Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 748: Heart and Soul (4)

Returning to Zhaohai Palace, there is still a pile of memorials to review.

Being an Emperor is truly a burdensome task. Rising early and retiring late each day, worrying and laboring, bearing heavy responsibilities, with no one to rely on behind you, only the palace filled with endless intrigue and chaos, and in front of you, a crowd of ministers harboring their own thoughts and difficult to manage.

Counting the Emperors since the founding of Da Liang, the longest-lived only reached sixty-two. Emperor Taikang and Emperor Taihe, two generations, were both short-lived.

Jiang Shaohua, full of vigor, easily handles the vast and complicated state affairs. What truly concerns her is how to balance the palace and the court, how to win people’s hearts.

The human heart is the most obscure thing under heaven; even the most loyal ministers have their own ideas and demands. As a ruler, if you can’t consider the interests and future of your ministers, loyal subjects will likewise become disillusioned and alienated. Not to mention, more than half of the ministers in court are still observing and weighing whether she, as the Emperor, is worthy of their allegiance.

Jiang Shaohua’s daily exhaustion is imaginable.

Today, with the joyous news of a great victory in Yu State, which infuriated the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, Jiang Shaohua’s steps were a bit lighter than usual, and her beautiful and dignified face shone with ease and joy.

Chief Historian Chen and Wang Zhongshu, who were engrossed in the memorials, simultaneously stood up and bowed: "Your Majesty, we greet you."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "There are no outsiders here, no need for so much formality, quickly sit down to work on the serious matters. I want to return early to accompany Bao’er."

Chief Historian Chen and Wang Jin responded with a smile. Each selected the important memorials they had reviewed and presented them to the Emperor’s desk.

Jiang Shaohua composed herself and quickly began reviewing them.

Chen Jinyu attended to ink and tea on the side, also arranging for a late-night snack to be sent.

Around midnight, all the memorials were finally reviewed. Chief Historian Chen and Wang Jin, both residing outside the palace, needed to return before morning. Chen Jinyu left with Chief Historian Chen.

Jiang Shaohua finally had some free time to spend with her daughter.

Nursemaids from the Wu and Pang families had abundant milk, keeping Bao’er well-fed and chubby. Just over two months old, she was already quite heavy in her arms. Her little round face, big bright eyes, looked so adorable.

"Princess Bao’er slept a whole afternoon, making her particularly lively at night," Nursemaid Wu joked, "Perhaps she’s eagerly waiting for the Emperor. No matter how late, she only sleeps once the Emperor holds her."

Nursemaid Pang added, "Indeed. No matter how we coax, she won’t sleep. The moment the Emperor arrives, Princess Bao’er starts yawning."

Jiang Shaohua chuckled softly, lovingly kissing her daughter’s forehead.

During the day, she was busy, only able to spend some time with her daughter during lunch. And then at night, just for this brief while. The nursemaids, seizing every opportunity, would bring Bao’er over at noon, lull her to sleep in the afternoon, and by night, Princess Bao’er was lively and awaited her mother’s return.

A mother’s affection is innate. Bao’er felt comfortable being in her mother’s embrace, and soon drifted to sleep peacefully.

Jiang Shaohua kissed her again, carefully placing Bao’er on the bed.

Since Bao’er needed feeding and diaper changes at night, the two nursemaids took turns caring for her, working diligently. Jiang Shaohua, unable to share the night with her daughter, had to bathe and change attire after this brief moment with her. By the time she lay on her bed, it was already the third hour.

Closing her eyes, Zheng Chen entered her dreams.

In the dream, Zheng Chen was still in his youth, full of spirit from a past life. He looked at her with a smile, reaching out as if to hold her hand.

She remained still, quietly gazing at him.

Zheng Chen’s hand couldn’t reach her, pausing at about two feet away.

Frowning, Zheng Chen tried again with all his might. Still, his hand stopped at the same place, as if an invisible but tangible barrier separated them.

Desperately, he called out her maiden name.

His lips moved continuously, yet no sound was heard.

Jiang Shaohua watched his familiar, yet distressed face, and suddenly spoke, "Zheng Chen, forget it all! Drink the Meng Po Soup, and reincarnate sooner."

"In the next life, don’t get entangled with me again."

"Go then!" 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

As if something hard shattered in an instant.

Zheng Chen’s form was flung away with great force, scattering like dandelions in the wind.

In her dream, Jiang Shaohua dispelled the last remnants of her attachments, then peacefully continued to sleep.

...

Meanwhile, in the same deep night, sobs too deep to suppress echoed from the inner residence at Duke An’s Mansion.

Mrs. Zheng had been completely shattered ever since she heard the news of her son’s death, crying from daylight till midnight. Her eyes were swollen and her voice hoarse from crying.

Duke An, for once, didn’t scold or blame, just sat beside her, expressionless.

Mrs. Zheng seemed to be crying out both his share of grief and tears, her voice hoarse but she wouldn’t stop.

"Stop crying." The distant sound of the third watch transmitted into their ears, and finally Duke An spoke, managing to say a few words.

Mrs. Zheng, engulfed in boundless grief, her mind completely dull and indifferent to what she heard, continued to cry incessantly.

Duke An spoke again, his volume slightly raised: "Stop crying!"

"Even if you cry, Zixian won’t come back."

"He died in Yu State, and his body remains there. Only his head was brought back to the Capital City. Someday, when we seek a favor, we will retrieve his head for burial. You can cry at his grave then."

These words provoked Mrs. Zheng into an anguished frenzy, her eyes bloodshot, she suddenly rushed forward, grabbing her husband’s neck with both hands, choking and shaking violently: "It’s all your fault. You were bewitched back then and sent our son into the palace. Now he’s dead, not even a complete body left. Give me back my son."

The long nails tore into Duke An’s skin, piercing into his flesh.

The force of her shaking was fierce.

Duke An was on the verge of fainting from the lack of air.

This madwoman.

Struggling, Duke An shoved his wife away. Mrs. Zheng staggered backward, eventually falling heavily onto the ground. Who knows where she hit, but her back and waist were aching.

Yet, none of this compared to the intense pain in her heart. As if her heart had been repeatedly slashed by a sharp blade, the pain unending.

Mrs. Zheng did not attempt to get up, just lay there on the ground, silently and intensely weeping.

Duke An took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "After today’s tears, forget about it. Without Zixian, we still have our other sons and daughters. In the future, they will take care of us as well."

But they are the blood of the Zheng family, what do they have to do with her?

Mrs. Zheng continued to cry, realizing only after she had cried herself out and looked up, that Duke An had already left. The room was empty, leaving her alone.

Her tears had run dry, she could cry no more.

Mrs. Zheng struggled to her feet, feeling her way to the dressing mirror. She pulled out a sharp pair of scissors, and with great force, plunged them into her chest.

...