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On the tenth day after Zheng Chen and others left Beijing, a ceremony for the canonization of the Empress Dowager was held in the palace. From this day on, Empress Dowager Zheng was officially promoted to Empress Dowager Zheng.

No matter how grand the canonization ceremony in the harem is, it is far inferior to the emperor's enthronement ceremony. Furthermore, the national treasury is currently empty, and although the Ministry of Internal Affairs still has money, it should not be excessively extravagant and wasteful.

Empress Dowager Zheng personally issued an order to reduce the canonization ceremony by 30% as usual. This move also ushered in a wave of good reputation for Empress Dowager Zheng.

"Shaohua gave the Ai family a good idea." People are in high spirits during happy events. Empress Dowager Zheng was dressed up today, and she finally looked a little more radiant than before. She looked at the girl beside her with loving eyes: "Several censors in the court have all submitted memorials to make the Ai family famous."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "I just mentioned it casually. I never thought that the Empress Dowager would adopt it. It really reduced the scale and cost of the canonization ceremony and saved a lot of money. The empress is generous and kind in her heart, which is a blessing to the Daliang Palace. It is a blessing to thousands of people.”

Empress Dowager Zheng was beaming with praise.

Regardless of her noble status, she is just a greedy and vain old woman. You want power, you want benefits, you also want a good reputation.

With her ostentatious temper, she would have planned the canonization ceremony in a big way. After being reminded by Jiang Shaohua, the price was temporarily reduced by 30%. Unexpectedly, this move gave her a good reputation, and Jiang Shaohua became more considerate and pleasing to her eyes.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled softly and said: "Since the Queen Mother has taken the precedent, the canonization ceremony of the Queen Mother will probably be a little simpler."

Empress Dowager Zheng obviously did not pay much attention to the emperor's biological mother, and said casually: "If you want to canonize the Queen Mother, you must first canonize the late Queen Mother Ji, and then it is Li's turn."

That's right, Empress Ji was the Empress of the Yuan Dynasty of Emperor Taikang and Jiang Song's legitimate mother. Now that Jiang Song is the emperor, he must first enthrone his biological mother, and then his biological mother.

Queen Mother Li must not be happy. However, this is all done in accordance with the laws and regulations of the ancestors. It doesn't matter whether she is happy or not.

While they were talking, palace lady Sufang quietly walked in and whispered a few words in the ear of Empress Dowager Zheng.

Jiang Shaohua's ears are far more sensitive than ordinary people's, and he can listen quietly.

There are only a few days left for the canonization ceremony of Queen Mother Li. Empress Dowager Li suddenly felt unwell and fell ill in the palace. Emperor Taihe was a filial son, and immediately went to take care of his mother's illness after leaving the court.

"I'm sick sooner or later, but I'm sick at this time." Empress Dowager Zheng snorted from her nose, a look of displeasure flashed in her eyes: "Ms. Li likes to play with these little tricks. Her little tricks, I can coax the emperor. I can’t hide it from the Ai family.”

Jiang Shaohua just pretended not to hear and said nothing.

Empress Dowager Zheng did not say any more and said to Jiang Shaohua: "When you have some free time, you should also go and have a look at Mrs. Li's house. To avoid being picked on by her."

Jiang Shaohua responded softly.

……

Queen Mother Li's illness caused unrest in the entire harem.

Concubine Fan Gui visited the patient every day, and the concubines in the palace also went to pay their respects. The gentle and quiet Princess Baohua also went to look after her illness every day.

Jiang Shaohua had to go to court every day, but after the court was over, he had to go to the Queen Mother's palace to ask for an appearance.

Empress Dowager Li was lying on the bed very ill and refused to see anyone. When people come to visit the patient, they just stand outside the door for a while.

The only ones who can really enter the dormitory are Emperor Taihe and Princess Baohua.

When Jiang Shaohua arrived, the palace servant quietly entered the bedroom and reported in a low voice: "To the Queen Mother, Princess Nanyang has come to pay her respects." When Queen Mother Li heard Jiang Shaohua's name, she frowned slightly and opened her mouth. The voice was light: "She has to go to court every day and accompany the Empress Dowager. The Ai family is not feeling well, so there is no need for her to take care of her."

It means missing.

This palace lady named Lan Xiang was a confidant of Empress Dowager Li. After a moment of hesitation, she persuaded in a low voice: "The princess is quite influential in the court now, and both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor value her very much. I'd better meet her first!"

It was okay not to mention the Empress Dowager, but when it was mentioned, Empress Dowager Li became increasingly unhappy.

She glanced over coldly.

Lan Xiang didn't dare to talk or persuade anymore, so she accepted the order in a low voice and left. After a while, he arrived in front of Jiang Shaohua and smiled apologetically: "Princess, the Queen Mother is weak and has rested. Please come back another day, Princess."

Empress Dowager Li began to secretly compete with Empress Dowager Zheng. In the eyes of everyone, she is a die-hard supporter of the Queen Mother. Queen Mother Li naturally didn't want to see her.

Jiang Shaohua understood in his heart and did not say anything. He smiled and said: "I will come again tomorrow to say hello. Please ask Aunt Lanxiang to say hello to the Queen Mother on my behalf."

After saying that, he bowed to the door of the dormitory and left gracefully.

Lan Xiang looked at Jiang Shaohua's leaving figure and sighed secretly.

There can only be one voice in the harem. That was the voice of the Queen Mother.

Empress Dowager Li has been a noble concubine for many years, and has been a lowly servant for twenty years. Now her own son has become the emperor and she has become the Empress Dowager. She is unwilling to give in and wants to have an arm-wrestling with the Empress Dowager... How can she win?
A powerful and capable person like Princess Nanyang should try every possible means to win over her. Wouldn't this completely push Princess Nanyang to the side of the Empress Dowager?

……

Emperor Taihe was not a fool. He would come to his senses after two days.

At the end of the day, Emperor Taihe went to his mother's bedside to wait for her illness, and personally served Empress Dowager Li to drink a bowl of medicine. After putting down the medicine bowl, he said to Empress Dowager Li: "There are still four days left for the canonization ceremony of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother also returns If I am ill, the canonization ceremony will be postponed for a while!"

Queen Mother Li became anxious when she heard this: "There is no need to delay, the Ai family has already improved quite a bit."

Emperor Taihe looked at Empress Dowager Li for a long time and then said: "Is the Empress Mother unhappy because the cost of the canonization ceremony has been reduced by 40%?"

Can you be happy?
Empress Dowager Li was told the truth, and she simply told the truth: "I am really annoyed. Your Imperial Grandmother wants to have a good reputation, so the Empress Dowager's canonization ceremony was reduced by 30%. As the Empress Dowager, I can't go beyond your grandmother, without having to do it again." 10% less.”

"In the harem, everyone is watching my funny jokes behind my back. As a queen mother, I don't have any glory at all."

"When your father was still alive, he refused to help me become the queen. Now that I am the queen mother, I am so useless and aggrieved..."

As Queen Mother Li spoke, she suddenly pulled her son's sleeves and started crying.

Emperor Taihe had no choice but to appease his mother: "I know that I have made my mother feel wronged. Now there is a war in Pingzhou, and there are locust plagues in several counties, so the palace has to reduce expenses. When things are better in the future, my son will honor his mother in private. , make up for everything.”

Empress Dowager Li smiled and wiped her tears.

Then, I heard Emperor Taihe say again: "When my cousin Shaohua comes from now on, it's better for my mother to meet her!" (End of Chapter)