Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 655: Facing Death (Part 4)

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze drifted uncertainly over the faces of Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an.

Prince Wu’an’s mental fortitude was far inferior to that of Prince Huaiyang. Under the immense shadow of death, in front of the cold corpses of Prince Dongping and his son, Prince Wu’an was nearly collapsing.

At this moment, Song Yuan stood to one side, and Liu Hengmao was also present, with Prince Wu’an only three steps away from Jiang Shaohua. The fury and fear surging from his heart fused into scorching hot magma.

Prince Wu’an suddenly sprang up and charged directly at Jiang Shaohua’s waist.

Jiang Shaohua appeared unfazed, but was actually prepared, extending a fist to strike heavily at Prince Wu’an’s chest.

Prince Wu’an was sent flying backward, crashing hard into the wall before sliding down limply, blood continuously oozing from his mouth.

Prince Huaiyang’s face turned pale, his voice trembling incessantly, "Prince Wu’an dared to offend the Emperor, he deserves to die! Please, Emperor, execute him immediately!"

He desperately consoled himself, thinking that as long as Prince Wu’an died, perhaps Jiang Shaohua would spare his life. Even if it meant lifelong confinement, living is better than death.

Prince Huaiyang’s strong desire for survival was indeed admirable. Standing in the corner, Liu Hengmao couldn’t help but wonder, if he were the Commandery Princess, what decision would he make now?

Song Yuan knew his Commandery Princess better. If Jiang Shaohua truly intended to kill the two Vassal Kings, he wouldn’t bother speaking much, but would simply have them poisoned and concoct a plausible story to cover it up. Once they were dead, would the officials dare to storm into the palace’s prison to inspect the Vassal Kings’ bodies?

Prince Dongping and his son had truly committed heinous acts, deserving their death.

Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an only had ambitions for the throne, without taking any real action, nor committing any actual crimes. The Commandery Princess would not kill the innocent recklessly!

Tonight, the Commandery Princess executed Prince Dongping and his son, specifically summoning Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an to merely warn them.

Now that Prince Wu’an was frightened to the point of losing his senses and acted rashly, he was unwelcome greeted with a punch by the Commandery Princess. As for Prince Huaiyang, he had not lost his composure to panic, truly a formidable individual.

Even Song Yuan couldn’t help but think of advising the Commandery Princess to seize the opportunity and kill Prince Huaiyang! Such a formidable character is indeed a latent threat if left alive!

"Uncle Huaiyang," Jiang Shaohua spoke slowly, "if you were I, would you let me return to Nanyang County?"

Is there even a need to ask? Definitely not! Letting the tiger return to the mountain would be incredibly foolish!

Prince Huaiyang’s face turned ashen, speechless.

To be demoted to a commoner, to give up his household assets, these were insignificant. As long as the crime of assassinating Prince Ping was pinned on him, Jiang Shaohua could justly execute him, while also confiscating the assets of Huaiyang Prince Mansion. Thus removing the roots and without owing any "debt of kindness."

Why would Jiang Shaohua spare him?

"You are a smart person, you don’t need me to tell you, you can understand it clearly. Therefore, from the beginning you lowered yourself, begged in every way, just to live."

"I tell you, I don’t kill you, not because I believe your nonsense. But because I am unwilling to kill arbitrarily. Once seated on the Dragon Throne, wielding imperial power, it’s like holding the most fearsome sword in the world. The greater the power, the more one needs self-restraint, and cannot kill the innocent recklessly. Otherwise, it’s walking down the wrong path."

"I righteously contended for the throne and do not wish to, nor disdain, to use such dark methods."

"Therefore, I will let you go, and will also let Prince Wu’an go."

Prince Huaiyang trembled all over, his expression incredibly stiff, wanting to speak but unable to open his mouth.

Jiang Shaohua stared at Prince Huaiyang, his voice calm and gentle, yet firm and powerful, "You two, each write a memorial to present. After my accession, I will allow you to leave."

"If one day you truly rebel, I shall mobilize troops to flatten Huaiyang Prince Mansion and execute all your descendants! If you are not afraid of such an end, you can try!"

Prince Huaiyang shuddered again, still unable to utter a single word.

Jiang Shaohua said no more, waved his hand in a gesture, and Song Yuan called two trusted aides over to "escort" Prince Huaiyang and the injured Prince Wu’an back to the prison.

Let’s leave Prince Wu’an for now.

After Prince Huaiyang returned to his cell, he sat on the bed in a daze, silent and motionless.

His few sons were imprisoned in the adjacent cell. Though father and sons weren’t in the same cell, they could speak through the bars.

The eldest son stretched his neck anxiously calling out, "Father! What exactly happened? Are they going to take our lives?"

The other sons also began to wail.

Prince Huaiyang took a deep breath and spoke in a deep voice, "Stop howling!"

"The Emperor personally promised not to kill us. In a few days, we’ll be released."

Some sons breathed a sigh of relief, some cried tears of joy. Only the eldest son, most shrewd, and most like him, was not relieved, urgently whispering, "Could it be a delaying tactic? Waiting for us to leave the Capital City, only to encounter ’bandits’ halfway, dying without leaving any trace?"

Prince Huaiyang was silent for a moment, then replied in a low voice, "It’s hard to say."

"No matter what, there is no threat to our lives right now. I’ll write the memorial at dawn."

...

"What?"

"Prince Dongping and his son were poisoned to death in the prison?"

"Where did the poisoned wine come from?"

In Jingyang Palace, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, upon hearing the news, erupted in fury, standing up abruptly, "Who is so bold to privately dispose of Prince Dongping and his son?"

"I want them to be executed with a thousand cuts, not to die in peace! Who dares defy I!"

Isn’t it obvious? In the palace now, only the Commandery Princess can defy the Grand Empress Dowager. The Grand Empress Dowager could guess but was enraged, certain to storm in fury again tonight.

The master’s temper tantrums always brought misfortune upon the servants.

Mr. Zhao sighed inwardly, lowered his head, and replied, "It was the Commandery Princess who went to the Heavenly Prison, taking a pot of poisoned wine."

Rage flared in Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s eyes as she gritted her teeth, "Go! Go to Zhaohai Palace immediately! Bring her here! I want to ask her personally! What exactly is the reason!"

Mr. Zhao dared not go, fell to his knees with a thud, pleading bitterly, "Grand Empress Dowager, please calm your anger! Tomorrow is the accession ceremony, the Commandery Princess will be the Emperor of Da Liang. It is vital not to argue now, lest it let Ning An Palace watch the spectacle and make all ministers laugh."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, consumed by rage, could not hold back, pointed at Mr. Zhao’s nose, and cursed, "How dare you dictate to I! Go to Zhaohai Palace at once! Within a stick of incense, I want Jiang Shaohua brought before I! Otherwise, I shall have you beaten to death directly!"