Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 719: Adding Fuel to the Fire

When Duke An was young, he was a talented and graceful figure, skilled in both literature and martial arts. This letter of farewell to his son was written with such vigor and fluency, condemning his rebellious son Zheng Chen as worse than a pig or dog, inciting rage among both men and gods.

Empress Dowager Li slightly raised the corners of her mouth and laughed silently yet heartily.

Such a drama of father and son turning against each other is truly spectacular.

One wonders what the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng will feel upon seeing this farewell letter.

"This farewell letter has already been sent to the Ministry of Rites, ready for publication," Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "What Aunt sees now is a copy transcribed by Chen Sheren, while another copy has already been sent to Jingyang Palace."

The curve of Empress Dowager Li’s mouth lifted a bit higher, though she sighed in her speech, "The Grand Empress Dowager is of an advanced age and particularly sensitive about her family. Yet the Zheng Family has been restless, with one issue following another. I just hope the Grand Empress Dowager doesn’t get too upset and fall ill because of it."

Only getting that old witch furious could bring satisfaction!

Jiang Shaohua let out a sigh as well, "Grandmother is proud and cares deeply about her dignity, she’ll inevitably get angry. I didn’t go to Jingyang Palace to avoid embarrassing Grandmother. I’ll go and console her in two or three days once her anger subsides."

No way! You should go provoke that old witch right while it’s fresh!

Empress Dowager Li’s eyes gleamed, "You are with child and have state affairs to handle; how would you have the spare time? Anyway, I have plenty of free time, so I’ll go to Jingyang Palace tomorrow to comfort the Grand Empress Dowager."

Jiang Shaohua gladly agreed, "Then I’ll have to trouble Aunt."

Empress Dowager Li had nothing better to do and contending with the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng would, in a way, ease her burden as the Emperor’s mother.

This kind favor naturally needed to be remembered, and it would be noted down as a merit for the Li Family.

...

Empress Dowager Li was in a good mood and slept soundly through the night. Early the next morning, she dressed neatly and headed to Jingyang Palace, flanked by palace attendants and eunuchs, to pay her respects.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sneered, "She’s here to see a joke of me."

The palace attendants serving nearby dared not make a sound.

After recovering from his injury, Mr. Zhao became much more discreet and cautious, never speaking carelessly.

Seeing no one speaking, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng felt even more displeased, and the corner of her eye glanced around.

Mr. Zhao sighed inwardly and had no choice but to bravely offer, "If Lady doesn’t wish to see the Empress Dowager, I’ll go tell her to leave immediately."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng glared at him angrily, "Who said I won’t see her? Not only do I want to see her, but I also want to hear well what she has to say. Go, welcome her in."

Mr. Zhao bowed his head in agreement, respectfully withdrew, and as he turned, his mouth twitched slightly.

The Zheng Family had fallen to this point and had become the court’s laughingstock. Empress Dowager Li had suffered the most; her son, Emperor Taihe, had been murdered, and both her father and nephew were killed. Needless to say, Empress Dowager Li hated the Zheng Family to the bone. Now the tide had turned, and finally, it was the Zheng Family’s turn to suffer misfortune. Why shouldn’t Empress Dowager Li come to see the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s disgrace?

A moment later, Empress Dowager Li strolled in leisurely, first bowing in ceremonial greeting, "Daughter-in-law pays her respects to the Grand Empress Dowager."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng had always looked down on Empress Dowager Li, after all, Empress Dowager Li was of concubine origins, classified only a noble consort. It was only when Emperor Taihe ascended the throne that she was named Empress Dowager.

Empress Dowager Li, lacking confidence, seldom referred to herself as a daughter-in-law in front of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. But today, when she opened her mouth, she was full of justified demeanor.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was annoyed inside, giving a smile that did not reach her eyes, "Your throat isn’t yet well, you should recuperate properly. No need to come to Jingyang Palace to pay respects. Then I can have some peace, maybe even live a few more years!"

Empress Dowager Li came prepared and didn’t flinch, "My throat will take time to recover; it won’t heal in just three or five days."

"I’ve heard Duke An wrote a letter of farewell to his son, and fearing the Grand Empress Dowager might see the letter and become so enraged it harms her health, I specially came to visit. Now that I’ve seen you well with my own eyes, I can finally breathe easily."

Bringing up exactly what should not be mentioned, intending to irritate her deliberately.

The older the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng got, the feistier she became, glaring at Empress Dowager Li with fiery eyes, "I’m fine, and there’s no serious concern for the Zheng Family. Duke An just considers Zheng Chen no longer his son. It’s certainly better than Minister Li and his grandson, both dead and gone."

Empress Dowager Li was stabbed with pain, tears immediately welling up in her eyes, "My father and nephew were both murdered, my son also died in a rebel’s plot. I keep this life just to see the rebels bow down. As long as the rebels are not dead, I’ll keep my eyes wide open."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, enraged, no longer caring for the fact that Zheng Chen was her beloved grandnephew of many years, began to curse, "That bastard Zheng Chen! He harmed my grandson and the entire Zheng Family, truly a blind traitor I raised, a wolf who bites the hand!"

"Once the court pacifies the rebel army and captures Zheng Chen alive, I’ll have him skinned alive!"

Empress Dowager Li let out a cold laugh, "Duke An wrote a farewell letter, which the court is going to publish in the official bulletin to announce to the world. By then, everyone will be spitting and condemning him, and history books will record it. I wonder what Zheng Chen can still stir up by then."

Feigning sympathy, she sighed, "It would be one thing if only the Zheng Family got involved, but unfortunately, it also dragged down the reputation of Jingyang Palace. I feel so unjust for the Grand Empress Dowager. Over the years, the Grand Empress Dowager has been nurturing the Zheng Family, and how has the Zheng Family repaid you?"

"Once the bulletin is issued, every government office in Da Liang will see it, and all the common folks under heaven will know. This will be such a blow to the Grand Empress Dowager’s reputation."

"Won’t Lady be pointed at by everyone?"

"The more I think about it, the more furious and resentful I get," said the daughter-in-law.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng breathed heavily, glaring at Empress Dowager Li with an exceptionally venomous look.

Previously, Empress Dowager Li feared being looked at by the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng like this, as if she were being stared at by a viper.

But now, what was there to fear? Her husband was gone, her son was gone, her father was gone, and her nephew was gone.

All those she cared about were no longer here.

She feared nothing anymore.

Empress Dowager Li raised her eyes and met the gaze of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, "Lady, as a daughter-in-law today, I dare say a few heartfelt words."

"The Zheng Family’s sun sets in the west, with Zheng Chen this scourge, the Zheng Family will inevitably be uprooted. As the esteemed Grand Empress Dowager, it’s best to enjoy the honors and wealth in the rear palace peacefully. The Emperor will naturally be filial and care for Lady in old age."

"If Lady consistently shields the Zheng Family, it will only put the Emperor in a difficult position, and it won’t save the Zheng Family. Why go through all this trouble..."

"Shut up!"

Unable to hold back anymore, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng burst into a rage, pointing at Empress Dowager Li with trembling fingers as she cursed, "How I conduct myself is none of your business!"

"Get out!"

Empress Dowager Li listened to the enraged Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, her face flushed with anger and breath unstable, feeling immensely gratified. She responded unhurriedly, "Daughter-in-law respectfully takes leave. In a few days, once Lady’s anger has subsided, I will return to pay respects."

With that, she leisurely made her farewell and gracefully left.