous to Prime Minister Wang, as if there never were past grievances or estrangement: "Prime Minister, just lie still, don’t move and affect your injury."

"The court’s matters are chaotic, with countless tasks, cannot lack the Prime Minister. For the stability of the court, the Prime Minister must recover soon."

In fact, Prime Minister Wang was so gravely injured that even with meticulous care, it was difficult to recover. The Prime Minister is the head of the officials, handling complex affairs daily; without adequate strength and energy, why occupy an official position?

Prime Minister Wang bitterly smiled: "Commandery Princess’s kind intentions, this old minister is profoundly grateful. However, this old minister’s body truly cannot keep up. After the Commandery Princess ascends the throne, this old minister will submit a memorial to resign."