Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 650: Letter of Bereavement (Part 2)

Jiang Shaohua sighed deeply, "I, as the Commandery Princess, cannot return to Nanyang. Only by mourning for my father can I find peace."

After all, I also need to mourn for Emperor Taihe. Now it is very convenient.

Jiang Shaohua did not dwell in the grief of losing her father for long, quickly gathering herself up: "Relay my decree as the Commandery Princess, summon Chief Historian Chen and Elder Changning to enter the palace immediately."

Chief Historian Chen was temporarily residing in the Nanyang Prince Mansion, entering the palace early every day for duty, and was currently inside the palace. However, Cui Du had gone to the Imperial Manor two days ago, and sending a message back and forth would take more than half a day.

Song Yuan bowed to take the order and quickly withdrew.

Chen Jinyu looked at Jiang Shaohua with concern and whispered, "The Commandery Princess is with child, she must not grieve too much to avoid harming the fetus and endanging her health."

All in the Nanyang Prince Mansion knew about the distant relationship between Jiang Shaohua and Lu Xuan, yet, after all, he was her biological father. Lu Xuan’s sudden death from illness must bring great sadness to the Commandery Princess’s heart.

Some secrets cannot even be shared with Chen Jinyu.

Jiang Shaohua softly said, "You may leave, I wish to be alone for a while. If the Grand Empress Dowager or Empress Dowager sends someone over, block them for me."

Chen Jinyu nodded, retreating with a heart full of worry.

Only Jiang Shaohua remained in the chamber.

Jiang Shaohua no longer needed to hold back, nor did she need to pretend. She raised the corners of her mouth, silently and joyously laughing.

An hour later, Chief Historian Chen entered the chamber.

What was discussed privately between the ruler and subject, no one knew.

...

The news of Lu Xuan’s death was indeed surprising; however, it did not stir much commotion.

Haven’t enough people died in the palace? From Emperor Taihe, to the Heir of Prince Gaoliang, to Minister Li and his grandson, and the innocent civil servants and military generals who died tragically, to the rebels Gao Shan Weixiong who were executed, which of them wasn’t high-ranking and influential? A mere son-in-law of the Nanyang Prince Mansion dying suddenly from illness was not enough to shake the inside and outside of the palace.

If Lu Xuan were not Jiang Shaohua’s father, this kind of news wouldn’t even be worth mentioning.

Upon hearing this, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng said to Mr. Zhao, "Lu Junma truly had no fortune. Although he was a son-in-law, he was after all Shaohua’s biological father. Shaohua ascended to become the Empress, and it was unavoidable she would grant him a Dukedom. Now that he is gone, everything is gone."

Mr. Zhao, with some sympathy, sighed, "I went to the Nanyang Prince Mansion and met Lu Junma a few times and dealt with him. Never did I expect that Lu Junma would have such little blessing and a short life."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng harbored some speculation but did not voice it.

Lu Xuan’s death was too opportune. Such a "coincidence" had a hint of familiarity to the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Over twenty years ago, the eldest prince of a concubine line just happened to die unexpectedly, and the third prince also unluckily fell ill with a fever that damaged his brain...

"That is his fate." The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng remarked indifferently, "Go on behalf of Aijia to Zhaohai Palace, offer some words of comfort to Shaohua, and tell her to mourn properly."

Mr. Zhao respectfully accepted the order and quickly returned to report, "The Commandery Princess is too sorrowful to see anyone, so I requested Chen Sheren to convey the message."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng nodded agreeably, and the matter was laid to rest.

Empress Dowager Li, after hearing the news, also, like the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, sent someone to go to Zhaohai Palace.

The one who reacted the strongest to the matter was Imperial Concubine Fan.

Imperial Concubine Fan rushed to Jingyang Palace with a pale, pretty face, to seek an audience with the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Seeing her demeanor, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng frowned and waved her hand.

Mr. Zhao immediately ordered the eunuchs and palace maids to withdraw. As for Mr. Zhao himself, he retreated voluntarily to a corner, hung his head, yet actually pricked up his ears, taking in all of Imperial Concubine Fan’s complaints.

"... On one side Jiang Shaohua seizes the throne, on the other the Nanyang Prince Mansion sends word of Lu Junma’s sudden death from illness. Lady, think, how could there be such a coincidence in this world."

"Then what do you think of it?" The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s voice carried a cold displeasure.

Imperial Concubine Fan did not catch on, fear all over her face, her body trembling constantly, and when she spoke, her voice quivered too, "It must be her secretly instructing someone in the Nanyang Prince Mansion to harm Lu Junma!"

"Such a ruthless woman who could harm her own father with venom, once seated on the Dragon Throne, would surely bring calamity to the world. Lady, there are still two days left before the enthronement ceremony. There’s still time to stop her. Please, Lady, immediately send someone to arrest Jiang Shaohua..."

"You, shut your mouth!"

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng abruptly stood, pointing at Imperial Concubine Fan, berating her, "You are just a woman in the depths of the palace, never having left the gates, let alone been to the Nanyang Prince Mansion, not having met Lu Junma or any subordinate officials of the Nanyang Prince Mansion. With mere senseless imagination, you wish to slander Shaohua with parricide."

"Not just Shaohua, Aijia also won’t allow your nonsense!"

"Someone, gag her mouth and send her back to the palace. Relay my decree, the Fan Family has hysteria, summon the Imperial Physician to diagnose and prescribe. Only when the hysteria is cured can she come out to see people."

At the order, two robust palace attendants appeared out of nowhere. One gagged Imperial Concubine Fan’s mouth with a cloth, while the other twisted her arm.

Imperial Concubine Fan continued to cry out incessantly, yet not a word could come out. Thus, losing all dignity, she was "sent" back to her chamber.

The chamber was locked. From today onward, Imperial Concubine Fan could not step one foot out of the chamber, and even the palace attendants who served her were locked inside the palace gates as well.

...

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng did not issue an order to remain silent, and the news of Imperial Concubine Fan’s "hysteria" quickly reached Jiang Shaohua’s ears.

This was the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s way of deliberately showing goodwill and trading favors. Jiang Shaohua understood in her heart; that evening, she "forcibly endured the grief," and went to Jingyang Palace to thank the Grand Empress Dowager for her kindness.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng put on the demeanor of a kindly elder, comfortingly and warmly, "The Fan Family was muddle-headed and foolish, speaking nonsense, you do not need to keep it in mind. Aijia knows you are most filial and considerate. The most heartbroken by Lu Junma’s sudden death from illness is you."

"You must take care of your health for Da Liang, and also take care of yourself for the child in your belly."

Jiang Shaohua looked grateful and touched, "Grandmother still loves and cherishes me the most."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng said, "Have you not had your evening meal yet? Aijia will have it served." She also had someone call Prince Ping over.

Prince Ping had lived in Jingyang Palace for half a month, initially somewhat unaccustomed, but now he had gotten used to it. He neither had to study nor practice martial arts, running around, eating, and playing every day.

He had no idea that his own mother, who constantly thought about regaining the throne for him, was instead held under confined supervision. Such matters never reached his ears. Even if he occasionally heard a word or two, he did not understand.

Prince Ping happily sat down, grabbing his favorite ribs, munching away with greasy lips.

Jiang Shaohua picked up a cloth, wiping Prince Ping’s mouth and cleaning his hands incidentally.