Chapter 248: Good News

The next morning, the Queen Dowager arrived early, dressed in her court robes. The King met her in the rear hall and, as always, stepped forward to show his respect. The Queen Dowager acted as if nothing had ever been wrong between them. They walked out together. The officials were shocked to see the Queen Dowager, who had not attended morning court for a long time. Everyone wondered what had happened.

After the officials finished bowing, the hall fell completely silent. The Queen Dowager spoke in a clear voice, “Since I am here today, you must have guessed that something important has happened. Indeed, there is an announcement I must make.” As her gaze swept across the officials, they lowered their heads, feeling uneasy.

Suddenly, the King took the Queen Dowager’s hand and gave her a small smile. The Queen Dowager was slightly stunned and looked at him. However, the King quickly composed himself and said in a deep voice, “You may have heard rumors that three thousand soldiers from the North Camp were sent to Zloimond. But I believe none of you know why they were sent there or who leads them.”

This operation had been carried out in secret, and only a few people were aware of it. Even those who knew about the troop movement did not know their destination was Zloimond. Hearing the King’s words, the officials were stunned. The King, of course, knew this reaction was coming. He simply intended to continue speaking as planned.

“Three months ago, I received a secret report that Kamari, the Lord of Zloimond, was plotting rebellion. After thorough investigation, I sent General Oliver to Zloimond to gather intelligence. Once there, Oliver reported back that Kamari was secretly recruiting soldiers, stockpiling grain, and building a massive weapons depot. He was even using gunpowder to craft powerful weapons. Through covert investigations, Oliver confirmed Kamari’s treasonous intentions and sent word back to the capital. However, he was discovered. In an attempt to cover up his actions, Kamari tried to move the weapons from the depot. Oliver and his soldiers risked their lives to destroy the weapons. The depot was successfully blown up, but every soldier I sent perished. Only one managed to escape, severely wounded, and returned to deliver the final report, confirming the rebellion.

Kamari is my cousin, bound to me by blood. Learning of his betrayal was deeply painful. I feared civil war in the Eryndral Empire and knew that some officials in Argentum were colluding with him. So, I did not deploy a grand army or name a renowned general. Instead, I secretly appointed Isolde as commander, Kolton as deputy commander, and Doug as overseer, leading three thousand soldiers to Zloimond. My intention was to persuade him to surrender, not to plunge the kingdom into chaos. Sending only three thousand soldiers was a gesture of goodwill. If Kamari surrendered, I would grant him mercy. But if he chose to slaughter my men, it would mean he had truly turned against the Royal Court. In that case, I would cast aside all brotherly ties and eradicate the traitor completely!”

The King’s words shocked the entire court. Many had heard rumors that Kamari was ambitious, but he had never made any obvious moves; it didn’t seem right to send troops without reason. If the King’s investigation was true and Oliver had destroyed the weapons depot, the King could have sent a large army. They didn’t understand why he sent Isolde, a woman, with only three thousand soldiers to Zloimond. This was suicide.

The Queen Dowager’s anger from the night before had completely disappeared. The King’s words filled her heart with warmth and satisfaction. She glanced around at the court officials. Some looked shocked, and a few seemed ready to step forward and speak. But before they could, she swept her cold gaze over them and said, “The King consulted me on this matter, and I believe it is the right decision!”

With just one sentence, she silenced those who were about to give long speeches. The Queen Dowager had almost never made a bad decision. Of course, some veteran officials who did not fully respect her still stood up arrogantly. The King said coldly, “I trust Isolde!” Those who did not submit to the Queen Dowager were loyal to the King. Hearing his words, they swallowed their objections. A court meeting that could have turned into a fierce debate was resolved simply because the mother and son stood united.

The Queen Dowager had planned for this moment. As soon as the court fell silent, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hall. From the entrance, a eunuch’s voice rang out, “News from Zloimond!” The King froze for a moment and instinctively looked at the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager remained calm, as if she was certain that the report from Zloimond would be a victory.

The eunuch strode forward, carrying a letter and a record book. Without hesitation, the Queen Dowager commanded, “Read it!” Following the order, the eunuch stood on the steps and unfolded the letter, reading it aloud to the court:

“Your Majesty, I, Isolde Langley, report that the traitor Kamari Conway raised an army in defiance, seeking to overthrow our Eryndral Empire. Taking advantage of a hurricane striking Zloimond, I surrounded his estate. With the aid of the returning General Oliver Valois, we executed the traitor Kamari Conway, destroyed over ten thousand weapons, and confiscated the wealth of the Zloimond estate; 13.75 million taels of silver, along with countless treasures and antiques, all recorded in the attached ledger for Your Majesty’s review.”

The letter came with a record book, which the eunuch stepped forward to present to the King. Inside, the King was overwhelmed with shock. He could hardly believe his ears. Isolde… actually won? The Zloimond problem, which he had seen as a major threat and didn’t know how to handle, was actually solved by Isolde, a female general with just three thousand soldiers. Moreover, Oliver wasn’t dead and even returned to help win the battle.

The King felt his blood surge with excitement, an urge to jump up coursing through him. It had been years since he felt this kind of thrill. The victory report left the entire court in shock. It seemed almost impossible. Kamari’s forces were strong, with even his personal guards numbering five or six thousand. A woman leading only three thousand soldiers should not have won. Even with Oliver’s help, the odds were against them. Yet, against all expectations, Zloimond had fallen.

The Marquis of Eldermere, Pablo, heaved a long sigh of relief and looked at the Queen Dowager with pride in his eyes. One was his son, and the other was his daughter-in-law. He had every reason to be proud. The proudest of all was Garrett. He stroked his beard and smiled with satisfaction.

After court, the King first went to the royal study to handle follow-up matters. Then, he went straight to Mystic Palace to see the Queen Dowager. The Queen Dowager had already ordered people to prepare a banquet, only waiting for the King’s arrival. When the King entered Mystic Palace, he immediately knelt to ask for her forgiveness. The Queen Dowager personally reached out to help him up. “Enough, let’s not speak of the past. Today, we celebrate victory!”

The King’s eyes filled with tears. He had expected a scolding. But the Queen Dowager was in an excellent mood. She smiled more than usual and felt truly happy. During the banquet, she repeatedly raised her cup to toast the King, making him feel even more ashamed. He gazed at the Queen Dowager through the haze of his drunkenness, his eyes brimming with tears. “Mother, your kindness to me is beyond repayment in this lifetime.”

The Queen Dowager smiled. “You call me Mother. That alone says everything.”

“You knew Isolde would win?” the King couldn’t help but ask.

The Queen Dowager’s expression remained firm. “Trust those you choose, or do not choose them at all.”

“But she is a woman and has never been on a battlefield. How could you take such a risk?” The King still could not understand.