Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 653: Facing Death (Part 2)
After dark, the Imperial Guard outside the Heavenly Prison changed shifts.
Liu Hengmao was on duty tonight, wearing gleaming soft armor, patrolling inside and outside the prison.
This palace coup was almost catastrophic for the Imperial Family, and those civil and military officials who died in the coup were unlucky fools. Nanyang County Princess was the biggest winner.
As for the Liu Family, they placed their bets early, with Liu Hengchang joining the Nanyang Prince Mansion as a trusted aide years ago. Over the past few years, Liu Hengchang had been training troops, making a name for himself in the Personal Guard Camp, and gaining the Princess’s favor. His defeat of the Rouran army in the Battle of Pingzhou made him famous across the land.
Liu Hengmao and Liu Hengchang were cousins, and often corresponded in writing. After the Princess led her troops to the palace to eradicate the rebels, Liu Hengmao wasted no time in pledging allegiance to the Princess, earning merit in the dragon’s service. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
It was clear to the discerning eye that Liu Hengmao would be heavily employed in the future. Wherever he went to lead troops, it would surely be better than guarding the Heavenly Prison every day.
Liu Hengmao didn’t speak of it, but was pondering the matter in his heart.
What kind of position would be suitable afterward? Should he stay in the Imperial Army, transfer to another military unit, or perhaps go to the border army? Leading troops to battle would be ideal. A man should make his mark amidst warfare on the battlefield. Being cooped up in the Imperial Palace all day was truly dull.
An Imperial Guard hurried over, muttering a few phrases.
Liu Hengmao snapped back to reality, quickly moving forward.
A group of tall and sturdy personal soldiers came, escorting Nanyang County Princess with determined strides.
In the coup, Jiang Shaohua’s personal soldiers suffered heavy casualties; only over thirty out of two hundred survived, with some severely injured and recuperating in the Prince Mansion.
Afterward, the Princess remained low-key, mending relations with the Grand Empress Dowager, probably for reasons including this one.
Along with the demise of Lu Xuan, there came a thousand Nanyang Guards. These troops were all elite soldiers from the Personal Guard Camp, with unwavering loyalty to the Princess. They possessed exceptional skills, literacy, and could read military texts. In the current Da Liang Dynasty, this was nearly the standard for low-ranking military generals.
These thousand soldiers were directly appointed as Imperial Guards. With these elite troops protecting her, Jiang Shaohua had no worries about threats. Two hundred of them accompanied her this time, forming a formidable and grand spectacle.
"This humble General greets the Princess." The enthronement ceremony hadn’t yet been held, so Liu Hengmao, being prudent, still referred to her as Princess.
Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "I wish to see Prince Dongping."
Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had previously issued a decree that no one was allowed to visit Prince Dongping. This decree might work for others, but it was of no consequence to the Princess.
The whole world would belong to the Princess, where could she not go and whom could she not see?
Liu Hengmao acknowledged the command seriously, and led the way.
The two hundred personal soldiers remained outside the prison, while Jiang Shaohua entered the prison with only Song Yuan and Qin Hu.
Inside the prison, there was a candlestick at intervals along the path, but it was still dim and carried an uncomfortable chill.
Of course, this was much better than the conditions in the Ministry of Justice Prison. The Vassal Kings were not subjected to torture and could barely eat enough each day.
"Where are Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an?" Jiang Shaohua asked casually.
Liu Hengmao answered softly, "Reporting to the Princess, Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an are kept separate, and are interrogated separately, with no opportunity to meet Prince Dongping."
As he spoke, the cells of Prince Dongping and his son came into view.
Liu Hengmao stepped forward, unlocked the iron lock, and opened the iron door: "The Princess is here; why aren’t you coming to pay respects?"
Prince Dongping’s son struggled to climb off the bed, hesitating between bowing and cursing, but ultimately did not move.
Prince Dongping was even more forthright, sitting boldly by the bedside, smiling at Jiang Shaohua: "You’re fulfilling your promise by personally sending us father and son off."
Sending off?
Liu Hengmao was startled, restraining the impulse to look at the Princess, silently stepping back two steps, standing alongside Song Yuan.
Jiang Shaohua calmly said, "In terms of bloodline, I should call you granduncle. Sending you off is my rightful duty."
Prince Dongping laughed heartily: "Poisoned wine or white silk, give us father and son a swift end."
These two methods of death could leave no scars and preserve the corpse, considered the most dignified way to die.
Prince Dongping’s son had a pale face, his legs unsteady. Was this the end of his life?
He truly didn’t want to die.
His legs went weak, finally kneeling down, mumbling words incomprehensively, even he didn’t know what he was saying.
Jiang Shaohua didn’t look at Prince Dongping’s son, and Prince Dongping couldn’t be bothered with his shameful son, addressing Jiang Shaohua: "The Grand Empress Dowager has temporarily backed down due to circumstances. Retaliation will surely come one day. You must remain vigilant."
Jiang Shaohua exchanged a glance with Prince Dongping: "Rest assured, granduncle, I’m aware of these matters."
Prince Dongping nodded, adding: "Taking the Dragon Throne is merely the first step. The next is to fully control the court. There will always be negotiation between monarch and ministers; you cannot solely use kindness and pacification. When you must wield a thunderous hand, you mustn’t be soft-hearted. Only then can you instill fear in the hearts of the ministers and command their genuine respect."
Jiang Shaohua replied: "Granduncle’s words are noted."
Prince Dongping seemed to open the floodgates, speaking fervently: "Emperor Taikang is frail and often unwell, having to heavily rely on Prime Minister Wang for governance, while all palace affairs are directed by the Grand Empress Dowager. Consequently, the court divided into the Prime Minister Faction and the Grand Empress Dowager Faction. When Emperor Taihe succeeded to the throne, the rivalry between the two factions became intense, vying for power and forming selfish cliques, resulting in turmoil in the court."
"I’ve always been holding a grievance in my heart. Such mediocrity and cowardice, how can they be fit to sit on the Dragon Throne and rule the world? I share the same bloodline as the Jiang Family; if the throne were mine, I’d be ten times, a hundred times better than those father and son."
"Even letting Jiang Yi sit on the throne would be far superior to Jiang Song."
"In the end, both Jiang Song and I lost."
"In matters of rebellion, losing means death. I have no grievance. Knowing that the throne is in your hands brings me great relief."
"Shao Hua! After you take the Dragon Throne, you must subdue the civil and military officials, and devote yourself to governing the nation. Slaughter the Rouran Barbarians until rivers of blood flow, so that they dare not invade the borders of Da Liang again."
"Besides external enemies, internal peace must be secured. Exempt land taxes, severely punish corrupt officials, and promote high-yield crops, allowing the people to live in peace and prosperity, enjoying good lives."
"When that day comes, you as the Da Liang Empress will be the truly wise ruler of the ages! Only then will the Jiang Family’s realm be solid and everlasting."
Prince Dongping spoke with increasing fervor, his eyes shining with passionate brilliance.
Who would have thought that the one who truly understood her ambitions and aspirations was this notorious rebel before her?
Jiang Shaohua nodded firmly in agreement, then signaled Song Yuan with her eyes.
Song Yuan nodded, walked out momentarily, and returned with a jug of wine.
Prince Dongping laughed loudly, grabbed the jug, and poured it down his throat. After two large swigs, he stuffed the jug to his son: "No need for tears, drink up, and join your father in the Yellow Springs."
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