Wen Yu had just finished vomiting. Her face still carried some pallor. Hearing this, she looked at Zhaobai with a somewhat helpless smile.
Zhaobai pressed her lips together tightly and helped tuck the corner of the blanket more securely around her.
Wen Yu said: “I told you, when necessary, I would have a child. This child has come at the right time.”
Zhaobai remained silent.
Wen Yu continued: “No need to worry about me. It’s just that I’ve been too exhausted these past days.”
Zhaobai felt her chest was stuffy with discomfort. Not to mention when the Crown Prince’s Consort was pregnant years ago—the entire Prince Changdian’s manor and the Crown Prince’s Consort’s maternal family treasured her like the apple of their eye. Even in ordinary households, when the lady of the house was with child, the whole family would provide careful attention.
Wen Yu was now nominally the princess regent of two nations, wielding sole power, yet in such a major life event, there were no longer any elders above to help and support her. Upon returning to Southern Chen, she would still need to deal with endless demons and monsters.
That person who had repeatedly questioned her about whether Wen Yu was simply meant to endure all of this had now chosen Northern Wei for the sake of power.
Zhaobai couldn’t help but be angry.
When Tongque brought in sour jujube cakes, she hastily nodded: “This servant understands.”
Then she stood up: “This servant will go instruct the Azure Cloud Guards about making contact with Fang Mingda tomorrow.”
Tongque saw that Zhaobai’s expression wasn’t good when she left. After placing the sour jujube cakes on the small table by the bedside, she asked: “What’s wrong with Commander Zhaobai?”
Wen Yu shook her head, appearing somewhat fatigued.
She knew Zhaobai felt sorry for her.
But she had understood all too clearly from early on what this path would be like.
The current results were already much better than what she had anticipated before.
The most difficult times had already been endured.
Now the entire southern territory of Great Liang had been recovered. Pei Song was being forced by the reorganized Liang-Chen allied forces and the Wei army to do nothing but retreat step by step.
She was already getting closer and closer to the goal that had supported her journey to this day.
Next, she only needed to completely consolidate Southern Chen.
—
The next day, Wen Yu’s carriage and Jiang Yu’s coffin arrived together at the Chen royal court.
Three thousand iron-armored guards wound forward along the official road entering the city. Great Liang’s Azure Dragon and Crimson Cloud banner and Chen Kingdom’s Black Feather and Vermillion Bird banner flew together in the cold wind.
At the city gate, a group of Southern Chen officials had been waiting for some time.
When the carriage arrived at the city gate, Tongque lifted the carriage curtain. Zhaobai helped Wen Yu slowly step down from the carriage.
The officials from the Ministry of Rites led the way, cupping their hands and bowing once toward Wen Yu: “We respectfully welcome the Princess back to the royal court.”
Only Prime Minister Jiang, dressed in court robes with slightly graying temples, stood upright without bowing.
His appearance here today was clearly not to welcome Wen Yu back to Southern Chen. After the officials paid their respects to Wen Yu, he openly questioned: “May I ask the Princess, where is my son Jiang Yu?”
Wen Yu calmly met his gaze and called softly: “Azhao.”
Zhaobai made a gesture toward the rear. Immediately, iron-armored guards brought forward a cart transporting a coffin.
Prime Minister Jiang quickly walked to the cart, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch the pitch-black coffin bound with white silk mourning flowers. His eyes instantly reddened as he called out in grief: “My son!”
Wen Yu nodded slightly: “Prime Minister Jiang, please accept my condolences.”
Prime Minister Jiang looked toward Wen Yu, as if suffering an enormous injustice, his eyes full of grief, indignation, and self-mockery: “In the battle at Majia Liang, Dou Jianliang surrendered to Pei Song. The Princess and the full court of officials pressed down on my Jiang family’s head, demanding my Jiang family acknowledge this crime. Now my son has died on the Liang region battlefield—does the Princess believe in my Jiang family’s loyalty now?”
Zhaobai’s brows raised coldly as she shouted: “Insolent!”
Now the entire southern territory of Great Liang, along with several cities in Guanzhong, had already become Wen Yu’s possession. Conversely, Southern Chen, which had been pressed step by step by Western Ling to this day, had completely lost the capital to turn against Wen Yu and had to rely on cooperation with Great Liang.
In just a few short months, the entire situation under heaven had undergone another reversal of offense and defense.
Even if the Jiang family had become a mad dog that bit anyone it saw because of Jiang Yu’s death, Wen Yu now had the confidence to confront them.
She raised her hand to signal Zhaobai to be silent and said peacefully: “This palace is also very pained by General Jiang’s death.”
Prime Minister Jiang didn’t respond, only continued to stroke that pitch-black coffin, calling out in heartbroken grief: “My Yu’er…”
Among the disciples who had come with Prime Minister Jiang, one suddenly said sharply: “Our Cavalry General went to Liang region to command all the Chen troops dispatched there. Why would he be carrying a small force in the Northern Territory and die in an ambush? After the General’s death, the Liang camp reestablished relations with Northern Wei. May I ask the Princess, is there truly no connection between these events?”
News of Jiang Yu’s death had long since been transmitted back to Southern Chen. Today, with Jiang Yu’s coffin entering the city, quite a few common people had also gathered behind the city gate to welcome the coffin.
That person’s words carried the strong implication of questioning whether Wen Yu had used Jiang Yu’s life to make amends to Northern Wei in exchange for the current alliance between Liang and Wei camps to attack Luodu. Among the watching common people behind them, upon hearing these words, an uproar immediately arose.
Zhaobai’s thumb immediately pressed against the long sword in her hand, unsheathing it three inches, her sharp gaze like a blade: “How dare you! Who permitted you to show disrespect to the Princess?”
The Azure Cloud Guards in soft armor also unsheathed their long blades several inches in unison.
Among the Chen Kingdom officials, those who understood clearly that they absolutely couldn’t break relations with Wen Yu at present hurriedly persuaded: “Director Ruan, the Cavalry General’s death pains both the Princess and all of us. However, on the battlefield, swords and blades have no eyes. As the saying goes, ‘generals die in a hundred battles’—this is heaven being jealous of heaven’s talent!”
That disciple of Prime Minister Jiang became even more emotionally agitated: “What fine words—’swords and blades have no eyes on the battlefield!’ In the future, when our Southern Chen sons who march north all have their bones buried in Liang region, will you also dismiss it with ‘swords and blades have no eyes on the battlefield’?”
The official who had tried to remonstrate was silenced by this retort. The man then cupped his hands toward Wen Yu symbolically: “Even if this subordinate dies here today, I must obtain an explanation for the death of our Chen Kingdom’s Cavalry General. Please, Princess, resolve this subordinate’s earlier questions!”
The emotions of the common people behind were also stirred up. A woman with a headscarf wrapped around her head said in distress: “Just how is this war being fought? My son also went north with the army to Liang region!”
Someone nearby said: “Dou Jianliang defected to Pei Song and slaughtered twenty thousand Northern Wei troops. After our Cavalry General was sent to the Northern Territory to execute military duties and died, the Liang camp reestablished relations with Northern Wei. Who knows whether this Great Liang princess will continue to send our Southern Chen soldiers to be slaughtered by Northern Wei, letting Northern Wei avenge the battle of Majia Liang?”
These words undoubtedly caused the surrounding common people to explode: “How can that be! My child’s father is still in the military!”
“My man is also in the military!”
“Didn’t they say that after conquering Liang region, we would be allowed to migrate back to Guanzhong? How have they made our Chen army go to their deaths?”
The person deliberately inciting popular sentiment continued ominously: “After all, she’s a princess from Liang region—how would she treat us Chen Kingdom common people as human…”
After this fear and antagonism spread, dissatisfied voices in the crowd gradually grew louder. Someone demanded: “Just how did General Jiang Yu die?”
Someone accused: “For so many years, our Chen Kingdom’s government has been controlled by our Chen King. How is it that now a Liang region princess gets to call the shots? Return governance to Chen!”
“Right! Return governance to Chen! Return governance to Chen!”
Seeing the accusations grow louder and louder, almost forming a wave of sound, even when Zhaobai sternly shouted “Insolent!” she couldn’t control the situation. Some Chen Kingdom common people even pushed and shoved the Chen Kingdom soldiers on the outer perimeter, attempting to surge forward.
Zhaobai, fearing Wen Yu might come to harm, hurriedly drew her sword and stood in front of Wen Yu. The other Azure Cloud Guards also formed a semicircle in front of Wen Yu’s carriage.
The neutral faction of Chen Kingdom officials, seeing the situation develop to this point, were momentarily bewildered and alarmed.
To seize back the regency power from Wen Yu’s hands—they would be happy to see this happen. However, the Liang camp was now powerful, and Wen Yu would certainly not yield. If they truly pushed Wen Yu to desperation and she threw down her burden and severed relations with their Southern Chen, then their Southern Chen would truly have lost both the lady and the soldiers.
The neutral faction officials repeatedly exchanged glances with the Jiang faction people, but unfortunately, all those led by Prime Minister Jiang pretended not to see.
Wen Yu listened to the Chen Kingdom common people raising their fists and shouting for her to return governance. She only raised her eyes slightly and spoke in clear, somber tones: “Is everyone demanding that this palace divorce the Prince Consort?”
The expression of that disciple of Prime Minister Jiang who had led the attack on Wen Yu stiffened, then he said: “The Princess should reside peacefully in the deep palace as when she first married into our Chen Kingdom, and simply cease interfering in government affairs.”
Wen Yu curved her lips with slight mockery: “What wrong has this palace committed that you would force me to abdicate?”
That disciple of Prime Minister Jiang said: “The Cavalry General…”
Wen Yu’s voice was cold and indifferent: “Your entire Chen Kingdom, wanting to pin this crime on this palace today—do you already have evidence accusing this palace of plotting to harm your General Jiang?”
Jiang Yu had formerly been the Imperial Guard Commander of the Chen King’s palace. When he accompanied Wen Yu to Liang region, he was then enfeoffed as Cavalry General, taking over Dou Jianliang’s position.
The other party said: “The Cavalry General’s death is suspicious, and your Liang camp has reestablished relations with Northern Wei…”
“This palace asks you for evidence!” Wen Yu suddenly raised her voice, her cold eyes imposing with authority. The hairpin ornament on her head swayed, grinding out a murderous intent in the cold wind where banners surged.
That disciple of Prime Minister Jiang was momentarily silenced. Even the surrounding common people who had been shouting seemed struck dumb, suddenly falling quiet.
For a moment, only the desolate sound of wind remained between heaven and earth.
Wen Yu surveyed everyone present, each word clear and somber: “You have none? This palace does!”
As soon as she finished speaking, Azure Cloud Guards from behind had already brought forward more than ten bound spies.
Wen Yu’s gaze fell coldly on Prime Minister Jiang: “Prime Minister Jiang, you should interrogate them properly. General Jiang’s northward strategy was so thorough—how could he still fall into a Pei army ambush!”
When Jiang Yu accompanied Wen Yu northward, in order to previously conceal the matter of Wen Yu falling into the Wei camp’s hands, they had only publicly stated that Jiang Yu was going to the Northern Territory to execute military duties.
But before going north, Jiang Yu had sent messages to Prime Minister Jiang and the Empress Dowager explaining the true reason.
Now that Jiang Yu was dead, Prime Minister Jiang, leading all his disciples on the day of Wen Yu’s return to the city, pretended not to know the truth and deliberately made trouble, even inciting the common people in an attempt to reclaim her regency power. This clearly demonstrated the Jiang family’s posture that even if they had to shed another layer of skin, they wouldn’t let her have an easy time.
At this moment, seeing the more than ten Chen army soldiers brought out by the Azure Cloud Guards, Prime Minister Jiang, who had been in grief supporting the coffin, finally raised his head. His aged eyes, threaded with blood vessels, still contained authority: “What does the Princess mean by these words?”
Wen Yu’s voice was cold and indifferent: “When General Jiang fell into the ambush that day, he discovered there were spies in the army secretly revealing movements to the Pei and Wei camp forces. After General Jiang perished, in order to root out those spies still lurking in the army, this palace ordered the officials who went to receive General Jiang’s coffin to deliberately spread the news that General Jiang hadn’t died. These people were arrested as traitors while attempting to examine the corpse at night after General Jiang’s coffin was transported back!”
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire venue erupted in uproar. Prime Minister Jiang, who had been in grief, also suddenly became sharp-eyed.
But still no one dared step forward to interrogate.
Those bound were all Chen army soldiers—in other words, Jiang Yu’s death was eighty or ninety percent due to internal strife within their Chen Kingdom and had not the slightest connection to Wen Yu and the Liang camp.
The disciples behind Prime Minister Jiang exchanged glances, then one of them said: “These people were all brought bound by the Princess. Who knows if they were forced to confess under torture!”
Wen Yu laughed coldly: “Interesting. You repeatedly demand this palace give an explanation for General Jiang’s death. Now this palace has placed all the evidence before you, yet you don’t even dare interrogate them once and instead slander this palace with forced confessions? Your Chen Kingdom has truly been without proper ruler and without proper ministers for so long that all propriety has been lost—you’re no better than barbarians!”
These words stung every Chen Kingdom official present, leaving them all looking somewhat uncomfortable.
Yet Wen Yu seemed truly angered.
Azure Cloud Guards brought over a grand armchair and placed it behind her. She sat down, supporting herself on Zhaobai’s hand. Tongque firmly held a large oiled cloth umbrella over her head, blocking the sporadic sleet that had begun to fall.
Wen Yu’s voice was eerily cold: “Fortunately, before arriving at the royal court, this palace also spread word claiming to have captured a spy alive and was having someone secretly transport him to the palace. If Prime Minister Jiang dispatches people to pursue now, you should still be able to capture alive a few more death warriors rushing to silence him.”
After finishing this last sentence, she slightly raised the corners of her cold eyes: “This palace… will wait here. After you all investigate the truth, remember to come here to collect the divorce papers on behalf of your Chen King! This palace will, as all of you in Chen Kingdom desire, no longer interfere in your Chen Kingdom’s government affairs!”