Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 702: The Rebels (Part 1)

A spurt of fresh blood sprayed far away, splashing onto the bedding like blossoming red plums.

Looking again at Duke An, he lay straight and stiff on the bed, his face ashen, almost no breath left.

Beside him, Duchess An looked horrified, crying out incessantly: "My lord!"

Doctor Qin, who had been guarding by Duke An’s bedside, had a grave expression and hurriedly took out a golden needle: "I need to immediately apply needles for emergency rescue. Please, Duchess, step aside briefly."

Doctor Qin was also plagued with misfortune. In the Imperial Hospital, there were more than twenty Imperial Physicians, and his medical skills ranked in the top three, always having been courted by Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Doctor Ji committed the heinous crime of attempting to assassinate the Emperor, resulting in the Ji Family being uprooted entirely, exterminated across nine generations. Doctor Ji’s position as Chief Imperial Doctor became vacant. Doctor Qin was eager to take on the role, but unexpectedly, a palace coup caused upheaval in the palace. Before Doctor Qin could showcase his ambitions, he was sent by the Grand Empress Dowager to Duke An’s Mansion.

In the past, attending to Duke An was considered good work. But now, Duke An’s Princely Heir, Zheng Chen, had defected, causing the entire Zheng Family to be implicated. Duke An had also injured his leg, and his position as Minister of War was essentially nominal. Staying at the Zheng Mansion was akin to enduring harsh punishment.

Doctor Qin, feeling self-pity and bitterness, dared not halt his hands, swiftly applying needles to Duke An. In a matter of moments, Duke An’s head and face were pierced with over a dozen shiny, slender golden needles, resembling a hedgehog.

Duke An remained unconscious. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Duchess An cried mournfully, lacking even the strength to stand, supported by two maids, barely collapsing into a chair.

Zheng Chen was her only son, her ultimate pride as a mother.

But now, Zheng Chen was colluding with the Heir of Prince Gaoliang to plot against the Emperor. Not only had he defected and hidden outside, but he had revealed traces and even mixed with Zhao Wu, somehow provoking General Lu to rebel and kill the Emperor’s envoy...

No wonder Duke An was so infuriated that he spat blood and fell unconscious. Even she, at this moment, felt a metallic taste rising in her throat.

"Madam!"

The frightened cries of the maids sounded in her ears.

Duchess An opened her eyes blankly, only then did she notice a glaring stain of blood on her collar.

Duchess An collapsed straight down.

Another bout of chaotic distress ensued.

The maids brought a narrow bed and carried the fainted, blood-spitting Duchess An onto it. Doctor Qin, with a weary face, after attending to Duke An, applied needles for Duchess An.

"Someone from the palace has arrived."

With both family heads fainting from blood loss, it was Second Young Master Zheng of the Zheng family who stepped forward to greet Mr. Zhao. This Second Young Master had recently been arranged to work in the Ministry of Rites, and today happened to be home on leave.

"Mr. Zhao, you’ve finally arrived." Second Young Master Zheng, looking panic-stricken and at a loss, with reddened eyes, said: "Father fainted from the shock of Yu State army’s rebellion and spat blood. Mother also spat blood and is now likewise unconscious. Doctor Qin is performing needle emergency treatment for them."

"Now what should our Zheng Family do? Please teach me, Mr. Zhao!"

Compared to Zheng Chen, this Second Young Master was only a year younger. From a young age, he’d been overshadowed by his legitimate elder brother, indeed possessing mediocre talent in both civil and military matters, practically invisible in Duke An’s Mansion.

If not for Zheng Chen causing a major incident and fleeing the Capital City, the Second Young Master would have had no opportunity to surface. Even though Grand Empress Dowager Zheng intended to nurture and support him, the Second Young Master was no diamond in the rough, directly scared witless by the news of the Yu State army’s rebellion provoked by Zheng Chen.

Mr. Zhao secretly shook his head, speaking gently to comfort: "Second Young Master, don’t panic. The Grand Empress Dowager sent me here to calm people’s hearts."

"Please lead the way, Second Young Master, I shall first visit Duke An."

Second Young Master Zheng, eyes still red, led the way. After entering the bedroom, Mr. Zhao saw Duke An with a face like gold paper and Duchess An pale as a ghost, his heart sinking as well.

"Doctor Qin," Mr. Zhao called softly to Doctor Qin for inquiry: "When will Duke An and Duchess An regain consciousness?"

Doctor Qin, full of resentment, dared not offend the favorite of the Grand Empress Dowager, respectfully replied: "In response to Mr. Zhao, Duke An and Duchess An have blood stagnation attacking their hearts, causing them to faint from spitting blood. I have already applied golden needles and prescribed individual herbal medicines; after drinking them, they should awaken."

Mr. Zhao was somewhat impatient: "Then what are you waiting for! Quickly prescribe the medicine! Should anything happen to Duke An or Duchess An, the Grand Empress Dowager won’t spare you!"

Doctor Qin, meekly agreed, immediately went to prescribe the medicine.

What can be said—being an Imperial Physician is the hardest job in the world? Treating the nobles, if successful, there are grand rewards. If there’s any mishap, you become the scapegoat. Losing position or being demoted is minor; being punished and losing one’s head is possible.

After a short hour, the bitter, steaming herbal medicine was administered, and Duke An indeed slowly awoke.

Mr. Zhao hurriedly approached the bedside: "Duke An is finally awake. I relay a message from the Grand Empress Dowager. With the Lady in the palace, it won’t overturn. Please, Duke An, rest assured to recuperate."

Duke An first had a vacant gaze, then gradually gathered focus, finally fixing on Mr. Zhao’s familiar face.

Duke An wished to speak, his lips moved, and he felt another metallic taste in his throat.

He forcefully swallowed it back down.

How could Mr. Zhao not understand Duke An’s current mood? In fact, upon hearing the Yu State army’s rebellion, he also gritted his teeth with hate, wishing to curse.

Zheng Chen defected, just stayed hidden, surviving humbly, it would have sufficed. The Grand Empress Dowager was doing her utmost to protect, and Empress Zhaoping also showed leniency to the Zheng family. After enduring three to five years, as this matter slowly fades, Second Young Master or Third Young Master Zheng may gain experience. Perhaps the Zheng family might have a daughter able to pass the female scholar exams and serve in the palace. The Zheng family could gradually rise again in the future.

Now, everything is ruined!

The Yu State army rebelled, Zheng Chen was right there in the military camp! As was Zhao Wu, who abandoned the city and defected from the border army years ago, unexpectedly also present in the Yu State Military Camp.

What does this imply?

Years ago, the border army was defeated, Peng City was massacred, countless soldiers and civilians perished. The Left General was prosecuted, losing position. The court ordered the pursuit of the traitor Zhao Wu, but his whereabouts were never traced. Now, Zhao Wu suddenly appeared, mingling with Zheng Chen. It inevitably sparks imagination. Was there a shadow of the Zheng family behind Zhao Wu’s rebellion years ago?

This is a grave crime of colluding with foreign nations and losing land!

Even Grand Empress Dowager Zheng tried to cover but couldn’t keep it hidden!

Mr. Zhao now spoke euphemistically, but truthfully, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng cursed for the time it takes incense to burn upon learning of the matter: "...immediately go to the Zheng Mansion, and question that heartless bastard Duke An! What on earth is Zhao Wu’s situation!"