Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 776: Turmoil (Part 1)

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai usually follow orders without question, but tonight they are unusually stubborn, each grabbing one of Jiang Shaohua’s sleeves to desperately stop her.

Jiang Shaohua, with her divine power, could flick them away with a simple wave of her hand, or calm their resistance with a stern reprimand.

However, seeing Yin Zhu and Tu Bai’s faces pale with excessive tension, Jiang Shaohua’s heart softened. She reluctantly smiled and said, "Alright, I’ll listen to you and keep waiting."

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai simultaneously let out a sigh of relief and released their grip.

Jiang Shaohua listened intently, hearing the sudden surge of commotion outside, which was quickly suppressed, accompanied occasionally by one or two cries of agony.

After waiting for about an hour, a familiar voice finally echoed from outside: "Your Majesty, a fire broke out unexpectedly in the palace. Some eunuchs and palace maids caused disturbances, and a squad of Imperial Guards suddenly attacked Zhaohai Palace but were prevented."

It was the voice of Meng Sanbao.

Yin Zhu perked up and quickly stepped forward to open the door.

As the door opened, a face smeared with traces of blood appeared. Yin Zhu’s heart tightened, "Brother Sanbao, are you injured?"

Meng Sanbao wiped his face with his hand and grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, "I just killed one, and the blood splattered on my face. I’m not hurt, don’t worry."

Yin Zhu and Meng Sanbao are already engaged, with the wedding set for three months later.

Now is not the time for tenderness. Confirming that Meng Sanbao was unhurt, Yin Zhu stepped aside. Meng Sanbao entered and recounted what had happened outside in detail.

There were fires in three places within the palace, two of which were empty palaces, while another was the residence of a concubine. The fire startled everyone in the harem, who hurried to extinguish it. Many took advantage of the chaos to cause trouble.

"...The troublemakers were mostly palace attendants and eunuchs. Three hundred Imperial Guards attacked Zhaohai Palace, and Commander Song led people to kill most of them, capturing some alive."

"It’s still dark, and there might be others hiding in the shadows. Commander Song sent me to convey that the Emperor should stay in the sleeping quarters, not show himself willingly, to avoid being taken advantage of by lurking traitors."

Even Song Yuan insisted on this.

Jiang Shaohua had no choice but to remain in the sleeping quarters, entertained by the occasional shouts and clashes outside.

Others in the palace were nowhere as calm and composed as Jiang Shaohua.

In Ning An Palace, upon learning of the fire in the harem, Empress Dowager Li’s face changed dramatically.

The tragic events of last year’s palace upheaval were fresh in her mind. The terror of being seized by rebels with a knife pressed against her throat was deeply imprinted in her heart.

"Immediately seal the palace gates; no one is allowed near Ning An Palace," Empress Dowager Li ordered sharply. "Everyone is to stay in their rooms. Those who come out without permission will be treated as rebels and decapitated."

Ning An Palace was Empress Dowager Li’s domain, yet it couldn’t be guaranteed that some would seize the chaos to assassinate. Empress Dowager Li was truly afraid of death; after sealing the palace gates, she also had her bedroom door sealed. All capable eunuchs and palace maids in Ning An Palace were stationed outside the doors.

As for Imperial Concubine Fan, when she learned of the chaos in the harem, her first reaction was to look up and laugh, "Ha! Jiang Shaohua, your day has finally come."

"Just you wait! Wait to be overthrown from the Dragon Throne. This Da Liang throne belongs to my son. You’ve taken it away; give it back obediently. Ha, ha, ha!" 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

The palace attendants beside her shuddered, cautiously advising, "Imperial Concubine, the situation outside is unclear; such words shouldn’t be spoken carelessly. If they reach the Emperor or Grand Empress Dowager’s ears, you might be confined again."

Imperial Concubine Fan continued to laugh, "What should I fear? No worse than now. I am the birth mother of Prince Ping; they can’t kill me."

For nearly a year, the time Imperial Concubine Fan spent in confinement far exceeded the time she was allowed to appear. Secluded all day, with not even a person to converse with, it became increasingly difficult to see her son.

Imperial Concubine Fan’s mind has become somewhat unstable.

The palace attendants reddened their eyes and quietly wiped their tears. Not out of sympathy for their master, but lamenting their own fate.

In Jingyang Palace, a different scene unfolded.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, with dim old eyes, was dressed impeccably tonight, her eyes gleaming sharply, showing none of her usual frailty. She seemed extraordinarily spirited, as if invigorated.

Mr. Zhao, his face pale, stood by serving, not speaking for a long time.

Eunuch Lin, uncharacteristically, bustled back and forth, as if the wind was propelling him.

Unfortunately, the news brought back from various places was not encouraging.

"Grand Empress Dowager, two of the burning palaces have been extinguished. The fire in the other is nearly out too. We’ve lost many of our men."

"Zhaohai Palace can’t be breached either."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s face darkened, "Has Jiang Shaohua not appeared? With her personality, how could she be hiding and not come out?"

Eunuch Lin frowned and replied in a low voice, "This servant doesn’t know. Arrangements have been made outside the hall; as soon as the Emperor leaves Zhaohai Palace, three waves of assassins will await her."

"They are servants trained by me for years, usually doing insignificant rough work. With little presence in the palace, their sudden attempt at assassination has at least a thirty to forty percent chance of success."

"Regrettably, the Emperor hasn’t left the sleeping quarters. They are waiting for the right opportunity."

Since Jiang Shaohua ascended the throne, she didn’t retain any eunuchs around her. Most of the eunuchs who served in Zhaohai Palace were sent away, but some remained for rough work, about twenty in total.

Among these twenty eunuchs assigned rough tasks, three turned out to be experts. This is testament to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s substantial influence built over decades in managing the harem.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng shot a furious gaze, "Keep waiting; she will come out eventually. Act immediately once she shows up."

In her fury, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng disregarded any broader strategy.

She intended to kill Jiang Shaohua and place Prince Ping on the throne.

Prince Ping was not capable of managing the court, so Grand Empress Dowager Zheng could appoint Duke An as Assistant Minister, securing power firmly in her grasp.

As for the courtiers, they were lackeys without principles. If they could quickly kneel at Jiang Shaohua’s feet, she, as the Grand Empress Dowager, certainly had means to keep them all quiet.

Disobedient ones would all be eliminated. Favoring a few malleable ones with generous rewards would naturally steady the court’s heart.

Or, to simplify matters, she could forgo Prince Ping entirely and ascend the throne herself. Why couldn’t she be Empress when Jiang Shaohua could? She wasn’t too old and could reign from the Dragon Throne for another twenty years. Before she closed her eyes, she could simply pass the throne to Prince Ping.

Thinking of this, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s heart surged with excitement, as if a flame were burning at her heart: "Watch her personally, and act when the opportunity arises."

Eunuch Lin acknowledged and went to do as ordered.