Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 746: Heart and Soul (Part 2)

The death of Zheng Chen, whose heart did it truly pierce?

The answer is clear; it was the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

One moment she was barely sitting upright, the next, she fainted straight away. Chaos erupted in Jingyang Palace.

Mr. Zhao was the closest, but it was Eunuch Lin who acted the fastest, swiftly reaching out to support the Grand Empress Dowager’s figure. Chen Sheren shouted for the Imperial Physician. All the stewards looked anxious, eager to rush forward to see what had happened, but Mr. Zhao sternly rebuked them: "The Lady wishes to summon the Imperial Physician for a consultation. All of you leave and wait outside. Without the Lady’s summons, no one is to enter on their own accord."

Mr. Zhao had served as the chief steward of Jingyang Palace for over ten years, commanding great authority, and the stewards dared not make any noise, retreating with lowered heads to outside the hall.

It was already spring, the sunlight gentle, the spring breeze tender. Yet the stewards’ hearts felt cold.

During the two months of Empress Dowager Li managing the palace affairs, she dismissed two on the pretext of negligence and replaced them with two trusted aides. The rest were almost all people of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Seeing this towering tree swaying, seemingly on the verge of collapse at any moment, how could the stewards not feel anxious? 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

One steward, bolder than the others, whispered into the ear of the worried Mr. Min: "Mr. Min, the Lady just recovered from her illness and now faces such a matter. I wonder how long she will be bedridden this time. Wouldn’t this mean that palace affairs will once again fall to Ning An Palace?"

Indeed!

If the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng falls, Empress Dowager Li would rightly assume control of the palace affairs. How could they still have good days?

Mr. Min thought of these things, feeling both worried and helpless: "Don’t speak such ominous words. The Lady was overwhelmed by the sudden news of Mr. Zheng, causing her blood to rush to her head. Once the Imperial Physician administers the needle treatment and prescribes medicine, she will recover in a few days."

The steward grumbled quietly: "Last time it was because of the Zheng Family, this time again for the Zheng family’s son. The Zheng Family seems to be the Lady’s Achilles’ heel."

Moreover, this Achilles’ heel was firmly grasped by the Emperor. The palace of Jingyang had to endure and retreat repeatedly because of the Zheng Family’s troubles. The once domineering Jingyang Palace now lay low.

"And Chen Sheren as well," another steward couldn’t help but join in: "Of all things to say, he had to report Mr. Zheng’s death in front of the Lady, clearly trying to provoke her."

"Hush! Such nonsense!" Mr. Min immediately glared across: "Chen Sheren came to convey the Emperor’s message. The traitor Zheng rebelled against the court and deserved to die. The Lady was overjoyed at the news of the traitor Zheng’s downfall, which caused her to faint from excessive excitement."

This inversion of truth! Truly worthy of the chief steward of the Ministry of Internal Affairs!

The two stewards nodded compliantly, quickly exchanging a glance.

The Grand Empress Dowager’s towering tree truly seemed to be falling. Mr. Min was a trusted aide of the Grand Empress Dowager, with no intent or means to escape. But they were different; if they jumped ship early and found another patron, they might smoothly navigate through the turmoil of the palace’s power shuffle...

The visible unrest was evident, no need to detail it further.

Now, about the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, after she fainted, she was carried to the bed to lie flat. The Imperial Physician brandished silver needles and administered them swiftly.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng slowly regained consciousness, two hours later.

"Zhao Chunming!" The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s voice was weak, speaking with difficulty, squeezing out a sentence intermittently: "Go to Zhaohai Palace! Ask the Emperor to come, I must see the Emperor immediately!"

Mr. Zhao had anticipated this, responding in a low voice, somewhat awkwardly: "The Emperor summoned the court ministers, and it’s said they are discussing how to pacify Yu State. He likely doesn’t have the time to come now."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had no strength to reprimand, barely glaring: "Go convey the message immediately!"

Mr. Zhao had no choice but to retreat in deference.

Eunuch Lin stood by the bedside, waiting for a moment until the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng spoke: "Lin Ying."

"At your service, please instruct me, Lady!" Eunuch Lin responded respectfully, stepping forward with a bow.

In a short half-day, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng seemed to have aged considerably, her gaze dimmed, speaking tremulously: "You are to go to the Zheng Family for me, inform Duke An of Zheng Chen’s death."

Eunuch Lin accepted the order quietly: "Yes, I shall go at once. Is there anything else the Lady wishes to instruct me?"

The way Eunuch Lin asked was subtle and indirect.

Last month, the palace released eighty palace attendants and eunuchs, most of which were the Grand Empress Dowager’s operatives. However, having managed the palace for decades, her influence spanned the court; a single cut had not yet reached the root. As long as the Grand Empress Dowager’s command rang out, she could still stir up a storm.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had never been a merciful person. When she was Empress, the concubines lived in fear. As Empress Dowager, Noble Consort Li couldn’t lift her head. As Grand Empress Dowager, she was even more imposing and domineering.

Now, she seemed to be slowly losing ground under Jiang Shaohua’s subtle tactics. Everyone knew that Jingyang Palace was declining, losing power day by day.

Could the Grand Empress Dowager be blinded by rage, making a move that would harm both sides?

Her expression oscillated between light and dark, her gaze shifting, a moment of murderous intent flashing. In an instant, thinking of the Zheng Family, of Prince Ping, and her own declining self, the murderous intent disappeared without a trace.

"Refrain from acting rashly." The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng shut her eyes, swallowing all her anger, pain, and unwillingness.

"Yes."

Eunuch Lin also withdrew.

The bedchamber was silent once more.

Two turbid tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng did not lift her hand to wipe the tears, but turned her head inward. Constantly flashing in her mind were images of Zheng Chen as a child and a youth, her heart aching as if cut.

...

Mr. Zhao waited outside Zhaohai Palace for an hour, waiting until nightfall for the court discussion to end.

Mr. Zhao bowed obsequiously, full of deference: "The Lady was emotionally overwhelmed upon hearing the news of the traitor Zheng’s death and fainted once. She woke up an hour ago, seemingly fine now. However, the Lady wishes to see the Emperor, and earnestly requests the Emperor to visit Jingyang Palace."

Jiang Shaohua frowned, first blaming Chen Sheren: "Why wasn’t I informed about Grandmother’s fainting?"

Chen Sheren dared not argue, immediately pleading guilty: "It was my negligence, I ask the Emperor to punish me."

Jiang Shaohua said solemnly: "National affairs are important, but Grandmother’s health is even more so. If similar matters arise in the future, report them to me immediately."

Chen Sheren obediently agreed.

Mr. Zhao thought that the Emperor is indeed the Emperor; always adept at putting on a full act. The façades were flawless, leaving nothing to criticize.

Jiang Shaohua, surrounded by the Emperor’s personal guard, went to Jingyang Palace.

Entering Jingyang Palace, she needed no announcement, allowed to proceed directly into the Grand Empress Dowager’s bedchamber.

Opening the door and approaching the bedside, she saw the tear-streaked, aged face of the Grand Empress Dowager. Truly delightful.

Jiang Shaohua sat by the bedside, softly soothing, "Grandmother, don’t be too upset. With Zheng Chen gone, it removes the tumor from the Zheng Family, something beneficial to you even more so."