Chapter 273: Chapter 273

What Jiang Shaohua said was truly pleasing to Empress Dowager Zheng, with nothing amiss.

Empress Dowager Zheng found her words agreeable and looked at Jiang Shaohua with increasing fondness: "Shao Hua, you are a dutiful and good child."

Jiang Shaohua held Empress Dowager Zheng’s hand, pressed her face into her palm, and said softly: "With Aunt’s protection, I am where I am today. In the future, I’m willing to do my utmost to relieve Aunt’s burdens."

Empress Dowager Zheng was quite pleased, her mind relaxed, becoming even more weary.

Jiang Shaohua gently said: "Doctor Ji prescribed medicine, I’ll go prepare it for Aunt."

Empress Dowager Zheng responded with a soft hum.

Mr. Zhao silently gave the Commandery Princess a thumbs up in his heart.

Princess Bao Hua and the others were all kneeling in mourning at the Inner Spirit Hall in the back palace, with the Crown Prince there keeping vigil. Now that Empress Dowager Zheng was without others around her, the Commandery Princess arrived at just the right moment and performed her filial duties perfectly.

Jiang Shaohua personally went to prepare the medicine and served it to Empress Dowager Zheng.

In her previous life, she had spent several years in the palace and was well aware of Empress Dowager Zheng’s temperament, living habits, and preferences.

Empress Dowager Zheng detested drinking medicine the most; after barely finishing it, she would always want to eat some preserved fruits. Before she could even give the order, her favorite peach preserved fruit was already at her lips. A gentle silk handkerchief softly wiped her mouth.

Being served so thoughtfully, Empress Dowager Zheng couldn’t help but ask: "Shao Hua, how did you know that I like preserved fruits?"

Jiang Shaohua softly replied: "Aunt mentioned it once in a letter to me, so I remembered."

Did she mention that in the letter?

Empress Dowager Zheng, in her drowsiness, couldn’t recall these minor details and casually said: "These years, I’ve been thinking of you constantly. Now that you are here in the palace, don’t return to Nanyang, stay by my side."

Jiang Shaohua raised her eyes to meet Empress Dowager Zheng’s: "I definitely need to stay for a while, firstly to fulfill my filial duties by Aunt’s side. Secondly, I wish to assist Aunt, and only return to Nanyang once the court and palace have stabilized."

"Aunt, please do not be upset. Nanyang was left to me by my grandfather; I must guard it well. Moreover, being in Nanyang County, being far from the court makes it easier to handle matters. If I were to stay in the palace, constantly in plain view, how would I have the time and energy for anything else?"

Empress Dowager Zheng, feeling unwell and lacking the spirit to talk further, said: "Well, let’s discuss this matter another day!"

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "Aunt, have a good sleep, I’ll watch over you."

Empress Dowager Zheng closed her eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Shaohua indeed remained by the bedside.

Mr. Zhao quietly approached: "Commandery Princess, you’ve traveled a long way and came into the palace without rest; you must be very tired. I will guard here so you can rest a bit. I will call you when the Lady awakens."

During the past three years, Mr. Zhao had amassed a significant private store of wealth, benefiting greatly from the Nanyang Prince Mansion. However, Mr. Zhao had always spoken favorably of Nanyang County to Empress Dowager Zheng. Jiang Shaohua’s ability to maintain a good relationship with Empress Dowager Zheng was significantly due to Mr. Zhao’s contributions.

"Thank you for your kind consideration, Mr. Zhao," Jiang Shaohua said in a low voice, "I’m young and strong, I can still hold on."

Mr. Zhao did not insist further.

Empress Dowager Zheng slept for an hour and then gradually awoke, opening her eyes to the slightly immature yet exceedingly beautiful face of a young girl.

Empress Dowager Zheng had a moment of daze.

Right, this was Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua. She wrote to inquire about my well-being every month, offered the modern plough, and presented rich gifts on annual celebrations and birthdays. Especially that red gold Buddha statue, it greatly pleased her. Even the new grain grown in Nanyang County was not forgotten and presented to the court...

"Last year you personally wrote a memorial to offer the new grain as seed. Prime Minister Wang directly dismissed the memorial and accused without cause." Empress Dowager Zheng sighed deeply: "I intended to protect you, but Prime Minister Wang held sway in the court, and I was helpless. Speaking of it, you were really wronged."

Jiang Shaohua softly replied: "Aunt’s difficulties, I am clear in my heart. My grievance, compared to the stability of the court, is really insignificant."

Empress Dowager Zheng gently patted Jiang Shaohua’s hand: "Good child, it’s good that you understand. When your Imperial Uncle lay ill in bed, the court’s matters were all entrusted to Prime Minister Wang, and I had to endure."

"Who could have expected that such forbearance would lead to great misfortune."

Empress Dowager Zheng’s tone gradually became agitated: "If it weren’t for Prime Minister Wang’s strong recommendation, the court wouldn’t have sent General Wei to lead reinforcements. As a result, upon reaching Pingzhou, there was a major defeat. General Du, who went to support, was unexpectedly killed in the chaos... Fifty thousand elite soldiers were routed! Near forty percent died or were injured, leaving only thirty thousand demoralized soldiers."

"The Emperor was so angered by this terrible news that he passed away!"

Empress Dowager Zheng’s voice choked, and her eyes turned red again.

Jiang Shaohua also had red eyes, tightly grasping Empress Dowager Zheng’s hand: "Cousin of the Crown Prince is still young; this Da Liang Palace needs Lady’s support, and the court needs Lady even more. Lady must hold on."

Listening to this, Empress Dowager Zheng was greatly moved, her tears quite naturally ceased.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Empress Dowager Zheng and asked softly: "Lady, General Du led three thousand elite soldiers, how could he have been charged by chaotic soldiers to the front of the line and killed by them? Is there more to this than meets the eye?"

Empress Dowager Zheng was stumped by the question: "What hidden agenda could there be! The chaotic soldiers controlled Pingzhou, and those ignorant people even joined the chaotic army. There were tens of thousands of them, and the battle report stated that General Du was charged by a group of chaotic soldiers and killed by random arrows."

Empress Dowager Zheng indeed didn’t know the inside story.

The death of General Du and the defeat of the Heroic Guard Camp were definitely not as simple as they appeared on the surface.

Jiang Shaohua’s heart turned slightly cold, she spoke softly: "I was merely speaking casually, Lady need not take it to heart."

Empress Dowager Zheng indeed did not think much of it. She had resided in the deep palace for years and could be considered completely ignorant of military affairs. Moreover, she would never have guessed that the Zheng father and son dared to act secretly, mingling death warriors amongst the chaotic soldiers to connive from within and without, assassinating General Du.

Mr. Zhao went to light the palace lamps, and Aunt Su Fang went to arrange dinner. During the Emperor’s mourning period, the palace was entirely vegetarian. Officials kneeling in the Spirit Hall only had buns and cold water, the same for the back palace.

Here, Empress Dowager Zheng had only two additional vegetarian dishes.

Jiang Shaohua accompanied Empress Dowager Zheng for a simple dinner. With her appetite, it was naturally far from enough, but newly arrived, she could only bear it for now.

"Lady," Mr. Zhao quietly came to report: "His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."

Empress Dowager Zheng gathered her thoughts: "Please invite the Crown Prince in."

Jiang Shaohua got up to greet him. The Crown Prince, having knelt in mourning for over twenty days, was quite exhausted. With the help of his reading companions, he slowly entered the chamber.

"Shao Hua meets His Highness the Crown Prince."

Under the bright candlelight, a beautifully adorned girl in plain white made a curtsy. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩·𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖·𝘯𝘦𝘵

During the frantic weeping earlier in the day, there was no time for scrutiny, but now observing closely, the Crown Prince couldn’t help but be astonished.

Princess Bao Hua was dignified and elegant, Dongping County Princess glamorous and charming, Huaiyang County Princess lovely and delicate, and Miss Fan residing in the palace was lively and full of youthful beauty.

Yet in comparison to Jiang Shaohua before him, they all paled in comparison.