Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 778: Turmoil (Part 3)

At this moment, it was nearly the fifth hour, and a sliver of pale light emerged on the horizon.

Jiang Shaohua, holding a long spear, walked out of Zhaohai Palace expressionlessly. Song Yuan and several hundred of the Emperor’s personal guards surrounded her, each gripping a sharp weapon, radiating murderous intent.

The informants inside Zhaohai Palace had been removed, while hidden in the shadows outside were some Death Warriors waiting for an opportunity. Witnessing this formation, their scalps tingled, unable to find a chance to act, nor having the courage to do so.

Jiang Shaohua scanned the surroundings with her gaze. Although she saw no one, she seemed to sense something. She said to Song Yuan, "Today, the palace gates need not be opened, and the morning court session can be suspended for a day. Take advantage of today to ’clean up’ the palace thoroughly."

Either do nothing or leave no stone unturned.

Song Yuan nodded, turned his head, and called Sun An and others, instructing them to convey the Emperor’s decree at the various palace gates.

Jiang Shaohua took another step, heading straight for Jingyang Palace.

Before they were several dozen meters away from Jingyang Palace, a group of people blocked their path.

These were eunuchs from Jingyang Palace, numbering over fifty, each holding a weapon. Leading them was Eunuch Lin.

Eunuch Lin, who usually bent low with a smiling face and barely noticeable presence, now stood tall, appearing quite large among the eunuchs. He held a sword in his right hand that gleamed coldly.

"Your Majesty, please pause your steps," Eunuch Lin said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "The Grand Empress Dowager’s sleep has been light recently; she must not be disturbed. Please come again at daybreak..."

Before he finished speaking, the sharp spear tip suddenly appeared before him.

Eunuch Lin’s heart trembled, and he swiftly dodged, thrusting his sword forward.

Jiang Shaohua let out a cold laugh, skillfully flicking several spear flowers with her right hand, each faster than the last.

Eunuch Lin had long known the Empress’s combat prowess was formidable, yet today was his first true experience of it. His treasured sword desperately blocked, but each encounter with the spear caused his right hand to tremble, and his feet took a step back.

In a mere moment, the sword and spear clashed over ten times, and Eunuch Lin retreated more than ten paces.

Seeing Eunuch Lin’s defeat, over fifty eunuchs charged forward. However, they could not approach the Empress and were swiftly intercepted by the Emperor’s personal guards, who were watching intently.

Song Yuan did not act; his gaze was fixed tightly on the Empress and Eunuch Lin, ready to intervene at any time.

Eunuch Lin was claimed to be the Grand Empress Dowager’s top fighter, with genuine skills. Despite continuously retreating, he remained unharmed. In terms of skill, Eunuch Lin was certainly not inferior to Song Yuan; he could be considered the top fighter in the palace.

Suddenly, Eunuch Lin revealed an opening. Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed, the spear flickered. Eunuch Lin failed to dodge in time, leaving a hole in his clothing. Immediately after, Eunuch Lin moved his left hand, and a concealed weapon flew from his sleeve, aimed straight at Jiang Shaohua’s throat.

Song Yuan’s heart tightened, and he instinctively drew his sword and rushed forward.

Luckily, Jiang Shaohua had been forewarned, and she swiftly somersaulted, avoiding the concealed weapon.

Eunuch Lin, having missed his strike, felt deep regret. That concealed weapon was highly toxic, capable of killing instantly. It had been prepared specifically for this night. Regrettably, at the critical moment, it failed. There would be no further opportunity to act.

True masters make precise assessments of situations. The enraged Song Yuan, with over a dozen of the Emperor’s personal guards, surrounded Eunuch Lin closely. This was not a Martial Arts Training Ground competition, but a purge of rebels. The more, the merrier!

No matter how skilled Eunuch Lin was, he could not withstand so many. In an instant, he was at a disadvantage, his body marked by several wounds.

Jiang Shaohua rested her spear and said calmly, "No need to leave any alive."

Song Yuan responded in a deep voice, his long knife becoming even fiercer, leaving a cut on Eunuch Lin’s leg. With his leg injured, Eunuch Lin’s evasive speed greatly decreased, and the Emperor’s personal guards seized the opportunity to strike over and over.

Eunuch Lin endured more than ten cuts before Song Yuan, with a single thrust, pierced his chest, spilling blood everywhere. He died with eyes wide open.

Of the fifty eunuchs, many were also slain; a few threw down their weapons and knelt in surrender, but the personal guards, mercilessly indifferent, ignored them and executed them all.

The freely flowing blood seeped into the crevices of the jade tiles.

At this moment, a rising sun broke through the layers of clouds, leaping into the sky.

Dawn had arrived.

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyes for a glance, then said, "Follow me into Jingyang Palace."

The Emperor’s personal guards responded with unwavering determination. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

The sounds of battle outside Jingyang Palace lasted for almost an hour. However, the gates of Jingyang Palace remained tightly shut, showing no intention of opening.

It was as if they could pretend to be a turtle hiding in its shell, pretending that nothing had happened in the palace.

Jiang Shaohua smirked, her lips curling as she ordered someone to call at the gate.

After a long time, the gates of Jingyang Palace finally opened. A pale-faced Mr. Zhao, trembling, knelt down and said, "Your servant Zhao Chunming, greets Your Majesty."

"The Grand Empress Dowager was not well-rested last night and went to bed early. Eunuch Lin, that traitor, led the eunuchs in rebellion. Fortunately, Your Majesty realized it in time and decisively quelled the unrest, killing Eunuch Lin and other rebels."

"The Grand Empress Dowager is frightened and does not wish to see anyone now..."

Jiang Shaohua interrupted Mr. Zhao coldly, "There are traitors inside Jingyang Palace, causing chaos in the palace. In my opinion, there must still be rebels in the palace that must be eradicated."

"Commander Song, take people to search the palace, and capture and interrogate any suspicious individuals."

"I will personally go and reassure the Grand Empress Dowager. With me here, no insidious scoundrel can harm the Grand Empress Dowager."

And then she proceeded directly inside.

Mr. Zhao followed with a pained expression, yet secretly breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, he made the right move. Last night, he sent a message to Zhaohai Palace, removing the three informants inside. For this contribution, he might at least survive.

Look at Eunuch Lin; once arrogant, now he is nothing but dead. That’s the consequence of taking the wrong path.

As for Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, as frenzied as she was before, she now feels regret. She had revealed all her cards but failed to capture Jiang Shaohua, instead being completely counterattacked.

Next, it all depended on Jiang Shaohua’s tactics.

Jiang Shaohua leisurely pushed open the door to the Grand Empress Dowager’s chamber and walked to the side of the bed.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng lay on the bed with a colorless face, pretending to be in a deep sleep. In truth, her hand under the quilt was trembling.

The most dangerous moment she experienced in her life was the palace coup last year. She hid in a secret chamber then, and by the time she emerged, the coup had been quelled.

This time, the chaos in the palace was instigated by her own hand. She never expected to suffer a complete defeat.

What should she do now?

The narrative for outsiders could place all the blame on Eunuch Lin, providing a veneer of shame for Jingyang Palace. But such an excuse, how could it satisfy Jiang Shaohua?

"The chaos in the palace has been quelled," a familiar voice rang in her ear, like Yama sealing her fate, "The traitors in Jingyang Palace were killed by Commander Song and his men following my orders."

"Grandmother need not pretend to sleep; you can open your eyes now."