spend time

Chapter 644 Negotiation (Part )

"The Empress Dowager has to temporarily compromise in order to protect the Zheng family. And I need the Empress Dowager's support so that I can ascend the throne smoothly. Therefore, I have to let the Zheng family go for the time being."

Jiang Shaohua patiently explained to Cui Du: "We are easing the relationship right now just to show everyone."

"As for who has the final say in the palace and whose orders the court officials obey in the future, there will inevitably be hidden struggles. The Empress Dowager and I are well aware of this."

Cui Du felt a little complicated: "I really don't understand these intrigues."

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "You don't need to understand these. Just focus on growing your crops, promoting new crops and improving grain varieties. This is what you are good at."

Cui Du nodded.

Chen Changshi hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice, "Does the Empress Dowager know that the princess is pregnant?"

Jiang Shaohua hummed: "I have already told the Empress Dowager."

It was impossible to keep the pregnancy a secret forever. Now that the ministers had returned to their faith and the Empress Dowager had bowed her head, it was okay to tell the truth.

Chen Changshi was a little worried and reminded him cryptically: "When a woman is pregnant, there are many taboos. There are many things to pay attention to in terms of clothing, food and daily necessities. If the princess lives in the palace, she must be extra careful."

After all, the palace is the territory of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. Even though the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng is giving in now, who knows when she will show her fangs?
Jiang Shaohua's eyes flashed, "I will be careful. A few days ago, I asked Commander Song to send a message back to Nanyang County and transfer a thousand guards from Nanyang County. Many guards in front of the emperor died in the palace, and my guards are just the right place to fill the gap."

Only when you have your own people can you feel at ease.

Chen Changshi immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

Chen Jinyu interrupted and said, "Aren't a thousand guards a little short?"

"A thousand men are enough." Jiang Shaohua said calmly, "There are more than 100,000 troops stationed in the capital, and they are the important force to protect the capital. My personal guards will only have to protect me when they enter the palace. The rest of the personal guards will stay in Nanyang County, and they will be of great use in the future."

After all the officials left, Cui Du immediately stepped forward to support Jiang Shaohua, and asked him three times as usual: "Are you tired? Are you hungry? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"

Jiang Shaohua only showed a little fatigue in front of Cui Du: "I've been busy all day, I'm tired and hungry, but my stomach doesn't feel uncomfortable."

Women's pregnancy symptoms are different. Some people will vomit so much that they can't get out of bed, but there are very few who are as energetic as Jiang Shaohua and basically don't delay their work.

Cui Du reached out and touched Jiang Shaohua's belly, and laughed softly, "Our daughter is very obedient, and she doesn't want to torment her mother."

Jiang Shaohua pursed her lips and smiled, then reached out to touch her belly with him. The slightly raised curve could only be felt carefully.

A little life, a bloodline that belonged to her and him, was bred in her body. Such joy quietly spread in her heart, slowly dispelling the shadow of her past life.

"Are we going to live in Showaden starting tonight?" Cui Du asked in a low voice.

Jiang Shaohua leaned her head on his chest and said, "Yes, it is indeed inappropriate for the emperor to live outside the palace. Since the Empress Dowager and I have 'reconciled', we should live in the palace. You are my husband, and you will live in the Showa Palace from now on."

Cui Du has not been idle these days. He has already inquired privately and said with a low laugh: "There are several imperial farms outside the city. The nearest one can be reached in two hours by horseback. I am working in the imperial farm and will come back every three days from now on."

The couple are busy with their own things and it is impossible for them to be together day and night. It is good enough for them to be together for one night every three days.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and hummed. …

There are no real secrets in the palace.

The news that Jiang Shaohua was pregnant spread quietly from Jingyang Palace. When Empress Dowager Li of Ning'an Palace learned about it, she was actually relieved.

It was a pity that Jiang Song died without an heir. Since Jiang Shaohua was going to inherit the throne and become the empress, it was only natural for her to mourn for Jiang Song. Now that she was more than three months pregnant, there was no time to lose.

Concubine Fan soon learned about this. In the past few days, she was like an ant on a hot pot, switching back and forth between anxiety, worry and anger every day. When she heard the news suddenly, her first reaction was to run to Jingyang Palace to ask for an audience with Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Zheng didn't want to pay any attention to it at all, but under the persuasion of Eunuch Zhao, she reluctantly met with Concubine Fan.

As expected, Concubine Fan Gui opened her mouth and said, "Grand Empress Dowager, Jiang Shaohua is pregnant. This is the best time to deal with her."

There were many shady tricks that could be used in the harem. To deal with a pregnant woman, even Concubine Fan Gui could come up with three or five tricks.

Empress Dowager Zheng was furious when she heard this and glared at him coldly: "I have also expressed my support for Jiang Shaohua to ascend the throne. If anyone dares to have evil thoughts, I will be the first one to not forgive her!"

Concubine Fan Gui's eyes instantly turned red, and she couldn't stop crying: "Are you just going to watch Jiang Shaohua seize the throne of Prince Ping?"

Empress Dowager Zheng corrected coldly: "It was the ministers who supported Princess Nanyang as the emperor. She did not seize the throne from Prince Ping. Even if the throne was given to Prince Ping, could he sit firmly on it? It is such a stupid idea to promote the prime minister to assist Prince Ping. This is giving the great country to the ministers! Jiang Shaohua is of Jiang family blood after all!"

"Fan! I don't blame you for being upset now. But remember this. Don't complain in front of others or behind their backs, and don't do anything that is detrimental to Jiang Shaohua."

"Also, Prince Ping will move to Jingyang Palace from today. I will personally take care of his food, clothing, and daily life from now on."

Concubine Fan bit her lips so hard that her lower lip bled.

Empress Dowager Zheng was impatient to pay attention and waved her hand: "I am tired, you leave."

Concubine Fan retreated crying.

Eunuch Zhao quietly called a young eunuch and whispered a few words to him. The young eunuch nodded and quickly went to Zhaohe Hall to deliver a message to the princess.

The news that Concubine Fan Gui could find out could naturally not be hidden from the well-informed court officials.

When Minister Dong learned about this, he immediately abandoned all the auspicious dates selected by the Ministry of Rites and chose another one that was closer, just one month later.

The empress's robe was made slightly loose, so it could barely cover her figure. Otherwise, it would be inconvenient for Jiang Shaohua to hold the coronation ceremony with a bulging belly after waiting for three to five months.

Jiang Shaohua was very satisfied with Minister Dong's thoughtfulness. At the small court meeting, he smiled and praised: "Minister Dong chose a very good day."

Minister Dong quickly bowed and expressed his modesty.

What else can the other officials do? Just accept it! Daliang already has an empress, so it doesn't matter if there is one more.

At the same time, Meng Sanbao and a dozen other personal guards rode all the way back to Nanyang County, bringing back the great news that Jiang Shaohua was about to ascend the throne as empress.