Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 775: Heights of Glory (Part 2)

Jiang Shaohua got up and left.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sat still for a long time, not moving.

Mr. Zhao shrank in the corner, not daring to move. He just lifted his eyes slightly and then was shocked by the terrifying look on Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s face, quickly lowering his eyelids.

He had been serving the Grand Empress Dowager for more than twenty years, well-acquainted with her temper. She would kill when furious, and someone would suffer when she sneered. The scariest was like now.

Just like the brief calm before a storm.

"Get out."

Mr. Zhao didn’t even dare to respond, swiftly rolling out.

Eunuch Lin, who was staying in the corner, walked silently to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s side.

...

Chen Sheren, walking out of Jingyang Palace with the Emperor, was also bewildered.

Did they just fall out?

In the past, the Emperor endured repeatedly; why suddenly flip the table today?

Now is the critical time for disaster relief. If Grand Empress Dowager Zheng is determined to oppose the Emperor, it’s not a major but also not a minor dilemma. Why did the Emperor choose this time to fall out?

Song Yuan’s thoughts were not so complicated. After returning to Zhaohai Palace, Song Yuan immediately arranged for personnel to strengthen patrols and vigilance.

"Your Majesty," Chen Sheren followed Jiang Shaohua into the room, whispering urgently, "if the Grand Empress Dowager gets angry and causes a disturbance tonight, what should we do?"

Jiang Shaohua turned her head, her gaze sharp as a blade: "The last time I used the spear was on the day of the palace coup. The people in the palace have become too insolent to remember. I might as well let them see again."

Chen Jinyu gasped.

It seems the Emperor is ready to kill.

Then, thinking again, the Zheng family had been weakened repeatedly, no longer a threat. Most officials of the Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction in the court had been won over. With no claws left, relying only on Eunuch Lin and her subordinates, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng couldn’t stir much trouble.

The only concern is Princess Bao’er, who is just over half a year old. She might not withstand any turmoil.

"Chen Sheren, leave the palace immediately," a familiar voice sounded in the ear: "Take Bao’er with you to the Prince Mansion."

Chen Jinyu came to her senses, locking eyes with Her Majesty the Empress.

Since the Chen Family’s ancestors and descendants entered the Capital City, they had been staying at the Nanyang Prince Mansion outside the palace. There are hundreds of trusted aides in the Nanyang Prince Mansion, as long as there are no major disturbances in the Capital City, unless thousands of soldiers attack, the Nanyang Prince Mansion is safe.

Jiang Shaohua gazed deeply at Chen Jinyu: "You are pregnant, it’s not suitable for you to continue taking errands. From tomorrow, you will stay at the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Await for my summons."

This entrusted Princess Bao’er’s safety to her.

Chen Jinyu felt the weight of a thousand pounds on her shoulders. However, now is not the time for hesitations. Even a cornered dog will jump over the wall, who knows what Grand Empress Dowager Zheng might do in anger. The young Bao’er in the palace is no longer very safe, staying for a period in the Nanyang Prince Mansion is indeed the most appropriate. The one who can look after Princess Bao’er can only be her.

Chen Jinyu took a deep breath and solemnly replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will surely take good care of Princess Bao’er."

Jiang Shaohua nodded.

When the two wet nurses received the order, they were somewhat at a loss. However, they didn’t have the opportunity to ask questions. Several agile Palace Attendants quickly packed, not taking anything except a few sets of Princess Bao’er’s clothes. Everything else needed is available at the Nanyang Prince Mansion.

Seven months old Bao’er, with dark thick hair, fair and tender skin, and a pair of shiny eyes. Upon seeing her mother, she grinned and reached out to be held.

Jiang Shaohua’s heart softened, reaching out to hold Bao’er. The daughter’s soft little body wriggled a bit in her arms and chuckled.

Jiang Shaohua also laughed, kissing Bao’er on the cheek: "Don’t be afraid, Bao’er, after this time, the palace will finally be peaceful, and you can live steadily in the palace from now on."

Bao’er, unaware that she was about to separate from her mother for a while, was still giggling when the wet nurse took her away.

Chen Sheren exited the palace with Princess Bao’er first, and the palace gate was locked right after.

The heavy palace gate closed, isolating the outside. Completely isolating the court as well. In the dark night, like a silent giant beast, ready to devour everything at any moment.

Past midnight, the candles in Zhaohai Palace were extinguished.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t sleep, sitting in full dress at the edge of the bed, holding the familiar Red Cherry Long Spear in her right hand.

Yin Zhutu Bai each held their breath.

"Commandery Princess," in her nervousness, Tu Bai blurted out the past address: "Will the palace really be turbulent tonight?"

Yin Zhu was a bit better, though her speech wasn’t as fluent as usual: "Your Majesty, does the Grand Empress Dowager truly have the audacity to cause chaos in the palace?"

In the bedroom, there was only one palace lantern placed in the corner, giving soft light.

Jiang Shaohua calmly spoke: "Let’s wait and see, we’ll know soon enough."

Yin Zhu couldn’t help but ask softly: "You’ve always tolerated Jingyang Palace? Why didn’t you bear it today?"

In front of her two close maids, Jiang Shaohua had nothing unspeakable: "Previously, I had just ascended the throne, the palace’s situation was unstable, I had to endure and handle affairs, be accommodating."

"Now, the Zheng family is basically finished, the Empress Dowager’s followers in the court have largely come under my command. The Imperial Army obeys my orders. The Grand Empress Dowager can only rely on personnel in the palace, which can’t stir much waves."

"I now have the ability and confidence to flip the table; why bear it any longer?"

In short, before it was necessary to endure, now there’s no need to.

This abscess has always been there, it’s better to pop it early and resolve it completely, and have more stability afterwards.

Yin Zhutu Bai exchanged a glance, choosing to remain silent.

Time ticked away.

In the palace, the watch is rung every hour. Near midnight, there was movement outside Zhaohai Palace.

First, there was an exclamation of "fire," then came the noise of Palace Attendants and eunuchs waking up in surprise, followed by the hurried rush of fire-fighting.

Quickly, the sounds of angry shouts and swords and spears emerged.

Yin Zhutu Bai, never having experienced such a situation, turned a bit pale.

Jiang Shaohua listened for a moment, then smirked: "Don’t be afraid, Commander Song is well-prepared. They can’t break in."

Saying this, she stood up.

Yin Zhu’s scalp went numb, reflexively grabbing Her Majesty’s robe: "Where are you going, Your Majesty?"

Tu Bai clung to the other sleeve stubbornly: "The situation outside is unclear, swords don’t have eyes. Please don’t go out, it’s safer to stay in the bedroom."

Jiang Shaohua smiled, reassuring her two close maids: "No one can hurt me, I’ll just go out and take a look."

"No way!" Yin Zhutu Bai stopped her in unison. In such a critical moment, they couldn’t bother with the difference between master and servant, they had to stop the Emperor from making a dangerous move.

"You can’t go out!"

"Outside, there’s Commander Song, Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and others. The palace still has many loyal Imperial Guards. Why should the Emperor personally take action?"

"That’s right, Your Majesty, don’t go anywhere. Just stay here and wait. Once things calm outside, then go see for yourself."