Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 662: Gathering Storms (Part 1)

Cui Du had his own duties to attend to, so he couldn’t stay in the harem every day to curry favor like a dutiful son-in-law. After two days, he returned to the Imperial Manor.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had a rather high opinion of Cui Du.

As for Prince Ping, he now had a new "brother-in-law" in his understanding. This was an amazing thing for Prince Ping. He had grown to the age of eight, and the number of faces he could remember did not exceed ten!

His favorite was his cousin Shao Hua, but naturally, he was most familiar and close with his mother. Not seeing his mother for several days made his life feel like a large piece was missing. Even if he couldn’t articulate it clearly, he vaguely noticed something was amiss.

On this day, he cried incessantly, insisting on seeing his mother.

Eunuch Ge went to beg Mr. Zhao, bearing scratches all over his face.

Considering Eunuch Ge’s usual respectfulness and willingness to show filial piety, Mr. Zhao replied, "I’ll take you to see the Grand Empress Dowager, but whether or not the Lady will agree, I can’t guarantee."

Eunuch Ge repeatedly bowed in thanks.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had been in a good mood these days and didn’t really stop them, only saying plainly, "A mother and child’s hearts are connected. If Prince Ping wants to see his mother, let him go. However, Imperial Concubine Fan is still ill, so don’t stay too long, to avoid catching the sickness."

Eunuch Ge breathed a sigh of relief and gratefully thanked the Grand Empress Dowager on behalf of his master.

An hour later, Prince Ping saw Imperial Concubine Fan, who was "recuperating in the palace."

Imperial Concubine Fan looked skinny and pale, and her steps were unsteady, truly appearing sickly. On the other hand, Prince Ping, carefree and worry-free, had grown a bit plump recently, with chubby arms and a face as round and rosy as an apple.

Imperial Concubine Fan cried profusely, holding Prince Ping and sobbing uncontrollably.

Eunuch Ge had to quietly remind, "Imperial Concubine, Prince Ping is living in Jingyang Palace, eating and sleeping well every day, and no one dares to bully him even a little bit. The Emperor visits the Grand Empress Dowager daily to pay his respects and is patient and gentle with His Highness. Even Elder Changning is very kind to His Highness. There’s no need for the Imperial Concubine to worry about His Highness."

To speak bluntly, what happens even if Prince Ping takes the Dragon Throne? Is it expected that Prince Ping will attend court and handle affairs? It’s nothing more than an empty title.

Living worry-free like this now, with the protection of the Grand Empress Dowager and the care of Empress Zhaoping, everyone respects and fawns over him. It’s already an excellent life. What more could be desired?

If only Imperial Concubine Fan could see this clearly, she wouldn’t be weeping every day. She didn’t take in a single word, instead, she turned and angrily rebuked Eunuch Ge, "Too much talk!"

Eunuch Ge had no choice but to keep silent.

Imperial Concubine Fan cried for a long time, and Prince Ping grew impatient. He pushed away his sobbing mother and ran outside, leaving Imperial Concubine Fan to wipe her tears helplessly and chase after him. Gasping for breath, she couldn’t catch up to the gleefully running Prince Ping, who was giggling in delight.

A palace attendant hurriedly approached and reported in a low voice, "Imperial Concubine, General Fan has sent a letter into the palace."

Imperial Concubine Fan’s entire body trembled, and she said without thinking, "Bring the letter immediately."

General Fan was Imperial Concubine Fan’s uncle, and essentially her greatest support and pillar. Unfortunately, General Fan was far away at the borders, in charge of the border army, and the situation in the Capital City was rapidly changing. General Fan couldn’t reach it in time, nor did he have the means to intervene.

The new emperor had already ascended the throne, and it was only now that General Fan’s first letter had reached the palace.

By that time, it was actually too late.

Even if General Fan wanted to raise an army and rebel, he would lose all moral high ground. Moreover, General Fan’s foundation in the border army was shallow. How many of the seventy to eighty thousand border troops would truly be willing to follow him in rebellion? It’s feared that if he showed the slightest discontent with the new emperor, a swarm of military generals would emerge to restore order.

Even if we take a step back and assume General Fan could rally his men to raise an army, they would immediately become rebels. Without supplies sent from the Capital City, they would have to plunder from commoners, so when could they expect to reach the Capital City? The likelihood of victory is slim, and the Fan family might not gain much benefit. Losing would mean utter destruction.

Is Prince Ping, an ignorant child, really worth General Fan abandoning everything for?

Or to put it more plainly, is the Fan family willing to walk a predetermined path of ruin and hopelessness?

What Eunuch Ge could understand clearly, Imperial Concubine Fan could not. Full of hope, she opened General Fan’s letter, and after reading it, was utterly disappointed. She even threw down the letter in anger, gnashing her teeth, "All spineless, greedy people!"

General Fan not only showed no intention of supporting Prince Ping with military force but repeatedly urged Imperial Concubine Fan in his letter to respect the new emperor and not to cause trouble.

After waiting two months, this was the kind of letter she received. The more Imperial Concubine Fan thought about it, the angrier she became. She suddenly stood up, blood rushing, her vision darkened, and she collapsed softly to the ground.

...

At this moment, Jiang Shaohua was also reading General Fan’s handwritten letter.

The journey from the border was long, and even with an urgent delivery over eight hundred li, it still took more than a month back and forth. Calculating the time, General Fan must have written the letter to be sent to the Capital City as soon as he heard about Jiang Shaohua’s contention for the throne.

This letter had been traveling for over half a month and finally reached her hands on the day after the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony.

"...Commandery Princess is talented and ambitious, adept in both civil and military affairs, with the world in mind. This humble servant regrets being far away at the border and cannot personally attend the court to support the Commandery Princess’s ascension!"

"By the time the Commandery Princess reads this letter, this humble servant should have begun addressing her as Emperor. This is a fortune for Da Liang, and a blessing for the ministers and the people."

This General Fan declared his position promptly and decisively. No wonder he managed to seize control of the border army from the Left General back then; he indeed had extraordinary skills.

Jiang Shaohua’s lips curved into a faint smile as she continued to read on.

General Fan continued to express his loyalty in the letter and did not shy away from mentioning Prince Ping and his mother.

He lamented Imperial Concubine Fan’s short-sightedness and narrow-mindedness, earnestly pleading with Jiang Shaohua not to hold a grudge against a clueless woman in the harem. He also clearly stated that the Fan Family had always been loyal subjects of Da Liang and would pledge allegiance to the new emperor without harboring disloyal intentions. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

Jiang Shaohua smiled once more.

Ultimately, it’s because Prince Ping isn’t someone who can be counted on. He’s not worth the Fan family risking everything to fight for. The risk is too great, and the benefits insufficient. Raising an army could likely result in the annihilation of the Fan clan.

For a veteran official like General Fan, who had traversed the court for decades, how could he partake in such a losing venture?

"How many letters did General Fan send to the capital?" Jiang Shaohua asked casually.

Nearby, Song Yuan replied in a low voice, "General Fan sent a total of four letters: one to Zhaohai Palace, one to Imperial Concubine Fan, and the other two were sent to the Fan Family and Zheng Family respectively."

The letter sent to the Fan Family was likely to warn and caution the clan members against any rebellious actions.

The letter sent to the Zheng Family was probably meant for Fan Jaining.