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Chapter 661 The Emperor's Husband (Part )

Even though Empress Dowager Zheng was old and experienced, she was still shocked by Cui Du's shamelessness.

Jiang Shaohua did change his way of addressing her and called her grandmother, in order to show to everyone in and outside the palace that the Empress Dowager and the new emperor were in harmony and unity.

This Cui Du also changed his words...

It would be inappropriate not to say it, but even if I did, I would feel a little uncomfortable inside!

Empress Dowager Zheng was secretly complaining, but she remained calm on the surface. She laughed and said, "No need to be polite, please stand up! Sit down and talk to me."

Cui Du responded loudly: "Thank you, Grandmother."

The Empress Dowager Zheng twitched her lips slightly. After Cui Du sat down, she asked, "The Emperor is holding a small court meeting. Aren't you the Minister of Agriculture? Why don't you go to the court?"

Cui Du smiled and said, "As the Minister of Agriculture, I know nothing about government affairs. I will just be a vase if I go there. Besides, I have to work in the imperial farm on weekdays. Even if I return to the palace, I will only stay for one or two days to accompany the emperor and I will have to go back soon. It is inconvenient for me to interfere in government affairs."

"It was the same when I was in Nanyang County. When the county lord was in charge, I would wait outside."

"Now that the princess has become the emperor and is in charge of the government affairs of Daliang, it is only right for me to come on behalf of the emperor to pay my respects to my grandmother and show my filial piety."

He looks like a virtuous and kind emperor.

Last night he was dumbfounded and stupid, but today he is smarter. It seems that Jiang Shaohua has done a good job in private training.

Empress Dowager Zheng nodded slightly: "You are right to think so. I am about to serve breakfast, you can have breakfast with me!"

Cui Du responded readily.

The breakfast was ready, and everyone surrounded the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and went to the dining room. The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sat down, and there were more than a dozen eunuchs and palace servants standing beside her to serve her. There were dozens of plates and bowls on the round table. Not to mention one person, it was enough for ten people to eat.

It was the first time that Cui Du saw the Empress Dowager Zheng having a meal, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

This is so extravagant and wasteful.

Jiang Shaohua had a good appetite, but he was not particular about food and drink. He could eat delicious food, and even dry biscuits when he was on the march. Now that he was sitting on the throne, he should be like the Empress Dowager according to the palace rules, but Jiang Shaohua's meals were not served according to the rules. A meal was only eight dishes, which could be said to be very simple and casual.

"Go and ask King Ping to come over."

Empress Dowager Zheng gave an order, and in just a moment, Eunuch Ge carried Prince Ping, who was rubbing his eyes, away.

When Prince Ping was still young, he used to get up at noon. After moving to Jingyang Palace, he had to get up early every day with the Queen Mother Zheng. Therefore, Prince Ping would lose his temper and make a fuss every morning.

Prince Ping yawned and rubbed his eyes, while reaching out to slap and tear at Eunuch Ge: "Put me down, I want to go back to sleep."

Eunuch Ge's face was pulled red and a strand of his hair was pulled, looking quite embarrassed.

The Empress Dowager Zheng loved this ignorant grandson very much and called out to him with a smile: "Hao'er, come to your grandmother."

Unfortunately, when King Ping got mad, he never looked at other people's faces, nor did he know when to advance or retreat. He slid off Eunuch Ge, sat on the ground, kicked his legs and cried, and insisted on going back to sleep.

Empress Dowager Zheng was also troubled. However, the eunuchs and palace servants did not dare to comfort Prince Ping. At her age, she could not hold him even if she wanted to.

At this moment, Cui Du walked over, bent down and picked up King Ping: "Stop making trouble and eat your meal. After dinner, I will take you to climb trees in the garden."

When King Ping heard about climbing a tree, he stopped crying immediately.

Cui Du carried King Ping to the dining table and patiently took care of him while he ate breakfast.

King Ping didn't know how to use chopsticks, so he held the spoon in his right hand and swiped the food from the bowl into his mouth. He was lucky if he could eat half of it, and the other half would either fall on the table or on the floor.

Cui Du took a handkerchief and wiped the corners of King Ping's mouth and hands. He also poured a bowl of hot soup and fed it to King Ping spoonful by spoonful.

The Queen Mother Zheng saw this and was quite satisfied. After breakfast, Eunuch Ge wanted to carry Prince Ping back to change into clean clothes, but Cui Du said with a smile: "We are going to play in the garden, so there is no need to change clothes. It won't be too late to change after playing."

Eunuch Ge looked towards Empress Dowager Zheng.

Empress Dowager Zheng nodded slightly: "I will listen to Earl Changning."

Next, the concubines came to pay their respects, the Ministry of Internal Affairs came to report on business, and the stewards from various parts of the palace also came to Jingyang Palace. Empress Dowager Zheng was busy in the morning and had no time to accompany Prince Ping. It was just right that Cui Du took Prince Ping to the Imperial Garden.

Empress Dowager Zheng was worried and sent people to the garden from time to time to check on what was going on.

"Reporting to the Empress Dowager, the Earl of Changning is accompanying His Royal Highness Prince Ping to climb a tree."

"Lord Changning chose a short tree, laid a thick mat under the tree, and had many imperial guards guarding it."

"His Royal Highness Prince Ping had a lot of fun and even dug out a bird's nest."

"Mr. Changning accompanied me with a smile the whole time, speaking in a gentle and kind manner, without any impatience at all."

Even if it's just superficial work, it's pretty good to be able to achieve this step.

Which adult man with normal intelligence would be willing to accompany a naughty child who knows nothing and only likes to play?
Empress Dowager Zheng nodded secretly in her heart.

At noon, King Ping came back happily, covered in mud. Cui Du was also covered in mud, so he and King Ping went to bathe and changed into clean clothes.

After playing for half a day, King Ping became more familiar with Cui Du and asked, "What's your name?"

King Ping, who had just taken a bath, had handsome eyebrows and eyes, was white and plump, and was very cute.

Cui Du stretched out his hand and pinched the chubby face of Prince Ping: "My name is Cui Du, and I am the husband of your cousin Shaohua. From now on, you can just call me brother-in-law."

brother-in-law.

King Ping shouted crisply.

Cui Du agreed with a smile and took Prince Ping to meet the Queen Mother of Zheng.

At this time, the small court meeting had ended, and Jiang Shaohua also came to Jingyang Palace and was chatting with Empress Dowager Zheng.

Hearing the footsteps, Jiang Shaohua turned around and asked casually, "Did you have fun this half day?"

"Happy." King Ping shouted happily, and rushed forward as if his feet were equipped with springs.

Cui Du was quick to grab King Ping's hand and said, "You can't offend your cousin. She's pregnant!"

King Ping didn't understand at all: "What is pregnancy?"

Cui Du patiently explained: "There is a baby in my belly. The baby is still small now. It will be born in a few months."

"From now on, you will be my uncle."

King Ping still didn't understand, so he asked again. Cui Du answered again. King Ping seemed to have discovered a new game, and kept asking again and again. Cui Du kept talking to King Ping.

During lunch, King Ping stopped pestering Jiang Shaohua and sat next to Cui Du naturally, saying, "Brother-in-law, I want to eat meat."

The brother-in-law happily served meat to his brother-in-law.

Jiang Shaohua saw this and couldn't help but smile.

……