The Road to Glory

Chapter 194: "Return Power to Chen!"

Wen Yu had just experienced morning sickness, her serene face still pale. Hearing this, she smiled faintly and helplessly at Zhao Bai.

Zhao Bai pressed her lips together, tucking the quilt corner more securely around her.

Wen Yu said, "I told you, when the time was necessary, I would have a child. This child has come at the right moment."

Zhao Bai remained silent.

Wen Yu continued, "Don't worry about me. I've just been too tired these days."

Zhao Bai felt a tightness in her chest. Not to mention how the entire Changlian Wang residence and the maternal family had doted on the late princess consort during her pregnancy back then, even in ordinary households, when a wife was with child, the whole family would provide meticulous care.

Though Wen Yu now nominally held regency over two states as a princess wielding absolute power, in such significant life matters, she no longer had elders above to support her. Returning to Southern Chen, she still had to face endless demons and monsters.

That person who had vehemently questioned whether Wen Yu was destined to endure all this had now chosen Northern Wei for the sake of power.

Zhao Bai couldn't help but feel angry.

When Tong Que brought in sour jujube cakes, Zhao Bai nodded hastily and said, "I understand."

Then she stood up: "I'll go instruct the Azure Guard about tomorrow's rendezvous with Fang Mingda."

Seeing Zhao Bai's grim expression as she left, Tong Que placed the sour jujube cakes on the bedside table and asked, "What's wrong with Commander Zhao Bai?"

Wen Yu shook her head wearily.

She knew Zhao Bai's heart ached for her.

But what this path entailed, she had understood clearly from the very beginning.

The current outcome was already much better than she had previously imagined.

The most difficult times had already been endured.

Now the entire Southern Border of Great Liang had been recovered, with Pei Song being forced into continuous retreat by the reorganized Liang-Chen allied forces and Wei army.

She was getting closer and closer to the goal that had sustained her until today.

All that remained was 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 snaked along the official road into the city, with Great Liang's Azure Dragon Crimson Cloud Banner and Chen's Black Feather Vermilion Bird Banner fluttering together in the cold wind.

At the city gate, a crowd of Southern Chen officials had long been waiting.

When the carriage reached the city entrance, Tong Que lifted the carriage curtain, and Zhao Bai supported Wen Yu as she slowly descended from the carriage.

The Ministry of Rites officials led the bowing salute to Wen Yu: "We welcome the princess back to the royal court."

Only Chancellor Jiang, wearing court robes with slightly graying temples, remained straight-backed without bowing.

His presence here today was clearly not to welcome Wen Yu back to Southern Chen. After the officials paid respects to Wen Yu, he openly questioned: "May I ask, Your Highness, where is my son Jiang Yu?"

Wen Yu calmly met his gaze and softly called: "Zhao Bai."

Zhao Bai gestured to the rear, where iron-armored guards immediately brought forward a cart carrying a coffin.

Chancellor Jiang hurried to the cart, trembling as he reached out to touch the black coffin adorned with white silk funeral flowers. His eyes instantly reddened as he mournfully cried: "My son!"

Wen Yu nodded slightly: "My condolences, Chancellor Jiang."

Chancellor Jiang looked at Wen Yu, full of grief and indignation as if suffering great injustice: "When Dou Jianliang surrendered to Pei Song at the Battle of Majialiang, Your Highness and all court officials pressed our Jiang Family's head down, forcing us to admit guilt. Now that my son has died on the Liang battlefield, does Your Highness finally believe in our Jiang Family's loyalty?"Zhao Bai's brows lifted coldly as he shouted, "How dare you!"

Now the entire Southern Border of Great Liang, along with several cities in the Central Plains, had fallen into Wen Yu's grasp. Conversely, Southern Chen, which had been pushed back step by step by Western Mausoleum 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 balance of power across the land had shifted once again.

Even if the Jiang Family had become a mad dog biting anyone in sight due to Jiang Yu's death, Wen Yu now had the confidence to confront them.

She raised her hand to signal Zhao Bai to silence, speaking calmly, "I, too, am deeply grieved by General Jiang's death."

Chancellor Jiang did not respond, continuing to stroke the dark coffin as if overwhelmed by sorrow, lamenting, "My Yu'er..."

Suddenly, one of the disciples who had accompanied Chancellor Jiang sharply declared, "Our Cavalry General went to Liang territory to command all Chen troops dispatched there. Why would he lead a small contingent to the Northern Border and die in an ambush? After the general's death, Liang Camp reestablished ties with Northern Wei. May we ask, Your Highness, is there truly no connection between these events?"

News of Jiang Yu's death had long since reached Southern Chen. Today, as Jiang Yu's coffin entered the city, many commoners had gathered behind the city gate to welcome it.

The man's words heavily implied that Wen Yu had used Jiang Yu's life to appease Northern Wei, thereby securing the renewed alliance between Liang and Wei camps to attack Luodu. Upon hearing this, the crowd of onlookers immediately grew restless.

Zhao Bai's thumb instantly pressed against his longsword, drawing it three inches from its sheath, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Audacious! Who gave you permission to disrespect the Princess?"

The Azure Guard in soft armor also drew their long blades several inches in unison.

Among the Chen officials, those who understood that they absolutely must not break with Wen Yu at this moment hurriedly advised, "Secretary Ruan, the Cavalry General's death grieves the Princess and all of us. But on the battlefield, blades and arrows are blind. As the saying goes, 'A general may die in a hundred battles'—this is heaven envying talent!"

Chancellor Jiang's disciple grew even more agitated. "What fine words—'blades and arrows are blind'! If one day all our Southern Chen sons who marched north are buried in Liang territory, will that too be dismissed with 'blades and arrows are blind'?"

The official who had tried to dissuade him fell silent, stumped. The disciple then made a symbolic bow to Wen Yu and said, "This humble official would rather die here today than fail to demand an explanation for our Chen Kingdom's Cavalry General's death! I beg Your Highness to resolve the doubts I raised earlier!"

The commoners' emotions were further stirred. A woman with a headscarf wailed in distress, "How exactly is this war being fought? My son went north with the army to Liang territory!"

Someone nearby added, "Dou Jianliang defected to Pei Song and trapped and killed twenty thousand Northern Wei troops. After our Cavalry General was sent to the Northern Border on military duties and died, Liang Camp reestablished ties with Northern Wei. Who knows if this Great Liang Princess will next send our Southern Chen troops to be slaughtered by Northern Wei to appease their wrath over the Ma Family Liang battle?"

This statement caused an uproar among the surrounding commoners: "How can that be! My child's father is still in the army!"

"My husband is in the army too!"

"Didn't they say that after taking Liang territory, we'd be allowed to move back inside the passes? Why are our Chen troops being sent to their deaths?"

Those deliberately inciting the crowd continued ominously, "After all, she's a Liang princess—does she even regard us Chen commoners as human?"As this panic and opposition spread, the discontented voices among the crowd gradually grew louder. Someone shouted, "How did General Jiang Yu really die?"

Another voice accused, "For years, the governance of our Chen Kingdom has been held by our King Chen. Why should a princess from Liang now have the final say? Return governance to Chen!"

"Yes! Return governance to Chen! Return governance to Chen!"

As the accusations grew louder, almost forming a wave of sound, even Zhao Bai's sharp rebuke of "Insolence!" could no longer control the situation. Some Chen citizens even pushed and shoved the Chen soldiers encircling the perimeter, attempting to press forward.

Fearing that Wen Yu might come to harm, Zhao Bai quickly drew his sword and positioned himself in front of her. The rest of the Azure Guard formed a semicircle around Wen Yu's carriage.

The neutral Chen officials, seeing the situation escalate to this point, were momentarily bewildered and anxious.

While they would welcome the return of the regent's power from Wen Yu, the Liang Camp was now too powerful, and Wen Yu was unlikely to concede. If pushed to the brink, she might abandon her responsibilities and sever ties with Southern Chen, leaving them at a severe disadvantage.

The neutral officials repeatedly exchanged meaningful glances with the Jiang faction, but the group led by Minister Jiang pretended not to see.

Wen Yu listened to the Chen citizens clenching their fists and shouting for her to return governance, then lightly raised her eyes and spoke calmly, "Are you all demanding that I divorce my consort?"

The face of Minister Jiang's disciple, who had led the charge against Wen Yu, stiffened before he replied, "The princess need only reside deep within the palace as she did when she first married into our Chen Kingdom and refrain from intervening in governance henceforth."

Wen Yu curled her lips slightly with sarcasm. "What crime have I committed to warrant being forced to abdicate?"

The disciple said, "The Cavalry General..."

Wen Yu's tone was icy. "Does all of Chen intend to pin this crime on me today? Do you have evidence proving I conspired to harm your General Jiang?"

Jiang Yu had previously been the commander of the royal palace guards in Chen. It was only when he accompanied Wen Yu to Liang that he was appointed Cavalry General, succeeding Dou Jianliang.

The other retorted, "The circumstances of the Cavalry General's death are suspicious, and your Liang Camp has reestablished relations with Northern Wei..."

"I asked for your evidence!" Wen Yu's voice suddenly rose, her cold eyes sharp with authority. The hairpins in her hair swayed, exuding an aura of menace in the biting wind amid the fluttering banners.

Minister Jiang's disciple fell silent at once, and even the surrounding citizens seemed struck dumb, the noise abruptly ceasing.

For a moment, the only sound in the world was the mournful howl of the wind.

Wen Yu scanned everyone present, her words clear and measured: "You have none, is that it? But I do!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the Azure Guard behind her brought forward more than ten bound spies.

Wen Yu cast a cold glance at Minister Jiang. "Minister Jiang, you may interrogate them thoroughly. General Jiang's strategy for heading north was so meticulous—why did he still fall into the Pei Army's ambush!"

Jiang Yu had accompanied Wen Yu north. To conceal the fact that Wen Yu had fallen into Wei hands, it was publicly stated that Jiang Yu went to the Northern Border on a military mission.

However, before heading north, Jiang Yu had sent word to Minister Jiang and the Empress Dowager, explaining the true reason.

Now that Jiang Yu was dead, Minister Jiang and his disciples, pretending ignorance of the truth, had chosen the day of Wen Yu's return to deliberately provoke her, inciting the people in an attempt to reclaim her regent power. It was clear they were determined to make her suffer, even if it meant the Jiang Family would pay another heavy price.At the sight of the dozen or so Chen Jun soldiers escorted out by the Azure Guard, Prime Minister Jiang, who had been grieving by the coffin, finally lifted his head. His aged eyes, bloodshot yet still commanding, held authority as he asked, "What does Your Highness mean by this?"

Wen Yu's voice was icy. "When General Jiang was ambushed, he discovered there were spies within the ranks secretly leaking his movements to the Pei and Wei camps. After General Jiang's death, to uncover the remaining spies hidden in the army, I ordered the officials sent to retrieve his coffin to deliberately spread the rumor that General Jiang was still alive. These individuals were caught sneaking in to inspect the corpse after the coffin was brought back—they are the traitors!"

Her words caused an uproar among the crowd. Prime Minister Jiang, though still in mourning, suddenly sharpened his gaze.

Yet no one dared to step forward to interrogate the captives.

The bound soldiers were all from Chen Jun, meaning Jiang Yu's death was likely due to internal strife within Chen, with no connection to Wen Yu or the Liang Camp.

After exchanging glances, one of Prime Minister Jiang's disciples spoke up, "These people were brought here by the Princess. Who knows if they were coerced into false confessions!"

Wen Yu sneered, "How amusing. You repeatedly demand that I provide an explanation for General Jiang's death, and now that I've laid the evidence before you, you won't even dare to question them, instead accusing me of coercion? It seems Chen has long lost its sense of propriety—rulers no longer rule, ministers no longer minister, descending into barbarism!"

Her words stung all the Chen officials present, leaving them visibly uncomfortable and ashamed.

Wen Yu appeared genuinely angered.

The Azure Guard brought a grand chair and placed it behind her. Leaning on Zhao Bai's hand, she sat down, while Tong Que held a large oilcloth umbrella firmly over her head, shielding her from the sporadic sleet.

Her voice was cold and penetrating. "Fortunately, before arriving at the royal court, I spread another rumor that we had captured a spy alive and were secretly transporting him to the palace. If Prime Minister Jiang sends men now, he might still intercept a few assassins rushing to silence the witness."

With her final words, she lifted the corners of her chilling eyes slightly. "I... will wait here. Once you uncover the truth, remember to come and collect the letter of divorce on behalf of your King Chen! I shall grant the wish of all Chen—henceforth, I will no longer interfere in Chen's state affairs!"

Author's Note: Merry Christmas! Sending red envelopes to all dear readers in the comments section~