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Chapter 839: Extra Oil Runs Out (Part )
Empress Dowager Zheng cried for a long time, and when she was tired, she fell asleep quietly.

Jiang Shaohua turned around.

Eunuch Zhao, who was guarding outside the door, wiped his eyes with his sleeve and respectfully saw the emperor off.

Jiang Shaohua only left one sentence: "Guard well, if there is any movement, send someone to the Showa Hall to report it."

Eunuch Zhao responded repeatedly.

After the emperor left, Eunuch Zhao returned to the bedside of the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager slept until the middle of the night. When she woke up, she coughed bitterly and coughed up blood.

The imperial physician was at a loss as to what to do but to prescribe some calming medicine. After the Empress Dowager drank the medicine, she fell into a coma again.

After enduring this for five or six days, Empress Dowager Zheng suddenly opened her eyes. Her complexion was unusually rosy and she was in exceptionally good spirits.

Eunuch Zhao knew that his master was experiencing a moment of rejuvenation, and he felt a pang of pity.

"Zhao Chunming, I had a very long dream." The Queen Mother Zheng talked about her dream in a rambling manner: "I dreamed of Shaohua when she was young. I brought her into the palace and raised her. I knew she liked Zixian, but Prince Ping was young and ignorant, so he had to rely on Prime Minister Wang to assist in government affairs. I persuaded Shaohua to marry into the Wang family."

"Shaohua resents me, and Zixian resents me too. I know it all. But I don't have a better solution. Political marriage is the fastest and best way to stabilize the court. Wang Silang loves Shaohua and treats her very well. But it's a pity that he died young after only a few years of marriage. Poor Shaohua became a widow at such a young age."

"Shaohua is stubborn and refuses to renew her relationship with Zixian. She insists on living with her son in the Wang family. Zixian is also stubborn and has always kept his position as the legal wife. The two have been entangled for half their lives, and no one knows what the final result will be..."

The Empress Dowager is crazy!

Eunuch Zhao looked at his master with pity and agreed, "This is all a dream, your majesty, don't worry about it. When you get better, your majesty will be submissive to the emperor. The emperor is kind-hearted and will definitely reconcile with you as before."

"It's not going to get better," Empress Dowager Zheng shed turbid tears in her eyes. Perhaps her mind was particularly clear before she died, and she said the wisest words of her life: "I only have this breath left, and when I die, I will go to the underworld. Shaohua is generous enough to let me be buried in the imperial mausoleum."

"Zhao Chunming, after I am gone, you should not stay in the palace. Go and plead with the emperor to let you leave the palace. Find a warm place with lush flowers and plants to live in in old age."

Eunuch Zhao burst into tears and knelt beside the bed crying.

The light in Empress Dowager Zheng's eyes gradually extinguished, and her voice became weaker and weaker: "My husband, children and grandchildren are all in the underworld. I will go and reunite with them now."

These were the last words left by Empress Dowager Zheng.

An hour later, the death knell rang in the palace.

……

It was a matter of respect for the royal family and the emperor. The funeral of Empress Dowager Zheng was held in a grand manner.

When a person dies, all hatred disappears.

Jiang Shaohua changed into mourning clothes and stayed in the mourning hall of Jingyang Palace for seven days.

The important officials of the court came to the palace to pay their respects, and the ladies of the imperial family knelt in front of the coffin in the Jingyang Palace. However, there was no sign of the Zheng family among them.

Forty-nine days later, Empress Dowager Zheng's coffin was buried in the imperial mausoleum.

From then on, there was one less old friend entangled in grudges in the world.

Jiang Shaohua burned paper in front of the tomb of Empress Dowager Zheng and stood silently for a long time.

Cui Du and Baoer were there with him.

"Let's go!" Jiang Shaohua turned around, a hint of fatigue between his brows. Cui Du nodded and reached out to hold Jiang Shaohua's hand.

At times like this, there is no need to say anything, just being with her is enough.

Baoer came over and held her mother's other hand: "Great-grandmother is gone, mother, don't be too sad."

Young Baoer naturally didn't know about the grievances between Jiang Shaohua and Empress Dowager Zheng. As far as she could remember, Empress Dowager Zheng had been confined to the palace to recuperate. To Baoer, Empress Dowager Zheng was just a faint shadow. Whether alive or dead, she was just like a wisp of light smoke.

Jiang Shaohua felt a little warm in her heart, and whispered to Baoer, "Don't be sad, mother. Birth, aging, sickness and death are something that everyone has to go through."

However, after returning to the Showa Hall, Jiang Shaohua still cried quietly.

Strangely enough, she didn't cry when Empress Dowager Zheng died, nor did she cry during the mourning period. Now that the coffin was buried and the funeral was over, she felt a little empty inside.

Cui Du sighed softly, hugged her tightly, and wiped her tears from time to time.

……

After a few days, Jiang Shaohua's emotions had completely calmed down, and he specially summoned Eunuch Zhao to come.

"Eunuch Zhao, do you want to stay in the palace and continue working, or leave the palace?" Jiang Shaohua asked in a gentle voice.

Eunuch Zhao, who was wearing white mourning clothes, trembled all over and looked up in disbelief: "Your Majesty! Can I still stay in the palace to serve?"

He also thought that he was just a used rag and would be driven out of the palace without delay.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Of course. If I remember correctly, Eunuch Zhao is not yet fifty years old this year! It's really too early to retire at this age. Besides, Eunuch Zhao is a smart man, and he is to my liking when he speaks and does things."

"If Eunuch Zhao wants to stay, I will arrange a job for you."

Eunuch Zhao's haggard face suddenly lit up: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your mercy. I am willing to stay in the palace and serve."

"I will do whatever the emperor asks me to do, without any complaints."

He entered the palace as a eunuch when he was young. He had been in the palace for most of his life and had long been accustomed to the life in the palace. He didn't want to leave the palace at all.

That’s right, I’m not so old that I can’t move, I can still continue to grind the mill.

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "There is no shortage of manpower in my Zhaohe Palace, and there is no shortage of manpower in Ning'an Palace. So, you go to serve Concubine Fan Gui. If there is anything, report to me at any time."

Concubine Fan Gui was crazy, not very clear-headed, and often said nonsense.

General Fan was the commander of the frontier army, and with the face of His Royal Highness Prince Ping, Jiang Shaohua didn't mind keeping Concubine Fan like this. However, someone had to be sent to keep an eye on her to prevent her from causing any trouble.

Eunuch Zhao "guarded" the Empress Dowager Zheng for six years. He not only worked hard but also made great contributions and had rich experience.

This kind of job is most suitable for Eunuch Zhao.

As expected, Eunuch Zhao immediately agreed to the task: "Yes, I will serve Concubine Fan today."

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "I will send someone to Ning'an Palace to tell you. From now on, all matters concerning Concubine Fan Gui will be decided by you."

"Your monthly salary will increase by another 30%. In addition, I will reward you with a large house. Even if you leave the palace in the future, you can stay in the capital to live out your retirement. I will have someone take care of you."

Eunuch Zhao was so moved that tears welled up in his eyes and he kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."