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"Jiang Shaohua went to the Wang family and also went to the Li family?"

In the bedroom of Jingyang Palace, Empress Dowager Zheng fainted for half a day before she woke up leisurely. When she opened her eyes, she heard the news that Jiang Shaohua had left the palace, and her first reaction was: "Did she go to the Zheng family?"

Eunuch Zhao, who was serving beside the bed, responded cautiously, "I haven't heard of that. I will send someone to inquire about it right away."

What else are you asking?

Empress Dowager Zheng was furious and gritted her teeth: "She went to the Wang family to appease and win over Prime Minister Wang. In this way, most officials in the court would be safe. She went to the Li family to show it to Li. Li suddenly showed up at the court today to support her ascension to the throne. How could she not repay the Li family?"

So, the Empress Dowager strongly opposed the princess's ascension to the throne, so why did the princess still give face to the Zheng family? Not to mention, Zheng Chen was an accomplice of the traitors. The Zheng family was lucky not to be exterminated, so what else did they want? This was too greedy!

Eunuch Zhao complained madly in his heart, but he consoled her earnestly: "The queen has just woken up, so you should rest well. Let the princess take care of these trivial matters."

Empress Dowager Zheng was still furious: "As long as I don't give her the nod, she will never be able to ascend the throne!"

Eunuch Zhao thought that all the civil and military officials in the court supported the princess, and with the support of Empress Dowager Li, the princess' ascension to the throne was an unstoppable trend. Why were you, the Empress Dowager, so stubborn?
Of course, the truth must not be told, otherwise the Empress Dowager would be so angry that she would die.

Eunuch Zhao had served his master for decades and was well aware of Empress Dowager Zheng's temperament. He first followed Empress Dowager Zheng's words and severely criticized Princess Nanyang for being "heartless, ungrateful, and overly ambitious." After Empress Dowager Zheng had calmed down a little, he tactfully advised: "From my humble opinion, the current situation is not much different from what Your Majesty had expected."

"Your Highness Prince Ping is young and ignorant. He is just a decoration when he sits on the throne. The princess has to handle government affairs. The princess does not have enough prestige, so she still has to rely on the queen for everything."

"Now that Your Majesty is so vehemently opposed, it will hurt your relationship with the princess. This will not bring any real benefits to Your Majesty."

After Empress Dowager Zheng calmed down and thought about it carefully, she actually felt a little regretful.

In the past few years, Jiang Shaohua has been promoted step by step to a high position, and she has been behind him. It can be said that Jiang Shaohua is the most useful chess piece in her hand. Now, this "chess piece" is ambitious and wants not only tangible benefits, but also a grand reputation and righteousness.

She and Jiang Shaohua had a falling out, and Empress Dowager Li benefited from it.

This feeling is like planting peach trees with great effort for several years, but when the peaches are ripe, they are picked by Empress Dowager Li. How can one not gnashing one's teeth? !

Empress Dowager Zheng refused to admit it, and said stubbornly: "It was Jiang Shaohua who betrayed my trust and high hopes first. Do you think I should bow to her?"

"I have to let it go. She has so many tricks to deal with me next time!"

Eunuch Zhao knew the right time to blow the wind, so he said a few words today and stopped talking. After three or five days, when Empress Dowager Zheng had completely calmed down, it would not be too late to blow the wind again.

……

Empress Dowager Zheng, who was waiting for Jiang Shaohua to apologize, was destined to be disappointed.

After Jiang Shaohua left the Li family, he did not enter the palace, but went to the Nanyang Palace. A group of officials also followed him back to the palace.

Jiang Shaohua called his confidants to a short meeting in the study to determine what they would do when they entered the palace tomorrow. Afterwards, they had a simple dinner and went to bed early.

The couple had not spoken to each other alone until this moment.

Cui Du gently massaged Jiang Shaohua's calves. Jiang Shaohua was relieved of his fatigue by such gentle care, and whispered to Cui Du: "At the grand court meeting today, I have prepared myself to be expelled from the palace by the Empress Dowager if I fail in the fight for the throne. I even thought that I would be ordered to be hunted down and killed, and I had to ride back to Nanyang County as fast as possible."

“Unexpectedly, things went much more smoothly than I expected.”

Thinking of the thrilling scene at today's grand court meeting, Cui Du couldn't help but sigh: "This is all thanks to Wang Sheren, who was the first to speak out in support of the princess' ascension to the throne. And the appearance of Queen Mother Li was even more unexpected." Minister Dong was originally a fan of the princess's party. After the initial shock, he quickly made a decision. This was expected.

What really turned the situation around was Wang Jin's statement. The Prime Minister's party turned against him, causing the Queen Mother Zheng's support for Prince Ping to suddenly weaken.

The timely appearance of Empress Dowager Li was also very clever. Empress Dowager Li, with the pain of losing her son, father and nephew, supported Jiang Shaohua openly, even Empress Dowager Zheng was inferior in righteousness.

To accomplish great things, one must not only have strength, but also luck. It can be seen that Jiang Shaohua is indeed lucky enough to ascend the throne and become an empress.

Jiang Shaohua raised the corner of his mouth and said softly: "Don't look at me as calm and steady today. In fact, I am also very flustered."

Cui Du laughed: "The princess is in command, showing the demeanor of a wise ruler. I really can't tell that she is panicking."

Jiang Shaohua was amused. She leaned her head into Cui Du's arms and whispered softly, "It's good that you can't tell. I have to pretend to be confident."

Cui Du said softly, "You have to get up early tomorrow to attend the court, so you should go to bed early."

Jiang Shaohua hummed, closed his eyes, and fell asleep quickly.

Cui Du, on the other hand, was very excited. He kept rubbing Jiang Shaohua's legs and didn't fall asleep until midnight.

The next morning, Jiang Shaohua got up at five in the morning and entered the palace wearing plain clothes.

The imperial guards who were guarding the palace gate opened the gate from a distance. Jiang Shaohua stepped into the palace gate, and all the imperial guards bowed and saluted with a respectful attitude.

At the grand court meeting yesterday, the news that the ministers supported Jiang Shaohua as the new emperor spread widely. For the imperial guards, they were not qualified to participate in such a major event. They would be loyal to whoever sat on the throne.

Furthermore, the Princess of Nanyang, who was both civil and military, and decisive in killing, was much more reliable than the willful and ignorant Prince Ping. They were happy to honor the Princess as their own.

After Jiang Shaohua entered the palace, he first went to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Zheng refused to see him.

Eunuch Zhao came out with an embarrassed look on his face and whispered, "The queen is still angry and refuses to see the princess. Please be patient and wait for a few days."

Jiang Shaohua looked at Eunuch Zhao deeply and said, "Thank you, Eunuch Zhao, for comforting the queen."

Eunuch Zhao responded respectfully.

Jiang Shaohua went to Anning Palace to see Empress Dowager Li again.

Queen Mother Li already knew that Jiang Shaohua had gone to the Li family, and she was very pleased. She had a wound on her neck, and it was very difficult for her to speak, and she managed to squeeze out a sentence: "Go to the Jinluan Palace to govern! Your cousin will protect you in heaven!"

Jiang Shaohua agreed seriously.

In the morning light, Jiang Shaohua stepped into the Golden Palace.

The ministers waiting in the hall bowed together and said, "Your Highness, we respectfully welcome you, Princess!"

The voices were loud and clear, echoing endlessly in the Golden Palace. (End of this chapter)