spend time

Jiang Shaohua was as usual. Apart from kneeling in front of the spirit, he kept giving orders and making decisions.

"Your Highness, more than a dozen traitors have been captured in the palace. What should we do with them?" The one who asked this question was naturally General Ma.

Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "Just kill him."

General Ma obeyed the order and left.

"The British Guards have already set up camp outside the palace. Do you want them to come in?"

"The Imperial Guards are also outside the palace. May I ask if you would like to allow them into the palace?"

The British Guards and the Royal Guards each sent people into the palace.

Jiang Shaohua said simply: "Just guard outside the palace, no need to enter. Do not move without orders from the palace."

Then, there were many trivial matters that needed to be decided. For example, should the injured ministers be sent out of the palace to recover slowly? Another example, how should the bodies of the ministers who died in the rebellion in the palace be dealt with? Should the families take the bodies home to arrange the funeral and bury them in peace? In addition, many palace servants and eunuchs died in this turmoil in the palace. How should the bodies of these people be dealt with?

There is also some not-so-good news.

"Zheng Chen should have fled the capital. I don't know where he has fled to." Empress Dowager Zheng's face was filled with regret and she gritted her teeth and whispered, "It seems that this evil creature has been prepared for this."

Jiang Shaohua had been prepared for this outcome. Zheng Chen had spent a lot of time and energy planning the rebellion. Given his character, how could he not have a way out?
Maybe there is more than one way out.

Empress Dowager Zheng obviously knew what was going on, but she couldn't say more in front of Jiang Shaohua.

Jiang Shaohua's attitude has always been very firm. He must get rid of Zheng Chen. There is absolutely no room for maneuver. Fortunately, his attitude towards the Zheng family is relatively relaxed, and he has no intention of killing them all for the time being.

Empress Dowager Zheng stayed in the mourning hall for half a day, and took the opportunity to visit Duke Anguo while she was tired and rested.

Duke Anguo was injured in the leg, and his leg bones were broken. After being bandaged by the imperial physician, he lay motionless on the bed. His life was not in danger, but he would have to lie down for at least a year or so. It was hard to say whether he could recover in the future.

Duke Anguo looked depressed, with dark shadows under his eyes, which showed that he had not slept well in the past few days. Firstly, his leg injury hurt badly, and secondly, it was because of his rebellious son Zheng Chen who had disappeared.

Lady Anguogong was wiping tears with red eyes.

Empress Dowager Zheng looked annoyed and scolded in a low voice: "You are alive and well, why are you crying now?"

Lady Anguogong choked up and replied, "The Duke's leg injury is so severe. The imperial physician said that even if it gets better in the future, it is easy for the root of the disease to remain. He may not be able to walk smoothly, and I am afraid he will not be able to attend court anymore."

Important officials in the imperial court are most concerned about dignity. How can a man who is limping and stumbling be the Minister of War?

The wife of the Duke of Anguo had been kept in the dark, and had no idea that the Zheng family was facing a huge disaster of treason and imprisonment of the entire clan. Whether the Duke of Anguo was lame or not was not a big deal.

Empress Dowager Zheng was a little impatient: "It is a blessing to be able to save one's life. We can talk about the future later."

Lady Anguo wiped her tears and asked expectantly, "Is Zixian not back yet? It's been a few days. What errand did he take out of the palace?"

Empress Dowager Zheng said coldly: "Don't ask about the affairs of the palace. I have something to discuss with Duke Anguo, please leave first."

The wife of Duke Anguo had no choice but to agree and left unhappily.

The door closed, and only Empress Dowager Zheng, Duke Anguo, and Eunuch Zhao in the corner were left.

Duke Anguo opened his mouth with difficulty: "Haven't you caught that evildoer yet?"

Empress Dowager Zheng snorted coldly: "After that day, no one has seen him since. I sent people to the Zheng family's inner house, but Fan knew nothing." "He must have changed his appearance after escaping the palace and fled the capital a long time ago."

Once he leaves the capital, he can flee in all directions. With Zheng Chen's ability, as long as he doesn't show up and hides patiently, he can be caught.

Knowing son Moruo father.

Duke Anguo said in a positive tone: "He won't hide forever. Maybe he will escape to the border. Auntie, send someone to look for him in the direction of Sizhou."

Empress Dowager Zheng frowned and asked, "You mean, he will go to General Fan?"

Fan Jianing is the granddaughter of General Fan. It is indeed possible that Zheng Chen, the grandson-in-law, went to seek refuge with him.

The border troops now still have 60,000 to 70,000 elite soldiers. If Zheng Chen can instigate General Fan to rebel, and the border troops turn against the imperial court, it will be a disaster for the whole country.

When Empress Dowager Zheng thought of this, she flew into a rage, her head ached, and she cursed: "Look at the good son you raised. The Zheng family will be destroyed because of him."

Duke Anguo was scolded until his face turned pale, but he thought to himself, Zheng Chen entered the palace at the age of five to be the prince's companion, so it was not him who raised his son. It was clearly the evil child raised by Empress Dowager Zheng.

If such words were spoken, I'm afraid that Empress Dowager Zheng would be so angry that she would die. How could Duke Anguo dare to say anything?

Empress Dowager Zheng scolded for a whole incense stick of time, and was so tired that she was out of breath. Eunuch Zhao hurriedly helped his master sit down and served him half a bowl of warm water.

Duke Anguo whispered, "I will send a letter to Sizhou right away, reminding General Fan that if he finds this evil creature, he should be tied up and sent back to the capital."

The best outcome would be to exchange Zheng Chen's life for the safety of the Zheng family.

Empress Dowager Zheng said with a gloomy face: "We must act quickly. The emperor's funeral has not been completed yet, and the case of treason and coup has not yet begun. Take advantage of this time to eliminate this disaster."

Duke Anguo hesitated for a moment and sighed, "I'm afraid Jiang Shaohua will keep a close eye on this matter and eliminate the Zheng family as well."

"With me here, she can't do anything to the Zheng family." Empress Dowager Zheng said firmly: "I have my own way to convince her. You don't have to worry about this matter, just take care of your injuries."

……

In the evening, the ministers ate steamed buns with cold water.

A eunuch came quietly and whispered a few words.

Jiang Shaohua remained calm and nodded slightly, indicating that he understood. The eunuch then quietly withdrew.

There are many eunuchs in the palace who are smart and shrewd. Seeing that the princess is in power and in the limelight, some of them have taken active actions and took the initiative to inform Jiang Shaohua.

In just a few days, Jiang Shaohua had many more spies.

The Empress Dowager Zheng and the Duke of Anguo were discussing something in private... What else could they discuss?
It's nothing more than discussing what kind of benefits can be used to shut her up and make her let the Zheng family go.

Concubine Fan Gui took Prince Ping's hand and came over, saying softly: "Hao'er wants to stay with the princess."

Jiang Shaohua was indifferent and nodded casually.

Jiang Hao immediately sat down next to Jiang Shaohua. The steamed buns were not tasty, and he usually didn't like them, but he didn't dislike them at this time and ate them very enthusiastically.

Concubine Fan Gui made small talk: "The princess will stay in the capital for a long time in the future, so why not live in the palace and save yourself from running back and forth every day." (End of this chapter)