Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 665: Turbulent Times (Part 4)

Chen Sheren went to the Zheng Mansion on behalf of the Emperor.

Only then did the Zheng Mansion start to hang white banners and set up a mourning hall, sending funeral messages everywhere for Fan Jaining’s passing.

The Fan Family was the first to receive the funeral message, and immediately, wails filled the air. Fan Jaining’s own mother fainted from crying. The other women of the Fan Family also tearfully changed into mourning clothes to go to the Zheng Family to mourn, but secretly, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Zheng Chen was already an unforgivable rebel, and the Zheng Family had not fallen yet only because Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was protecting them. Regardless of how it is, the best outcome for the Zheng Family is like what it is now. No longer enjoying their past wealth and power, they must now live humbly with their tails between their legs. There is even a great possibility of being held accountable for old grievances. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The Fan Family and the Zheng Family were in-laws. As long as Fan Jaining was alive, the Fan and Zheng Families could not disentangle from each other. In recent days, the Fan Family often muttered their dissatisfaction in private.

Now that Fan Jaining is dead, it puts an end to it all. As Fan Jaining had no children, her death allows the Fan Family to quickly sever ties with the Zheng Family and settle down separately.

Officials from the Prime Minister Faction sent their families to pay condolences, and some from the Wang Family came as well. Only the Li Family, due to the deaths of Minister Li’s descendants, completely broke with the Zheng Family. Even though they were just across the street, they refused to send any women to pay condolences.

The Empress Dowager in Ning An Palace, upon hearing the funeral message, even laughed in delight a few times.

Imperial Concubine Fan, who was recuperating from an illness in her bedchamber, cried as if her heart was being torn apart.

Fan Jaining was her niece and had been a reading companion in the palace for several years. The aunt and niece were always very close. Now, separated by life and death, with such a blossoming life fading away, how could it not break one’s heart?

Even Grand Empress Dowager Zheng in Jingyang Palace shed tears and beat her chest in lamentation: "That silly girl, it would have been enough to live well; why did she choose to end her life?"

"Zhao Chunming! Go to the Zheng Family immediately on behalf of me, and give them a little face. No matter what, the funeral must be held with more weight."

Mr. Zhao responded in a low voice, sorrowfully leaving for the Zheng Family to pay his respects, without further mention.

And then, that was it.

A young life just vanished between heaven and earth. Like a pebble falling into a river, making a tiny swirl before sinking down.

Jiang Shaohua was not in a pleasant mood.

Pregnant, with her belly gradually swelling, she lacked the energy and stamina she once had. She still had to toil daily with state affairs, exhausting herself for the country, balancing the palace and court’s situation, and soothing people’s hearts. With the addition of such a funeral affair, how could Jiang Shaohua be in a good mood?

Chen Sheren, who had been accompanying her, privately consoled and comforted her: "Fan’s death has no direct connection with the Emperor. Speaking of it, it’s all because of Zheng Chen’s implication. That letter from General Fan directly made Fan lose the will to live."

Thinking this way was somewhat cruel. Yet, for the Fan Family, only by Fan Jaining’s death could they thoroughly sever ties with the Zheng Family.

Did General Fan also have such a secret thought in his heart, which made him write such a letter?

As a senior court minister and Border Army Commander, General Fan’s actions were understandable.

But as a grandfather, urging his own granddaughter to an early death, how heartless can that be!

In Chen Jinyu’s view, Jiang Shaohua hardly knew Fan Jaining and should feel no guilt whatsoever. Only Jiang Shaohua herself knew that whether in the past life or this life, Fan Jaining’s death had an indirect connection with her.

"You may withdraw now. I want to be alone quietly."

Chen Jinyu had no choice but to respond and withdraw, quickly summoning Qin Hu: "Send a message to Elder Changning, asking him to return to the palace."

...

The message was sent out, and that night, Elder Changning returned from the Imperial Manor.

Cui Du came back in a hurry, not even having time to change clothes, with some traces of dirt still on him.

Seeing Cui Du, who rushed back in haste, Jiang Shaohua’s mood indeed improved immediately: "Was it a message from Chen Sheren?"

Cui Du responded with a hum: "I’ll first go bathe and change into clean clothes, then accompany you for a midnight snack."

Jiang Shaohua nodded.

In Zhaohai Palace, there were still some unimportant memorials, which Chief Historian Chen was reviewing and handling.

Chief Historian Chen, having served as Chief Historian for decades and managing the personnel of the Prince Mansion, was quite adept at handling government affairs. Now, with a broader scope of official duties and tenfold complexity in personnel matters, Chief Historian Chen was slowly adapting.

Cui Du did not mention the recently deceased Fan Jaining or Zheng Chen, who was deeply entangled with Jiang Shaohua and still missing, nor did he speak of court matters. Instead, he enthusiastically talked about the Imperial Manor: "... Previously, in Nanyang County, I thought the field manor was large. Now, the Imperial Manor, with tens of thousands of acres of fertile land, takes a whole day to walk around."

"Although there’s one inappropriate thing, the steward of the Imperial Manor is not familiar with farming, full of bureaucratic airs, and in speech and behavior, cannot compare to Lin Zhuangtou."

"I have already written home, asking Lin Zhuangtou to bring his family to the Capital City, and my cousin, whose injury has healed, I want him to come to the Capital City as well."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Cui Du with a smile: "Have the Cui Family people gone to the Imperial Manor to find you?"

Cui Du scratched his head: "How did you know?"

Jiang Shaohua chuckled lightly: "I could guess."

Over a month after Emperor Taihe’s funeral, this new emperor formally ascended the throne. The speed was so swift that the state and counties farther from the Capital City couldn’t react quickly enough.

Because the Cui and Lu Families were related to the Prince Mansion by marriage, they got the confirmed news early and managed to reach the Capital City in time. Although they were not qualified to attend the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony, they all submitted memorials to celebrate the new emperor’s ascension.

With Lu Xuan dead, the Lu Family naturally felt a bit lacking in confidence. Nobody questioned the cause of Lu Xuan’s death—at most they speculated in private, but no one dared to express even a hint of it. After arriving in the Capital City, the Lu Family behaved especially quietly and obediently.

As for the Cui Family, having bet early and with Cui Du, who was both an Imperial Consort and the Minister of Agriculture, their stance was exceptionally firm.

Cui Ping specially went to stay temporarily at the Imperial Manor, frequently mentioning Cui Wang. Cui Du, thinking of his cousin, mentioned it casually.

This is the advantage of having people in front of the Emperor. Young talents in Da Liang are as numerous as cattle hair, and to stand out is not easy. The Boling Cui Family, silent for many years, has now finally embarked on a smooth road to success.

For Jiang Shaohua, all these were minor matters, and she casually said with a smile: "You can bring all the people you are accustomed to using to the Capital City."

As she spoke, she suddenly let out a slight ’eh’ and placed her right hand on her belly.

Cui Du’s eyes lit up eagerly, asking: "Did the child move?"

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes gleamed with a smile: "Yes, there were faint movements a few days ago. Just now, it moved suddenly."

Cui Du hurriedly placed his hand on her belly. The child inside her belly moved again.

Cui Du was filled with shock and disbelief: "The child really moved."

His silly look amused Jiang Shaohua so much that she chuckled: "It’s just beginning; there will be plenty of movements to feel later."

Cui Du then pressed his head against her belly: "I want to listen carefully. Surely the daughter knows her father is here and wants to talk to her father."

With such cheerful laughter and chatter, the gloom in Jiang Shaohua’s heart quietly dissipated.