The Road to Glory

Chapter 196

"Another spring has arrived..."

Fine rain mixed with formless snowflakes drifted against the window lattice. A cold wind stirred the white fox fur collar at Wen Yu's neck as she met Empress Dowager Jiang's gaze, her serene face betraying no emotion. "This child will be born in one year, as the royal heir of Great Liang and Southern Chen."

Empress Dowager Jiang's fingers tightened around her prayer beads.

Wen Yu's words confirmed there was indeed a child.

Her original agreement with Wen Yu had been to pass off a child born from Wen Yu's womb as a Jiang family descendant, otherwise the ministers of the royal faction would never acquiesce.

But Wen Yu had been away from Chen territory for over four months now. They absolutely couldn't claim the pregnancy occurred before she left Chen, otherwise the child would have to be born in just six months to silence the gossiping masses.

There had also been rumors about Wen Yu being detained by Northern Wei during her time in Liang territory.

By saying the child would be born in one year, she meant they would publicly claim she only became pregnant two months after returning to Chen territory.

This way, the child's identity would leave no room for doubt.

The entire royal palace had long been divided between Wen Yu and Empress Dowager Jiang, working together to conceal the child's true gestational age wouldn't be difficult.

Though an answer was already forming in her heart, Empress Dowager Jiang still wanted confirmation, her forceful voice unable to conceal its urgency: "This widow asks you, is this child truly Yu'er's?""

Wen Yu didn't answer directly, only saying: "General Jiang had a mole on his buttock."

This was discovered when attendants prepared Jiang Yu's body for burial.

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Jiang seemed to have a great weight lifted from her heart. Supporting herself with one hand on the long table by the window, grief poured forth behind her forceful demeanor: "How far along is this child?"

Wen Yu said: "Over three months."

Jiang Yu had died in Hengzhou three months ago.

Empress Dowager Jiang stared at Wen Yu: "This widow must personally witness the imperial physician's diagnosis.""

Wen Yu's reaction was unusually calm. After answering "Agreed," she raised her eyes and continued: "But after the diagnosis, I hope the Empress Dowager will henceforth reside peacefully in the Buddhist hall, devoted to Buddhist worship, and no longer involve herself in court affairs." Does the Empress Dowager consent?"

In the former Chen kingdom, when King Chen repeatedly failed to attend court, it was Empress Dowager Jiang who ruled from behind the curtain.

After the Majialiang tragedy occurred, Wen Yu, as the "creditor," gained the right to listen behind the curtain.

After being established as the nominal regent princess, before she could truly manage court affairs, she had to rush to Chen territory to handle major situations.

Now returning to Southern Chen, whether she would govern alone as regent princess or continue ruling jointly with Empress Dowager Jiang needed to be clarified.

Empress Dowager Jiang's expression instantly changed, sneering coldly: "You dare to ask such a thing? You think just because you carry Yu'er's child in your womb, you can seize power from this Empress?Her eyes contained grief, anger and resentment, stabbing at Wen Yu like knives: "This widow hasn't even held you accountable for why you had to go to Northern Wei!" Was apologizing to his Northern Wei so important? This family's Yu'er gave his life for it, what will your Liang Camp repay us with?"

Wen Yu's gaze was clear and cold like a frozen lake: "What killed General Jiang was your Southern Chen."

Empress Dowager Jiang probably found this absurd, a cold smile rising to her lips. But before she could speak, Wen Yu continued: "If General Chen Dou Jianliang hadn't defected to Pei Song and trapped and killed twenty thousand Northern Wei troops, why would I have needed to personally go north to his Wei Camp to apologize for righteousness? If Keji agents hadn't infiltrated the accompanying Chen army, how would our troop movements have been exposed?"She stared at Empress Dowager Jiang, enunciating each word clearly: "It was your Southern Chen's internal strife that killed him."

When Empress Dowager Jiang heard the words "Keji," the cold sneer on her face froze. The forced rigidity showed faint cracks, yet she still retorted stubbornly: "Do you think this widow would be intimidated by your one-sided account?"

The Keji tribe was originally the clan that ruled over Chen's territory.

When Chen's founding ancestor led his subjects beyond the pass, he married the daughter of the Keji chieftain to secure shelter for Chen's people, who were then accepted.

Subsequent generations of Chen kings also married Keji women to consolidate their power.

After over a century of development, Chen had long replaced the former Keji tribe. Princes of the royal family now sought daughters of ministers, women from more powerful neighboring tribes, or even noblewomen from Liang for marriage.

The Keji tribe, realizing they were being eroded by Chen, launched several rebellions, all brutally suppressed by Chen.

During the reign of the previous Chen king, he sought to eradicate this problem entirely. However, Southern Chen's people had intermarried with the Keji tribe for so long that many Chen citizens could trace Keji blood in their lineage within a few generations.

Even if all Keji people were expelled from Chen territory, descendants with Keji blood would still cause trouble under Chen identities after some time.

Ultimately, the previous Chen king had no choice but to negotiate peace with the Keji tribe. He secretly supported the most incompetent youngest son of the former Keji chieftain to seize the chieftainship and granted him the title Marquis Shunping, providing him with a lavish residence within the royal court.

Thus, the conflict between Chen and the Keji tribe was superficially suppressed.

The Keji chieftain who remained in the royal court as Marquis Shunping indeed appeared content to stay for many years.

When the new Chen king ascended the throne a few years ago, no Keji people seized the opportunity to cause trouble. Gradually, the entire Chen kingdom believed they had completely pacified the Keji tribe.

Little did they know, the other side had already planted countless spies within the royal court.

This was why Wen Yu dared not inform them in writing about the Keji spies before reaching the royal court.

At least half of Chen's population were descendants of the Keji.

Even Jiang Yu, during his lifetime, didn't know there were so many Keji spies among the elite troops he selected. Wen Yu couldn't guarantee whether the royal palace and the Jiang Family had other Keji spies planted.

This secret could only be safe if kept within their own mouths.

Wen Yu said: "Whether it's my one-sided account or not, didn't Minister Jiang send the Divine Martial Camp to arrest people on King's Well Street? Your Highness can await the Ministry of Justice's interrogation results."

She paused here, as if recalling something, complex emotions surfacing in her eyes before she closed them, unwilling to let others probe: "But General Jiang... did indeed die for me. I promised him I would govern Chen well."

Her momentary grief couldn't be feigned.

The scene of Jiang Yu leaping from his horse to intercept pursuing soldiers, turning to shout "My lord Han Yang, ordained by Heaven, may his life be long and his reign prosperous" at her seemed still before her eyes.

Later, when his body was transported to Hongyan Temple, she saw how the monks carefully sewed his head back on with fine thread, and how he lay in the coffin wearing new armor, holding a sword in both hands.

That young, valiant face was no longer handsome. He seemed to have suffered greatly before death, leaving him with a ferocious expression even after his eyes were closed.

Since he had acknowledged her as his ruler in life, Wen Yu made a solemn vow before his ice coffin: she would treat Chen's people as she would Liang's people.Empress Dowager Jiang, seeing Wen Yu so heartbroken, became more convinced that the child in her womb was indeed Jiang Yu's.

The overwhelming fury she had felt earlier, after Wen Yu revealed the Keji spy, now transformed into profound sorrow and despondency. Even the silver strands at her temples seemed to have multiplied.

This was ultimately the bitter fruit their Chen Kingdom had reaped through its own actions.

She appeared utterly exhausted, yet stubbornly insisted, "Have the imperial physician take her pulse."

Wen Yu said nothing more and cooperated amiably as the imperial physician, urgently summoned by Empress Dowager Jiang, came to examine her.

Though the physician was Empress Dowager Jiang's trusted aide, he knew nothing of the previous agreement between Wen Yu and the Empress Dowager. After a meticulous pulse diagnosis, fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead.

When Empress Dowager Jiang pressed for answers, he had no choice but to steel himself and reply, "Your Majesty, the Queen... is three months with child."

He hardly dared lift his head, terrified of being silenced for stumbling upon royal secrets.

But upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Jiang first stared blankly, then tears streamed down her face. "My Yu'er has an heir..."

With the pregnancy confirmed at three months, her final shred of doubt vanished. Three months earlier, Jiang Yu had been closely monitoring Wen Yu on her orders—there was no chance Wen Yu could have been with anyone else. This child... could only be Jiang Yu's.

The physician, hearing this, felt he had uncovered another palace secret and bowed his head even lower, not daring to breathe loudly.

Zhao Bai's face was cold as frost as she removed the cloth used for pulse diagnosis from Wen Yu's wrist, clearly disgusted by the Empress Dowager's insistence on verification.

Wen Yu, however, remained as composed as ever. After withdrawing her hand and adjusting her sleeve, she looked at Empress Dowager Jiang. Her calm gaze held an unshakable authority, firm as mountains. "I do not wish for court conflicts to affect the people of Chen. That is why I proposed this discussion today. I hope you will carefully consider my suggestion upon your return."

As the officially recognized Regent Princess, summoned back to power by the court officials, she had no reason to concede.

If Empress Dowager Jiang still insisted on ruling from behind the curtain, the two were bound to clash again in court.

But for Chen Kingdom at present, Great Liang was the only lifeline.

The one who could not afford to lose was Southern Chen.

Empress Dowager Jiang's gaze fell on Wen Yu's abdomen, and she seemed to have aged considerably. She smiled bitterly. "I married the late emperor at sixteen. From the day I became Queen of Chen, I have endured and schemed for over twenty years, all for supreme power. Yet in the end, I only became an Empress Dowager ruling from behind a curtain."

Her eyes returned to Wen Yu's face, scrutinizing her. "Now you force me to step back, but I will be watching to see how far you can go."

Wen Yu remained silent. Only when Empress Dowager Jiang, leaning on her elderly maid's arm, was leaving did she speak calmly from her seat: "I bid farewell to Your Majesty."

Outside Zhaohua Palace, Empress Dowager Jiang did not take her palanquin. Instead, she walked through the long, narrow palace corridors supported by her elderly maid, while the palace attendants followed at a distance carrying the empty palanquin.

The elderly maid, observing the Empress Dowager's expression, muttered resentfully, "That Liang woman thinks she can use the young general's bloodline to force you and the Prime Minister to step aside. She should worry whether she'll even survive childbirth!"

The palace had countless covert methods for dealing with births. When the Empress Dowager and the Jiang family initially agreed to support Wen Yu as Regent Princess and have her bear Jiang Yu's child, this had been their plan all along.

Empress Dowager Jiang glanced at the maid, who immediately slapped her own mouth. "This old servant speaks out of turn."Empress Dowager Jiang asked, "What has Eunuch Li been up to lately?"

The old matron replied, "Your Highness, have you forgotten? You permitted him to be 'recuperating from illness' all this while."

Empress Dowager Jiang stared straight ahead: "This illness has lasted nearly half a year. He should be recovered by now. Have him return to his duties."

Zhaohua Palace.

No sooner had Empress Dowager Jiang and her entourage departed than Tong Que secretly brought Physician Fang into the palace to take Wen Yu's pulse again.

Wen Yu was only two months pregnant, but medication had altered her pulse to display three months, successfully deceiving Empress Dowager Jiang.

However, the medicine had been developed secretly by Physician Fang after receiving mid-journey instructions, then delivered to Wen Yu by the Azure Guard.

Zhao Bai, concerned about potential side effects for Wen Yu, had signaled Tong Que to fetch Physician Fang during the private conversation between the Empress Dowager and Wen Yu.

After examining her pulse, Physician Fang declared Wen Yu to be in good health and was taken away to prepare herbal prescriptions for nurturing her pregnancy.

Having endured over a month of arduous travel and forcing herself to remain alert until now, Wen Yu was growing weary. She asked Zhao Bai, "How are things with Fang Mingda?"

Zhao Bai replied, "He currently holds a position at the Imperial Academy and has little contact with the Jiang Family. We haven't uncovered any useful information yet."

After pondering briefly, Wen Yu said, "The Jiang Family will likely use Jiang Yu's death and the Keji spies as pretexts to pin Dou Jianliang's betrayal on the Keji spies as well, thereby recalling their previously demoted faction members. Tell Fang Mingda I will assist him, but he'd better not disappoint me."

Understanding her meaning, Zhao Bai accepted the order and withdrew. Noticing Wen Yu had already closed her eyes in exhaustion, he gently closed the door behind him.

When Tong Que returned after escorting Physician Fang to prepare the medicine, she learned Wen Yu was napping and worriedly told Zhao Bai, "Her Highness claimed the pregnancy was one month further along. While medication successfully disguised her pulse from the Empress Dowager this time, what will we do when she's due to give birth?"

She had heard of methods to induce early labor, but reportedly children born prematurely often suffered congenital weaknesses, and the medication caused severe harm to the mother.

Zhao Bai glanced at Tong Que: "Do you think Her Highness would allow the Jiang Family to remain rampant until then?"

Over the following fortnight, the entire royal court of King Chen experienced severe turmoil.

The Jiang Family became like rabid dogs, determined to root out all lurking Keji spies as if scraping bone and cutting flesh.

After confiscating the Marquis Shunping's estate wasn't enough, they subjected all its servants to extreme torture, then began mass arrests of Keji people throughout the royal court. When the imperial prison overflowed, they requisitioned the Ministry of Justice Prison. The paving stones at the execution ground never dried, perpetually soaked in blood.

The common people in the royal court lived in terror. Merely hearing the words "Keji" on the streets made them tremble, as they desperately claimed their ancestors had never intermarried with Keji people, insisting they were pure Chen subjects.

If this was the situation among the populace, the court fared little better.

The Jiang Family used the pretext to exonerate their previously demoted faction members accused of corruption, blaming all crimes on Keji spies.

They then exploited this to eliminate rivals, impeaching any ministerial supporters of the King who had close relatives in the Keji tribe as Keji spies.

During daily court assemblies, the King's ministers engaged in verbal battles with Jiang faction officials, nearly escalating to physical confrontations.

Memorials counter-impeaching the Jiang faction piled up like snowflakes on Wen Yu's desk.

The first spring rain fell amid these dark clouds hanging over the royal court.

The next morning, water droplets still clung to the iron horse beneath the eaves.

During the court assembly, the previously arrogant Jiang faction officials finally restrained themselves, ceasing their clamor to thoroughly investigate the Keji spies.The ever-composed minister of the Wang faction, Qi Simiao, stepped forward and declared, "I wish to impeach Jiang Hongsheng!"

Jiang Hongsheng was the personal name of Chancellor Jiang.

This impeachment left Chancellor Jiang with almost no room for defense.

Aside from the Jiang faction officials, court ministers gradually stepped forward one after another, each with their own memorials to present. The crimes they accused the Jiang faction of varied—some were old cases, while others were new.

The last to step forward was Fang Mingda, who held his ceremonial tablet and said, "Your humble servant wishes to impeach Jiang Hongsheng for ordering Dou Jianliang to bury alive twenty thousand soldiers of the Northern Wei army!"

In the case of Dou Jianliang, Chancellor Jiang had believed his actions were extremely well concealed. However, his earlier ruthless slaughter of Chen people with Keji bloodline in the royal court, under the pretext of purging Keji spies to avenge his beloved son, had ultimately frightened even his own subordinates who shared Keji ancestry.

With his silver tongue, Fang Mingda successfully persuaded one of them to serve as a witness, exposing Chancellor Jiang’s role in ordering Dou Jianliang to bury the Northern Wei soldiers alive.

As Chancellor Jiang was escorted to prison, he continued to glare coldly at Wen Yu, who sat above.

Wen Yu, just as she had outside the royal court’s city gates that day, met his gaze calmly through her beaded curtain.

The crimes of the Jiang Family were too numerous to record. This towering, ancient-tree-like clan was destined to collapse.

The only leverage he held over the Princess of Liang was also the sole chance of survival for the Jiang bloodline.

The Jiang clan might fall, but their bloodline would one day rule over both Chen and Liang!

It was a miscalculation on the Jiang Family’s part—they had failed to wait until the Liang woman gave birth to eliminate the mother and keep the child, instead being preemptively removed as "maternal relatives" by the Liang woman.

In the end, Chancellor Jiang said nothing. As the imperial guards escorted him out of the hall, he passed by Fang Mingda and coldly remarked, "I thought I had treated you well."

Fang Mingda bowed humbly and replied, "But without the Princess, I would have lost my head in the previous embezzlement case."

So, the plotting had begun that early?

Chancellor Jiang said no more and continued walking out.

As he passed by Qi Simiao, the latter sighed, looking at his political rival of many years, and said, "I advised you long ago to follow the righteous path."

Chancellor Jiang responded ambiguously, "I hope you, Lord Qi, will continue to support the royal family and remain a pure, upright minister."

—

Empress Dowager Jiang only learned after the court session that Chancellor Jiang had been taken to the imperial prison by the imperial guards during the morning court, and that the guards had subsequently raided the Jiang residence.

Furious, she left the Buddhist hall and went to confront Wen Yu, but she was stopped outside the imperial study by Eunuch Li. "The Princess is currently in discussion with Lord Qi and others on state affairs. Your Majesty, please return."

Eunuch Li smiled amiably, a horsetail whisk draped over his arm, and respectfully gestured for Empress Dowager Jiang to leave.

Supported by her matron, Empress Dowager Jiang trembled with rage, pointing at Eunuch Li and exclaiming, "You… you also defected to that Liang woman long ago! How dare she… how dare she…"

She wanted to say that she held leverage over Wen Yu, but with the Jiang Family’s power broken, even if she exposed Wen Yu’s pregnancy, the worst Wen Yu would face was accusations of unfaithfulness to King Chen.

Even if the Wang faction ministers were staunch supporters of the Chen royal family, what could they do to Wen Yu at this critical juncture? If the true identity of that child were exposed, it would only push their Jiang Family further into a dead end.

For the first time, Empress Dowager Jiang understood the taste of being trapped by her own schemes. Overwhelmed with grief and fury, she felt the world spin around her and nearly fainted outside the imperial study.The accompanying palace attendants hurriedly supported the person, urgently calling out "Empress Dowager." They likely understood that the entire King Chen's palace had completely changed hands, their faces all bearing expressions of distress and fear.

Eunuch Li said, "Her Majesty the Empress Dowager is unwell! Quickly escort her back to the palace and summon the imperial physician!"

Only then did the attendants help the Empress Dowager back onto the sedan chair and hastily carry her away. Empress Dowager Jiang still wanted to request to see Wen Yu, but she was so enraged she couldn't utter a word.

In the imperial study, Wen Yu sat above in ceremonial robes, addressing Qi Simiao, Sikong Wei, and other ministers of the royal faction below: "The Jiang faction's roots run deep. With their complete eradication this time, many key positions in the court are vacant. Besides selecting officials from local regions, I also wish to appoint several female officials to remain by my side and assist in handling state affairs. Initially, I intended to have you esteemed ministers recommend talented younger members from your own clans. However, to prevent you from being accused of nepotism, after your clans' younger female members enter the palace, this year's imperial examinations will additionally include a female civil service examination. They will openly take the exams together with others. What do you esteemed ministers think of this?"

The veteran ministers who usually preached rules and regulations could only exchange glances with one another.

Establishing a female civil service examination was originally against convention. But since Wen Yu proposed having female juniors from their clans enter the palace as female officials to assist in handling government affairs, they couldn't refuse.

Wen Yu had even been so considerate in fearing they might be accused of nepotism, allowing their juniors to go through the motions of the female examination to enter officialdom. If they now said establishing the female examination was improper, it would make them appear ungrateful.

Thus, after exchanging silent looks, the veteran ministers could only bow and say: "We thank Your Highness for your great kindness."

Only after the royal faction ministers withdrew did Wen Yu learn from Zhao Bai about Empress Dowager Jiang's earlier visit.

She pressed her temples and said: "Let's go see."

When Wen Yu arrived at Lingxi Palace, the imperial physician had just left.

The Empress Dowager's bedchamber was dimly lit. Having burned sandalwood incense year-round, the room now retained the scent of sandalwood even without any incense burning.

When the palace attendant announced Wen Yu's arrival, even lying ill in bed, Empress Dowager Jiang remained fully dressed with her hair meticulously combed.

Supported by her elderly maid, she looked at Wen Yu, coughing and wheezing with hatred: "Only today have I realized how venomous your Wen clan truly is! How can you treat my Jiang Family like this and still face Jun'er with a clear conscience?"

Wen Yu stood calmly in the light and shadow, asking: "Why doesn't the Empress Dowager ask whether your Jiang Family has treated the people of this land with a clear conscience?"

She raised her eyes: "General Jiang recognized me as his sovereign during his lifetime. I must naturally shoulder the responsibilities of a ruler and fulfill the promises made."

Having said this, she spoke no more. Only when turning to leave did she leave behind these words over her shoulder: "The Empress Dowager prefers tranquility. Henceforth, remain in Lingxi Palace and devote yourself to Buddhist worship."

Empress Dowager Jiang gripped the bed frame, laughing coldly repeatedly: "You speak so righteously! Do you think you'll fare any better than I did? You're merely retreading the path I've already walked. Just wait and see - after you bear the royal heir, you'll become exactly like me, an empress dowager ruling from behind the curtain! The royal faction ministers will eventually alienate that child from you, fighting to seize power from your hands! They'll support an emperor who only heeds their counsel! To maintain your grip on power, the mistakes you'll make won't be fewer than mine!"

Not a ripple of disturbance appeared in Wen Yu's eyes at these words. She even peacefully responded: "Then the Empress Dowager shall watch on my behalf."

In the chilly spring breeze, she slightly gathered her cloak around her shoulders and walked calmly out of Lingxi Palace.

She remembered the path she had taken to get here, and she remembered every person who had died along the way.She would not forget why she was walking this path.

Outside the palace walls, early-blooming pear blossoms drifted like snowflakes in the wind, landing on Wen Yu's shoulders. The white jade ring hanging from the tassels of the pouch at her waist swayed gently in the breeze.

Wen Yu picked up a petal, lowered her gaze, and murmured, "Another spring has arrived."

The snow had yet to melt in the northern mountains when a troop of black-armored cavalry galloped swiftly along a path of flattened withered grass.

A sentry on the watchtower of the military camp spotted the commander's banner from afar and was overjoyed. He vigorously struck the bronze bell hanging on the watchtower, its clangs ringing out: "The Marquis has returned—"

The soldiers at the camp entrance hurriedly moved away the cheval de frise blocking the gate. The cavalry troop arrived in the blink of an eye, charging into the camp without slowing their pace.

Advisors and generals who had been discussing matters in the main tent heard the bell and pushed aside the curtain. Seeing the approaching riders, they smiled and said, "Congratulations on your great victory, Marquis!"

After Wei Qishan's funeral, Xiao Li personally led troops to clear out the barbarians roaming the territory. After driving them beyond Yanle Mountain, he did not stop but instead took over a thousand elite cavalry deep into barbarian lands, raiding the Rongjue main camp. This frightened the Rongjue Khan into thinking that Northern Wei had launched a large-scale counterattack. That very night, he fled in panic under the protection of his personal guards, later summoning various tribes from the barbarian lands for reinforcement and ordering the main camp to be relocated further north, creating quite a spectacle.

The news of victory had already spread two days prior, bringing a much-needed piece of good news to the army amidst the gloom following the departures of Wei Qishan and Liao Jiang.

Xiao Li's reputation now resounded throughout the entire Northern Border.

Dismounting from his pitch-black warhorse, he tossed the reins to a personal guard who stepped forward to take the horse. As he walked toward the tent, he said, "Where is Wei Ang? Now that the Northern Border is stable, I'll leave this place under your and his temporary management. I heard Pei Song has dispatched additional troops from Guanzhong to reinforce Luodu. General Yuan and the others have been unable to capture it after a long siege. I'll go see for myself."

Zhang Huai followed Xiao Li into the tent, his expression unreadable as he said, "The Wei residence has announced another funeral. He went to the Wei residence."

Xiao Li paused while removing his cloak and asked, "Did Madam Wei take her own life?"

Zhang Huai replied, "It was the Virtuous and quick-witted county lord who accidentally fell into the water and passed away."

Xiao Li's only remaining impression of Wei Jiamin was of her arrogant and domineering behavior when she trampled and injured a captain under his command. He couldn't even recall what she looked like at the moment. However, since he nominally held the title of her sworn brother, he thought for a moment and said, "Send funeral silk money in my name."

That afternoon, someone from the Wei residence arrived.

It was Wei Pingjin's regular attendant, who respectfully clasped his fists upon seeing Xiao Li and said, "The Imperial Son-in-Law has heard of your return, Marquis. He has matters to discuss with you and requests your presence at the residence."