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Chapter 731: Loss of Power (Part )

"…The Empress Dowager's face was so black with anger today."

Chen Jinyu returned to the Zhaohe Hall to report, and described the previous situation vividly: "This time, the Empress Dowager will have to be quiet for a while."

Jiang Shaohua pulled the corner of his mouth, his eyes slightly cold: "For the Zheng family, she can swallow this anger. However, we can't be careless. The palace servants in the Zhaohe Palace should be combed twice, and those with quick minds should be replaced."

Chen Jinyu nodded in agreement.

Most of the original palace servants in the Zhaohe Palace were now idle. Jiang Shaohua's people were all brought from Nanyang County. Yin Zhu Tu Bai took care of his food and clothing, Chen Jinyu ran errands and passed on messages, and all the food he ate was watched by the imperial physician Sun. There were also loyal guards who took turns to guard.

Empress Dowager Zheng secretly wanted to reach into the Showa Hall, but the Hall was heavily guarded and could not be penetrated. The spies previously placed in the Showa Hall could not get close to the confidential areas, and the news they could pass on was insignificant.

Now with the newborn Princess Boa, the hiring of personnel in Showa-den has to be done more carefully.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment, and asked Chen Jinyu to go to Ning'an Palace to pass on the message.

Half an hour later, Chen Jinyu returned and reported: "I met with Empress Dowager Li and told her the Emperor's intention. She should be very pleased."

Empress Dowager Li and Empress Dowager Zheng have been harboring grudges for a long time. Now with Jiang Shaohua's support, she can compete with Empress Dowager Zheng. How could Empress Dowager Li be unwilling?
Even if it means being the knife in Jiang Shaohua's hand, he would be happy to do so.

Anyway, she was fearless and had nothing to lose, so she was not afraid of Empress Dowager Zheng at all.

Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "Go to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and tell them that starting tomorrow, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will report to Ning'an Palace and obey the orders of the Empress Dowager."

Chen Sheren ran errands and delivered messages non-stop.

Eunuch Min of the Imperial Household Department was a close confidant of the Empress Dowager. When he heard Chen Sheren's instructions, he said in a rather sarcastic tone, "Chen Sheren, the Imperial Household Department has always gone to Jingyang Palace to report matters. Why did they suddenly switch to Ning'an Palace?"

As the emperor's servant, Chen Jinyu usually dealt with either noble ladies in the harem or high-ranking officials in the court. She really didn't take a mere eunuch in charge of the Ministry of Internal Affairs seriously.

She raised her head slightly and glanced down: "The emperor asked me to pass on his order, so I came here. I don't know why. Eunuch Min is confused, why don't you go to the Zhaohe Palace and ask the emperor in person."

Eunuch Min was choked and almost rolled his eyes.

Whose Imperial Household Department is it?
Of course it’s the emperor’s.

Although he was the chief eunuch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he was the Empress Dowager's man, but he could not go against the Emperor's wishes. However, since the Emperor ascended the throne, he had never paid any attention to him. It was very convenient for him to go to Jingyang Palace, but he could not even take a step into the Showa Hall and was sent away outside the hall.

Chen Sheren was mocking and ridiculing him, saying that it was difficult for him to even see the emperor.

After Chen Sheren left, Eunuch Min, who was full of anger, entered the palace before dark. Unfortunately, he failed to see the Empress Dowager. Eunuch Lin came out and sent him away: "The Empress Dowager ordered that the Ministry of Internal Affairs obey the orders of the Emperor and report to Ning'an Palace tomorrow."

Eunuch Min felt very disappointed.

The Empress Dowager was firmly suppressed by the Emperor and could not make any more trouble. Well, if the master could tolerate it, why couldn't a servant like him tolerate it? He would go to Ning'an Palace tomorrow.

……

The next day, Eunuch Min went to Ning'an Palace.

The officials from various parts of the palace also came.

Before the Empress Dowager arrived, the stewards stood together and whispered: "The Emperor has never asked about trivial matters in the palace, why did he suddenly issue an order to ask us to come to Ning'an Palace?" "I heard that it was because Concubine Fan Gui angered the Emperor, and the Emperor got angry. The Empress Dowager was also angry, and she quit on the pretext of being sick..."

"Is this true? I heard that this was the Emperor's idea. The Empress Dowager has suffered a loss this time!"

"The Empress Dowager has finally gotten an advantage. She hasn't fought against the Grand Empress Dowager for so many years, and now she has the Emperor's support, so she can finally be very powerful..."

"Shut up now. If the Emperor or the Empress Dowager hears your gossip, you will no longer be able to continue your duties."

"Hush! The Queen is coming!"

The stewards immediately fell silent, lowered their heads and bowed respectfully, "Your servants pay their respects to the Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Li glanced at him and said calmly, "No need to be polite, just stand up!"

Everyone thanked him and stood up.

Empress Dowager Li had been in the palace for many years. Although she had never competed with the Grand Empress Dowager, she was no stranger to palace affairs. The eunuchs and palace servants were grumbling in their hearts, but no one dared to show contempt on their faces. According to their usual habits, they stood up one by one to report their errands.

The wound on Empress Dowager Li's neck healed, but her voice became hoarse and cryptic, and she now spoke in a very concise manner.

The stewards breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that Empress Dowager Li was doing everything as usual.

The emperor's attitude is crucial in the fight between the two palaces. At present, Jingyang Palace is weak and Ning'an Palace is in power, so they have to bow their heads and behave themselves.

Queen Mother Li spent half a day handling the palace affairs. She reprimanded Eunuch Min a few times and then let everyone go.

Lan Xiang laughed softly and said, "These stewards usually flatter the Grand Empress Dowager, but today when they came to Ning'an Palace, they were much more obedient than I expected."

Empress Dowager Li was quite clear-headed: "None of them wants to be the first to make an example of me."

Lan Xiang thought for a moment and whispered softly, "They are all the Empress Dowager's people. It will not be easy for Her Majesty to control them. You should find a reason and slowly replace them all."

Empress Dowager Li glanced at Lanxiang and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? I am only in charge of the palace affairs for a few days. I will return to the palace when the Empress Dowager is well again."

Lanxiang was stunned: "I have to return it?"

"What else?" Empress Dowager Li sneered, "The Grand Empress Dowager has been in charge of the harem for decades, and she has people everywhere in the palace. If she is completely angered, there will be a big mess. The emperor is still in confinement after childbirth, and there is also the newly born Princess Baoer. At this time, it doesn't matter if she hits the Jingyang Palace a little, but it is impossible to completely turn against them."

"I am only causing trouble for the Empress Dowager."

Lanxiang agreed, but she couldn't hide her regret and disappointment on her face.

If Empress Dowager Li took advantage of the situation and suppressed Jingyang Palace in one fell swoop and took control of the harem, she, as the head maid of Ning'an Palace, would naturally rise with the tide.

Empress Dowager Li smiled and said slowly: "Think about the past, how powerful the Grand Empress Dowager was. With just one word, she could seal up the Ning'an Palace and confine me."

"Things have changed. Now I can also appreciate the jokes in Jingyang Palace."

"I am very content."

"I am younger than she is, and I will slowly waste time with her. I have plenty of patience and time."