spend time

Chapter 730: Loss of Power (I)

The more powerless a person is, the less willing he is to admit it, and he may even become doubly arrogant and forceful.

The angry roar of Empress Dowager Zheng was like a paper tiger that would burst with a single poke in the eyes of Eunuch Zhao.

Eunuch Zhao responded meekly on the surface, turned around and left Jingyang Palace, a sarcastic sneer quietly appearing at the corner of his mouth.

The Zheng family is finished.

Without the Zheng father and son as her minions, the Empress Dowager's influence on the court was greatly weakened. Even in the harem, her prestige was not as high as before.

One was the emperor at the height of his power, and the other was the aging empress dowager. The palace maids and eunuchs were not fools, so they gradually leaned towards one of them.

Furthermore, with the support of the emperor, Empress Dowager Li was able to stand up. The Li family suffered heavy losses in a palace coup, with the death of Li Shangshu and Li Boyuan, both grandfather and grandson. However, the family was much stronger than the Zheng family. At least, the Li family still had a reputation as a loyal minister, and the male members of the Li family continued to serve as officials in the court. Therefore, Empress Dowager Li had the confidence to compete with the Grand Empress Dowager.

The era when Empress Dowager Zheng had the final say is over.

Fortunately, he and the princess had maintained friendly exchanges in the past few years and got along well with each other. After the princess sat on the throne, she was still nice to him. A wise bird chooses a good tree to roost in. He should also think carefully about his retreat...

Eunuch Zhao's mind was working quickly, and without taking a break, he hurried to the Zhaohe Palace.

The emperor was still in confinement and would not see outsiders. The one who came out to greet Eunuch Zhao was Chen Sheren.

Chen Sheren and Eunuch Zhao were also old acquaintances, and they exchanged a few words with a smile.

Eunuch Zhao conveyed the Empress Dowager's words with an embarrassed look on his face.

Chen Sheren had obviously anticipated and prepared for this, and replied with a smile: "The Emperor said that the Empress Dowager is not feeling well and has been bedridden since the beginning of the year, and she has not recovered yet. From now on, the Empress Dowager will take care of all matters in the harem, and the Empress Dowager will not have to worry about it, so she can rest assured and take care of her health."

Eunuch Zhao thought that this was the way to go, but a bitter look appeared on his face: "The Empress Dowager's temper is so strong. If we go back and tell her like this, I'm afraid we'll get beaten again."

Chen Sheren smiled and said, "The Emperor specifically told me to go to Jingyang Palace to pass on the message, and not to embarrass Eunuch Zhao."

Eunuch Zhao was truly touched and kept bowing to express his gratitude.

The emperor was always generous and considerate to his close ministers. As the chief steward of Jingyang Palace, he could always feel the emperor's concern.

Chen Jinyu went to Jingyang Palace with his head held high and met Empress Dowager Zheng. As if he didn't see the anger in the Empress Dowager's eyes, he smiled and conveyed the emperor's oral order.

Empress Dowager Zheng stared at Chen Jinyu angrily: "Did Shaohua really say that? I have been in charge of this harem for decades, and everyone obeys my orders. If it were Li, I'm afraid there would be chaos."

Jiang Shaohua was still in confinement after childbirth, so how could he dare to quarrel with her? Aren't you afraid that she would do something to harm the Showa Palace?

Jiang Shaohua is surrounded by personal guards, so it is difficult to attack him. It is much easier to attack Cui Du. And Princess Baoer, who was born not long ago, is young and fragile, and can't withstand any accident.

Chen Jinyu listened to the threats in the old woman's words, and her anger rose. However, these were all expected. Jiang Shaohua had already carefully instructed her how to deal with them before coming.

Chen Jinyu responded slowly, "The emperor said that there are only a few proper masters in the palace, but there are 4,000 palace maids and eunuchs, which is too many. It not only wastes money and food, but also traps the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace. Therefore, the emperor plans to gradually let a group of palace maids who are willing to go home and get married leave the palace starting this year. Eunuchs over 40 who want to leave the palace can also apply."

Empress Dowager Zheng's breathing suddenly stopped.

This move was really too cruel! There were many young and beautiful palace maids in the palace. Most of these palace maids were selected into the harem when Emperor Taikang was alive, and a small number were selected after Emperor Taihe ascended the throne. This was also an unspoken convention in the palace. The emperor could take any palace maid he liked as his concubine.

With the hope of rising to the top overnight, the palace maids were willing to be controlled by their masters in the center of the harem.

But now, Jiang Shaohua, the female emperor of Daliang, has no idea about the palace maids. It is easy to imagine how the beautiful palace maids would react once they learned that they had the opportunity to leave the palace and marry.

There are also eunuchs, all of whom are men who have lost their genitals. Most of them die of old age in the palace. If they have the opportunity to leave the palace, how will they react?

With the hope of leaving the palace, will they still be loyal to her, the Grand Empress Dowager? Or will they quickly turn to Jiang Shaohua and Empress Dowager Li?

No!

Absolutely not!

Empress Dowager Zheng grabbed the quilt tightly, as if she was squeezing someone's neck, and the veins on the back of her hand were exposed: "This is against the rules, I don't agree."

Chen Jinyu pulled the corner of his mouth and said with a fake smile: "Grand Empress Dowager, don't forget, this is the Daliang Palace, the emperor's harem. No one can stop the emperor from doing what he wants."

Empress Dowager Zheng was furious: "Asshole! How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me!"

Chen Jinyu spoke eloquently, "Your Majesty, you have misunderstood. I am only delivering the Emperor's instructions. I have absolutely no intention of angering you."

"I have to go back and report, so I'll take my leave now."

After saying this, he bowed and left.

Empress Dowager Zheng was so angry that she had no place to vent. She glanced at Eunuch Zhao from the corner of her eye and immediately found an outlet for her anger: "Zhao Jingming! I asked you to pass on a message, why did you bring such a bastard to Jingyang Palace! Are you deliberately trying to piss me off to death?"

"I'm telling you, others can leave the palace, but you, Zhao Jingming, must die in Jingyang Palace! The day I leave, you must go to the underground and wait for me first!"

Eunuch Zhao felt a chill in his heart and had to kneel down and apologize.

Empress Dowager Zheng was still not satisfied after scolding Eunuch Zhao, so she called Eunuch Lin over and yelled at him, "You just watched me get bullied by a yellow-haired girl! I have raised you for nothing for so many years!"

The yellow-haired girl mentioned by the Empress Dowager can be understood as Chen Sheren, and is also a reference to the emperor.

Eunuch Lin was in charge of the secret forces of the Empress Dowager, and was used to doing dirty work. Upon hearing this, he immediately whispered, "Whatever the Empress Dowager wants to do to vent her anger, just tell her, and I will do it immediately."

Empress Dowager Zheng: “…”

In an instant, the most vicious thought flashed through my mind.

However, this thought only flashed through my mind and then disappeared automatically.

No, she couldn't break up with Jiang Shaohua. The lives of the Zheng family were in Jiang Shaohua's hands. If she made any moves in the palace, Jiang Shaohua would kill the Zheng family members for treason.

It's really uncomfortable to have someone hold your weak spot in their hand.

Empress Dowager Zheng's expression changed from bright to dark. She took a deep breath and then let out a long breath: "Don't move a thing. Wait until I recover in a few days before we do anything."