Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 657: Ascension to the Throne

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng has never been a soft-hearted person. When she spoke the last sentence, her murderous intent was palpable.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "Grandmother, I have already promised them that their lives would be spared. They will write petitions to demote themselves to commoners, and will also offer up their family fortunes to enrich the national treasury."

Wouldn’t killing them achieve the same outcome?

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng coldly snorted to herself.

Jiang Shaohua emphasized further: "Killing is a double-edged sword; it can kill others and also harm oneself. Da Liang must be governed by law and order, not by personal whims or unproven threats. If this becomes a trend, the court and palace will also fall into chaos in the future."

"Please, Grandmother, listen to me. As long as Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an behave themselves, let them live!"

After a pause, she added: "Consider it an act of accumulating virtue for Prince Ping."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "..."

This last sentence once again struck at the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s weak spot.

If Jiang Shaohua were truly cold and bloodthirsty, killing anyone with potential threats, then why bother raising Prince Ping to adulthood? Silencing Prince Ping discreetly would ensure total security!

From this perspective, she should have hoped that Jiang Shaohua would be soft-hearted. Forcing Jiang Shaohua to harm Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an was indeed unjustifiable.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng exhaled a heavy breath: "Fine, I’ll listen to you."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, kindly comforting and appeasing the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "Grandmother, there is no need to worry too much. If a vassal king wishes to rebel, first, they need troops, and secondly, they need money and grain. Prince Huaiyang and Prince Wu’an will be demoted to commoners, their estates will be offered up, and in the future, they will have no means to sustain troops or cause trouble."

"Moreover, the majority of the court ministers support me as the Emperor. How many truly favor them?"

"After my enthronement tomorrow, I will devote all my energy to governance, and the sooner I grasp control over the court affairs, the sooner I can secure my position on the Dragon Throne. No one will be able to shake the Da Liang dynasty."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was left speechless once again.

These words were ostensibly about the vassal kings but were meant for her to hear. Without Duke An and Zheng Chen, her influence on the court had greatly diminished. With Jiang Shaohua’s shrewdness and capability, it was only a matter of time before she controlled the court.

With the rise of one, the other must decline. Every time Jiang Shaohua gained prestige and power, the Grand Empress Dowager’s authority was diminished by a fraction.

Just like her age and health, which would only continue to diminish. In stark contrast to the youthful and vibrant Jiang Shaohua.

In this power struggle, she may seem fierce, but she has already been outmatched.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sighed deeply once more: "I am old, my mind has dulled; my thinking is neither comprehensive nor meticulous. You make the decisions on these matters."

Jiang Shaohua patiently accompanied the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng in small talk, only leaving after the Grand Empress Dowager’s temper had wholly dissipated.

Mr. Zhao watched the entire scene unfold and couldn’t help but secretly marvel.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, despite her age and ruthlessness, was no match for the Commandery Princess in their struggle.

...

On the sixteenth of August, the enthronement ceremony of the new emperor was held in the Jinluan Palace.

The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Mr. Dong, wore a solemn countenance, his demeanor composed, his voice steady and powerful, exuding the stature of a renowned minister.

Prime Minister Wang remained absent due to recuperation and could not attend court; the Six Ministers were now of equal rank. Today, it was only natural for Minister Dong to preside over the enthronement ceremony, standing at the head of the ministers.

No one cared if Minister Zhang felt aggrieved.

Ministers Dai and Zhou had no objections either. Since even Prime Minister Wang endorsed and supported the Commandery Princess, there was no immediate danger of the Prime Minister’s faction being dismissed. What was there to be dissatisfied about?

Minister Dong was also a capable minister, so what if he stood first? Even the actual "Inner Chancellor," Chief Historian Chen, didn’t mind!

As for the former Grand Empress Dowager’s Faction, they had no qualms either. The Commandery Princess had always been the core strength of the Grand Empress Dowager. Now that the Commandery Princess had ascended, she would still employ them.

Without Duke An, it did not matter. The court never lacked officials; the Ministry of War now had Acting Minister Ding, operating efficiently as usual.

In the military line, standing first was Great General Bao.

Great General Bao had been severely injured and had been recovering for nearly two months, barely able to stand. Despite this, he did not want to miss the enthronement ceremony of the new Emperor and had his personal soldiers carry him into the palace.

Standing behind Great General Bao was the Left General, followed by General Liu, General Sima, and then General Song.

On the day of the palace coup, the military generals were all impressed by the Commandery Princess’s prowess in vanquishing the rebels. They fully supported the ascension of the Commandery Princess to the throne.

General Song felt most regretful and uncomfortable.

The Song Family was allied with the Nanyang Prince Mansion through marriage, yet they did not have the honor of "achievement in following the dragon." It was all due to his shortsightedness in recent years, leaving him indifferent to his nephew Song Yuan and making their interactions infrequent. Three years ago, when Song Yuan tried to persuade him to side with the Commandery Princess, he sneered and brushed it off. Now, looking back, General Song wished he could slap himself.

Alas, there’s no point in dwelling on it now.

Fortunately, the Song Family had never wronged the Commandery Princess, and Song Yuan, being a devoted confidant of the Commandery Princess, ensured that she would not slight the Song Family. In the future, he, as the Family Head of the Song, must avoid any foolishness and diligently fulfill his duties.

In the officialdom, positioning is paramount. Minister Dong’s standing illustrated the beginning of a new era.

The Nanyang County Princess ascended the throne as a female, becoming Da Liang’s first Empress. The entire court of ministers bowed and saluted, chanting "Long live the Emperor, long live a thousand and ten thousand years."

Jiang Shaohua, clad in the Dragon Robe, seated on the Dragon Throne, accepted the homage of the ministers.

At this moment, all the ministers bowed and lowered their heads, leaving only her seated on the Dragon Throne. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

This is what it feels like to reign over the world!

Everything lay beneath her feet.

However, this crown was also incredibly heavy. From now on, she must bear the burden of the empire and its countless people!

Jiang Shaohua slowly exhaled, her clear voice resonating through the hall for all the ministers to hear: "My beloved subjects, rise."

"We thank Your Majesty for your gracious favor."

Once again, the ministers bowed and saluted.

Next, they were to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices to the ancestors.

The Imperial Ancestral Temple, never before entered by a woman, was now entirely open for the Da Liang Empress.

The ministers thronged around the new emperor as they entered the temple, waiting outside while the new emperor proceeded inside alone.

Inside the hall, the ancestral tablets stood in rows, the lowest and closest being the Emperor Taihe’s.

Kneeling before the tablets of successive emperors of Da Liang, Jiang Shaohua offered incense and silently vowed in her heart.

From today onwards, I, Jiang Shaohua, shall inherit the Da Liang Empire, becoming the new Emperor. The First Year of Zhao Ping, begins today.

I, Emperor Zhao Ping, vow before the ancestral tablets, to eliminate foreign enemies beyond the border and to purify the official administration within; to eradicate the corruption in the bureaucracy, curtail the influence of noble families, reduce taxes, and lighten conscription duties, ensuring the populace lives in peace and prosperity.

...