Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 743: Bowed Head (Part 1)

Zheng Chen stared intently at Song Yuan’s face and suddenly laughed, "Song Yuan, so it was you. Jiang Shaohua, where is she? Why didn’t she come?"

Song Yuan sneered coldly, raising his hand to slap Zheng Chen’s right cheek, swelling it too, "How dare a rebel like you call the Emperor by name!"

Song Yuan had immense strength, and he held nothing back with that slap.

Zheng Chen’s face was split open, and blood spilled from his mouth.

Peng Sihai, who was restrained, watched helplessly as his master was humiliated, his eyes turning red as he cried out desperately, "A gentleman can be killed but not humiliated! How can you treat our master in such a way!"

Song Yuan sneered again, "An outcast from home, a rebel against the court, how dare he call himself a gentleman!"

"Because of your ambition, Yu State fell into chaos. Thousands of civilians and soldiers died in the battles to seize the city these days."

"Bah! You’re not even fit to be called human!"

Peng Sihai wanted to shout for his master but was gagged with a piece of cloth, unable to speak.

Zheng Chen’s face was swollen, and Song Yuan held him down, rendering him unable to fight back. He wanted to speak, but the pain was so intense that instead of words, he spat out two teeth.

A trusted aide exclaimed eagerly, "Commander Song, what are you waiting for? Kill this rebel! Just bring his head back to the Capital City!"

This was the order Jiang Shaohua issued that day, to bring Zheng Chen’s head back to the capital.

Song Yuan said, "First, bind the rebel Zheng Chen and take him back to the military camp."

The trusted aides, though puzzled, said nothing and quickly complied.

The chaos in Yu State City persisted.

Song Yuan was well aware of the explosive power, so he ordered everyone not to enter the city unauthorized. Everyone was to guard outside the city gates, capturing any escaping civilians, interrogating them at dawn, and releasing them once confirmed to be ordinary citizens.

As for the Yu State Rebel Army mixed in with the civilians, anyone seen was to be killed, with no need for questioning.

They guarded until dawn.

The fire in Yu State City gradually weakened, and the noise of the explosion lessened. Left General led his troops personally into Yu State City. Except for the wounded and essential guards, all forces were mobilized. Over thirty thousand elite soldiers marched into the city gates, causing them to tremble slightly. Left General rode forward, eyes fierce, surrounded by aides.

The credit for recapturing Yu State City belonged to Left General. Song Yuan did not attempt to steal the spotlight; capturing Zheng Chen was enough.

Song Yuan led a group of Emperor’s personal guards, bringing Zheng Chen, Peng Sihai, and two others back to the Heroic Guard Camp’s military tent.

Song Yuan dragged Zheng Chen into the tent, casually instructing the trusted aides, "Keep a close eye on the other three. Without my orders, no one’s allowed in."

...

The spacious tent contained only a bed and some furniture, devoid of other items.

Zheng Chen was heavily tossed to the ground, curling up in pain.

Zheng Chen was now a cornered beast, a fish waiting to be slaughtered, without a trace of his former splendor.

Song Yuan looked down at Zheng Chen coldly, "The following questions are on behalf of the Emperor."

"Zheng Chen, now at this point, do you submit or not?"

Zheng Chen’s gaze was unfocused, as if he saw Jiang Shaohua’s face, looking down at him from mid-air, questioning him.

Zheng Chen, you’ve lost completely, do you submit?

Unsure!

He refused a hundred, a thousand times!

Zheng Chen’s eyes widened, suddenly waving his hand as if to disperse the beautiful face hanging above, looking down at him: "Jiang Shaohua!"

"I do not submit!"

"Both of us should’ve been divine lovers, yet you refuse to marry me, insisting on inviting an unknown son-in-law. You’ve betrayed me! I’ll never bow down to you!"

Zheng Chen’s face twisted with hatred and defiance; his eyes flashed with venomous determination, his voice increasingly toxic and shrill.

Fortunately, Left General had taken most of the soldiers with him, leaving only a few behind. This area of tents was intentionally allocated for the Emperor’s personal guards. Zheng Chen’s shouts echoed out from the tent; the guards indifferent, walked off a bit, continuing to watch the surroundings, preventing anyone from approaching.

Zheng Chen repeated these words frantically, his expression already insane: "Jiang Shaohua, you betrayed me in your past life, and remain heartless in this life. If there’s another life, I’ll show no mercy to you and kill you immediately!"

Past life?

This life?

Song Yuan’s heart was puzzled, but his face remained calm, continuing, "You committed the grave crime of treason, affecting nine generations. Duke An wrote a letter of family severance, yet cannot fully absolve himself. Even the Grand Empress Dowager in the palace is implicated and cannot stand straight anymore."

"Zheng Chen! All of this started with you! You bear the sins of betraying both state and family, burdening the soldiers in Yu State Military Camp, causing heavy civilian casualties. You’re a sinner to Da Liang and the Zheng Family."

"I regret not being able to go to Yu State personally to take your life."

"Song Yuan went on my behalf, bringing your head back to me. Whether you submit or not is no longer important. Once you reach Yellow Springs, confess to the ancestors of the Zheng family and apologize to the late Emperor!"

Zheng Chen had fully succumbed to madness, struggling fiercely, "Let go of me! Who dares to kill me!"

"I, born under heaven, returned by reincarnation. This Da Liang world should be mine. I don’t wish to be Prime Minister; I want to be Emperor. I want to change the dynasties and establish a new country..."

He didn’t finish before laughing wildly towards the sky.

This Zheng Chen had gone mad.

Yet, amidst these mad ravings, there were surprising revelations. Coupled with Jiang Shaohua’s repeated mentions of "dreams," a chilling suspicion arose.

Perhaps, Jiang Shaohua indeed had an unusual bond with Zheng Chen...

However, this secret would ultimately lay buried with Zheng Chen’s death.

Song Yuan coldly regarded Zheng Chen, slowly pulling out the long knife in his hand.

The icy sharp blade emerged from the sheath with a piercing noise.

Zheng Chen, oblivious, continued to laugh up at the sky, "I want to be a singular Emperor, remembered throughout history..."

Thwack!

The long knife sliced into his neck.

The frantic laughter and cries abruptly ended.

A head accompanied by a splash of blood fell to the ground, rolling several times.

Clang!

Song Yuan sheathed the knife, crouched down, and looked at that lone head.

Zheng Chen’s expression was frozen at his final moment, his eyes wide open.

Did he die with unresolved regret?

Song Yuan sneered, reaching out to forcefully shut Zheng Chen’s eyes.

Then, Song Yuan called two aides into the tent, "Go bury Zheng’s body."

"Get a wooden box, and some lime. Prepare the head with lime, and place it into the box."

"Yu State City is broken; subsequent matters will be handled by Left General. We can return to the capital now."