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Chapter 473 Fighting
"Exactly."

Jiang Shaohua remained silent, and Zheng Chen also acted in a businesslike manner: "The Empress Dowager knew that the princess was coming, so she asked people to pay attention to the movement at the city gate. When the princess entered the city gate, someone sent a letter to the palace."

"I am here at the order of the Queen. Please wash up, change into new clothes, and come to the palace to see you immediately."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "Thank you Mr. Zheng for passing on the message. Please wait for half an hour."

Zheng Chen came here on the orders of Empress Dowager Zheng, so he naturally couldn't be sent away at will.

Song Yuan immediately stepped forward and asked Zheng Sheren to come into the mansion and wait.

After getting off the horse, Jiang Shaohua entered the inner courtyard of the palace and washed and dressed as quickly as possible.

The imperial palace is the place with the most complicated rules. Jiang Shaohua didn't want to be criticized for the details, so she washed herself, changed into the princess's daily clothes, and put on a gorgeous and precious gold hairpin.

In the bright mirror, the girl's eyebrows were as dark as indigo and her eyes were as clear as autumn water. She was beautiful and elegant, fully displaying the style and dignity that a princess of Daliang should have.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at himself in the mirror, making sure there was nothing wrong before stepping out.

Exactly half an hour.

Zheng Chen looked at the beautiful girl approaching slowly, and raised the corner of his mouth: "Princess, please follow me into the palace to see you."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly. After leaving the palace, he got on the palace carriage and arrived outside the palace gate in just one stick of incense.

The palace gate guard was an old acquaintance, Liu Hengmao, Liu Hengchang’s cousin.

Liu Hengmao was not surprised to see Jiang Shaohua. He bowed and said, "I am Liu Hengmao, the last general. I greet the princess."

There were never any real secrets in the palace. The news that Jiang Shaohua was going to Beijing had spread throughout the palace a few days ago.

Jiang Shaohua smiled at Liu Hengmao and said, "General Liu, please stand up."

Liu Hengchang was highly valued in the Nanyang Guard Camp. Liu Hengmao and Liu Hengchang had a close relationship and they often exchanged letters. Liu Hengmao also had special respect and closeness to Jiang Shaohua.

Zheng Chen's eyes flickered slightly, and no one knew what he was thinking.

After entering the palace, there were only five guards left behind Jiang Shaohua, and all their weapons had been removed.

This is also the palace rule. When a foreign minister enters the palace, the number of people accompanying him cannot exceed five, and he is not allowed to wear weapons. The only people who can carry swords in the palace are the imperial guards. This rule is naturally to avoid chaos in the palace.

"The Empress Dowager is waiting for the princess in Jingyang Palace." Zheng Chen's voice sounded in his ears.

Jiang Shaohua paused and turned to look: "Hasn't the Empress Dowager been guarding the Emperor in the Zhaohe Palace?"

Zheng Chen replied calmly, "It was indeed in the Zhaohe Palace a few days ago. These days, the Empress Dowager has returned to the Jingyang Palace."

I guess Emperor Taihe's dragon body has improved. Otherwise, with Empress Dowager Zheng's temper, she would never leave the Showa Hall so easily.

Jiang Shaohua's heart relaxed a little and he continued to move forward.

From the time they met until now, the two of them have only talked about business, without a single private word.

The love and hate in the previous life and the entanglement in this life seemed to have become the past. The two of them were like the breeze and the bright moon, no longer connected.

After an incense stick of time, they arrived at Jingyang Palace. Zheng Chen went into the palace to report first, while Jiang Shaohua waited outside the palace for an audience. She stood outside the palace gate in silence, her eyes fixed on the vermilion columns. With her sensitive hearing, she could hear the subtle sounds in the palace.

"Your servant Zhao Chunming greets the princess."

Eunuch Zhao's familiar voice sounded. Jiang Shaohua came back to his senses and smiled at Eunuch Zhao: "Eunuch Zhao, please stand up."

Eunuch Zhao smiled happily and said, "I went to Nanyang County to attend the Princess' coming-of-age ceremony. I didn't expect that I would see the Princess again in just over half a year. Princess, please come in."

Jiang Shaohua agreed with a smile.

As she stepped over the threshold, Eunuch Zhao's voice reached her ears in a very low voice: "The emperor is not feeling well, the queen is in a bad mood, the princess should be careful."

Jiang Shaohua nodded imperceptibly.

……

Even though Jiang Shaohua was fully prepared mentally, he was still shocked when he met Empress Dowager Zheng.

Compared to two years ago, Empress Dowager Zheng looked much older. She had not slept well for many days, and the dark blue color under her eyes could not be covered up even with thick makeup. There were several blisters at the corners of her mouth, one of which was about the size of a bean. It was obvious that Empress Dowager Zheng was in dire straits recently and her life was difficult.

The illness of Emperor Taihe was one thing, and the impeachment of Duke Anguo was another. The matter of Eunuch Lan and Eunuch Yuan seemed to be suppressed quickly, but in fact, the rumors were boiling and had far-reaching impact.

The good reputation that Empress Dowager Zheng had built up for decades was destroyed in an instant. She was criticized and pointed at. Anyone with a bit of dignity couldn't stand it. Moreover, Empress Dowager Zheng valued fame and face the most. In fact, this incident was the biggest blow to her.

In addition to Zheng Chen, there were Princess Baohua, Princess Dongping and Princess Huaiyang in the palace.

Jiang Shaohua walked forward quickly, bowed and greeted her. When he stood up, his eyes were red: "I haven't seen you for two years. Your Majesty has become much more haggard. Shaohua is unfilial and cannot always be by your side to show respect and serve you."

The Empress Dowager Zheng was moved by the sincerity of the words: "My dear child, I know that you are thinking of me. Come here and let me take a closer look at you."

Duke Anguo encountered a bad thing and has been shut up in his room to reflect on himself. Nanyang County has risen strongly, and Jiang Shaohua's weight has naturally become more and more important. Therefore, when Jiang Shaohua wrote a letter to come to the capital, Empress Dowager Zheng agreed without much hesitation. They met again at this moment, and they were very loving.

Jiang Shaohua stepped forward as she was told. Grand Empress Dowager Zheng held her hand, looked at her carefully, and sighed, "When I saw you before, you were still a little childish, but now you have really grown up. I am old too."

Jiang Shaohua said softly: "In Shaohua's heart, the queen will never grow old."

Empress Dowager Zheng laughed at herself and said, "I am really old and not as energetic as before. I don't know how many people in and outside the palace hope that I will die soon."

Princess Baohua was the first to get impatient after hearing this. She stood up and said softly, "Grandmother, please don't say that. There have been many incidents in the palace recently. They are all caused by treacherous officials and villains. Fortunately, Grandmother has been there to help us. There has been no chaos."

Princess Baohua is four years older than Jiang Shaohua. She is nineteen this year, which is the age when her beauty is at its best. Beautiful, dignified, gentle and filial, almost all the beautiful adjectives for young girls in the world can be used to describe Princess Baohua.

The Princess of Dongping County and the Princess of Huaiyang County also stood up and tried to comfort and console the woman softly.

Jiang Shaohua looked over calmly.

Jiang Wanhua is eighteen years old this year. She got engaged to Li Boyuan last year and their wedding date is in more than a month.

Jiang Yuehua was seventeen years old, and her marriage had been arranged. She was the eldest grandson of Zhang Shangshu, the Minister of Personnel. This marriage was arranged by the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, and it was naturally to win over Zhang Shangshu. This was also a marriage alliance method commonly used by the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Princess Baohua, on the other hand, has to observe three years of mourning for her father and has not yet found a marriage.

Empress Dowager Zheng was comforted by everyone and cheered up a little. She said to Jiang Shaohua, "By the way, you wrote to me last time and told me that you wanted to get engaged to the Earl of Changning. Now that you are in the capital, won't the engagement be delayed?"