Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 764: Cutting Flesh

An hour later.

The dusty Commander Song strode into Zhaohai Palace and respectfully cupped his hands in salute: "Your Majesty, I am fortunate not to have failed the mission. I have brought back the rebel’s head."

Jiang Shaohua didn’t rush to look at the rebels’ heads inside the three wooden boxes. With a gentle smile, she stepped forward and helped Song Yuan up: "Uncle, you have endured the hardships of travel."

The intimate address in private warmed Song Yuan’s heart, and he replied softly: "It is my duty to relieve Your Majesty’s worries. I feel not a bit of hardship."

How could it not be hard?

The army marched for over a month to reach Yu State. After settling for a few days, the battle began, though the actual fighting didn’t take much time. After capturing Zheng Chen and beheading him, we rode swiftly back to the capital the next day. The return was more than twice as fast as the journey there.

Nonetheless, arriving a day earlier in the Capital City is always good.

Jiang Shaohua knew Song Yuan’s temperament; no matter how tired or weary, he would say nothing to her. Smiling, she urged, "Uncle, first settle in and rest. Tomorrow, I shall inquire in detail about the Yu State battle."

Song Yuan agreed, left the three wooden boxes, and then departed.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze drifted over, as if contemplating which one to open first.

Chen Sheren volunteered: "Your Majesty, allow me to open the boxes."

"No need," Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "I will open them myself."

Zheng Chen was already dead, and all the past was like smoke. It’s just a head; it’s not enough to throw her into confusion.

Jiang Shaohua stepped forward and opened the first box.

It was quite coincidental. The head in the first box was a familiar face.

Song Yuan’s blade that day was decisive and neat, and he had promptly treated it with lime. The head was well-preserved; through the stiff, cold features, one could almost see Zheng Chen’s horror and unwillingness before death.

Jiang Shaohua looked for a moment, then opened the second box. Inside was the head of Zhao Wu. Zhao Wu had been cleaved in half by the Left General, and the head was pieced together, grotesque and ghastly.

Chen Sheren glanced at it, felt uneasy in his stomach, and quietly turned away to retch.

Without changing expression, Jiang Shaohua opened the third box.

Lu Cheng died on the city wall, but whether by the court’s hand or Zheng Chen and Zhao Wu’s secret dagger is a mystery. Jiang Shaohua had no interest in delving into it. What mattered was that Lu Cheng was dead.

Lu Cheng had been buried in a coffin, later exhumed, and his head cut off. So, this head was already quite decomposed.

Chen Sheren couldn’t hold back and retreated with a hand over his mouth.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t bat an eyelid, calling over trusted aides Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and others: "These three heads are to be delivered to the Ministry of Justice. Instruct the Ministry to file a case and charge the Lu and Zhao families with high treason."

It’s not enough that Lu Cheng and Zhao Wu are dead; their families must also be wiped out to demonstrate the court’s legal authority.

Qin Hu and the others bowed to receive the order, packed the boxes again, and took them to the Ministry of Justice.

The newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Minister Yang, solemnly accepted the three boxes: "Please report to His Majesty on behalf of this Minister. The Ministry will expedite the case and sentencing."

...

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng of Jingyang Palace quickly received the news.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sent Mr. Zhao to invite the Emperor for a discussion. Jiang Shaohua came after completing her official duties, only arriving in the evening.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, once arrogant and bossy, now restrained herself and spoke to Jiang Shaohua in a gentle, negotiable tone: "Shao Hua, I know Zheng Chen committed a crime of grave treason. However, he is already dead at Commander Song’s hand, and his head was brought to the Capital City."

"The body can’t be found now. Sending his head back to the Zheng Family would at least allow Duke An to prepare a simple coffin, bury it with some clothes, and give him peace."

Jiang Shaohua, familiar with dealing with Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, first appeared troubled, then sighed deeply: "Grandmother, the courtiers are watching. I have granted too many favors to the Zheng Family. If the Emperor’s thunderous authority is lost, where does the court’s law stand?"

"The courtiers may feel dissatisfied or become restless. If they make grave mistakes in the future and argue with me using Zheng Chen’s case, how am I to respond?"

"Should I say that the Zheng Family holds an elevated position with me, above the court’s laws?"

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng knew she was in the wrong, said nothing more of substance, and resorted to a sorrowful strategy, tears streaming down: "Shao Hua, I raised him single-handedly. He betrayed me and committed grave errors; I hate him to death. Yet, he is dead, and my heart feels empty. These days, I keep dreaming of how he was alive."

"For my sake, give him a proper burial. This lifetime, he sinned greatly; perhaps in the next life, he will be reborn as an animal, as his fate dictates."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was a Buddhist devotee, believing in the Buddhist concept of karma. Without burial, one’s soul would wander without peace, losing even the chance of rebirth.

Her humble submission was in hopes that Zheng Chen might reincarnate early.

Jiang Shaohua neither agreed nor refused, maintaining a look of difficulty and bargaining with the Grand Empress Dowager.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng harbored resentment but understood that without solid concessions, Jiang Shaohua would never assent. A heavier price had to be paid.

"By the way, I heard you plan to establish a women’s academy in the Capital City," Grand Empress Dowager Zheng reluctantly continued. "Starting an academy requires hiring teachers and providing students with a lunch, which costs quite a bit of silver."

"Don’t worry about these expenses. I have some private funds, and I will cover them."

Jiang Shaohua did not refuse: "Grandmother’s generosity, on behalf of all female students, I thank you in advance."

"Can Zheng Chen’s head be sent to the Zheng Family now?" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng eagerly asked.

Jiang Shaohua continued to ponder.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, suppressing her anger, continued the concessions: "I also heard you plan to promote women’s academies throughout Da Liang’s states and provinces. The expenditure of grains and silver will be a big burden for the court as it stands. How about the Ministry of Revenue covers thirty percent, the Ministry of Internal Affairs covers another thirty percent, and the states and provinces raise the remaining forty percent themselves?"

If women’s academies were established in each province, there would be three hundred. If extended further, with one in every county, there would be thousands. The annual expenditure would be astonishing. The Ministry of Revenue couldn’t support it.

Even if it could, it wouldn’t be fair. If the court funded women’s academies, shouldn’t men receive some subsidy for their studies too?

The proposal by Grand Empress Dowager Zheng seemed more reasonable.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, always firmly in Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s control, was essentially her own treasury. This time, it was a deep cut.

Jiang Shaohua was quite satisfied with this outcome, finally agreeing: "I will send someone to Minister Yang with a message that this matter must be handled discreetly."