Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 523: Selfish Motives (Part 2)

As she spoke, the Empress Dowager Li suddenly became self-righteous: "Nanyang County is a land that produces grain, and Da Liang happens to lack grain. If she were truly loyal, she should offer Nanyang County."

Emperor Taihe became annoyed: "According to Mother, should all the civil and military officials of the court also offer their family wealth? If not, should we start with the Li Family first?"

Empress Dowager Li was choked with anger: "You! What nonsense are you speaking! The Li Family is your maternal family! Thousands of clansmen rely on their ancestral business for livelihood, how can you think of taking advantage of the Li Family!"

"Nanyang County belongs to Shao Hua, my cousin. Can I just take advantage of Nanyang County?" Emperor Taihe said coldly, his tone very severe: "Shao Hua wholeheartedly shares my worries, loyal and diligent, offering people, resources, and grain. I just promised her to always be her backing, never allowing anyone to think of taking advantage of Nanyang County."

"I will ensure her a lifetime of peace and wealth. Should anyone make moves behind my back, upon finding out, I will not be merciful!"

Seeing Emperor Taihe truly angered, Empress Dowager Li didn’t dare speak any more: "I was only saying this casually, why is the Emperor so impatient and troubled? Fine, since the Emperor doesn’t like hearing it, I will refrain from saying it in the future.

"Not even think about it."

"Yes, yes, I will listen to you."

Empress Dowager Li lowered her stance to pacify her son, soon diverting the topic to next year’s spring selection of concubines: "Next February, after three years of mourning, it will be time for you to choose a concubine and hold a grand wedding. The Ministry of Rites has selected daughters of fifth-rank or higher officials, beautiful and suitable in age, all recorded on the registry. You should choose one you fancy as Empress, and select several concubines to enrich the inner palace, and sooner extend the branches of the Imperial Family."

As Emperor, selecting a concubine is not only for beauty, but most importantly for ensuring the continuation of the Imperial Family lineage.

However, Emperor Taihe was not so invested in this matter, and said blandly: "I plan to entrust the selection to the Grand Empress Dowager."

Empress Dowager Li was shocked and felt some anger and displeasure: "Your Grand Empress Dowager is getting on in years, worrying about the selection is tiring, don’t burden the elderly. Let me handle it instead!"

Emperor Taihe showed exhaustion in his eyes and sighed: "Mother, why compete with Grand Empress Dowager for this matter. I am currently unwell and need to rest peacefully. Once Mother and Grand Empress Dowager start competing, I will be caught in between, suffering and pressured. If Mother cares for your son, please calm down and spare me some worries!"

The key point is, even if Empress Dowager Li competes, she cannot win, every time she is aggrieved she cries tearfully for her son to back her. Emperor Taihe is utterly exhausted, at least half of which stems from the inner palace.

Upon hearing this, Empress Dowager Li felt aggrieved again and started wiping tears with a handkerchief. It was the usual old complaint, such as "I have endured for so many years even as Empress Dowager still have to watch people’s faces and my own son doesn’t back me" and similar sentiments.

Emperor Taihe let out a long sigh, closed his eyes, letting Empress Dowager Li carry on.

Empress Dowager Li cried for a long time and did not see her son comforting her, feeling somewhat strange. Upon wiping her tears, she found Emperor Taihe had already tired himself to sleep.

With no options left, Empress Dowager Li had to get up and leave.

Returning to Ning An Palace, Empress Dowager Li sighed repeatedly and said to her close palace attendant Lan Xiang: "I did this wholeheartedly for the Emperor. Alas, the Emperor has been bewitched by Jiang Shaohua’s seductive soup, completely unwilling to listen."

Lan Xiang thought if it were me, I wouldn’t want to listen either. With such a formidable Commandery Princess, pulling close is not sufficient, if the Commandery Princess knew Empress Dowager Li intended to take advantage of Nanyang County, what good would come to Empress Dowager Li?

At the end of the day, it’s the Li Family’s greed. A few days ago, Empress Dowager Li’s sister-in-law from the maternal family entered the palace, whispering to Empress Dowager Li for half a day, talking about the matter of exchanging vassal territories.

The Li Family’s calculations were loud and clear, intending to exchange Jiang Shaohua for another vassal territory and then let the Li family members act as Prefectural Governor in Nanyang County.

Brightly wanting to pick the peaches, not even looking at how formidable the Commandery Princess is. If it sparks rebellion in Nanyang County, leading to the court being attacked from behind and front, how can it withstand?

Of course, Lan Xiang wouldn’t dare voice these thoughts, only softly comforting Empress Dowager Li: "Matters of the court are managed by the Emperor and ministers; Empress Dowager needs only eat, drink and nourish well her health, no need to worry over these idle matters."

Empress Dowager Li said angrily: "What idle matters? Da Liang’s nation belongs to the Emperor, I am the Emperor’s mother, it’s rightful to worry for him."

That must still be recognized by the Emperor, and also approved by the Grand Empress Dowager.

Lan Xiang pleaded guilty while kneeling, slapped herself on the cheek.

Empress Dowager Li did not vent her anger, sending Lan Xiang to kneel outside the door. In agitated anger, she smashed two sets of teacups.

...

There are no walls in the palace that do not have ears. The commotion in Ning An Palace was heard by Grand Empress Dowager Zheng in less than half a day.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sneered coldly, saying to her trusted aide, Mr. Zhao: "This Li Family is truly greedy, displaying an unpleasant appetite. They actually want to extend their hand into Nanyang County. Even I haven’t considered this idea, when it comes to changing vassal territories, it wouldn’t be for the Li Family to take over as Prefectural Governor of Nanyang County."

Mr. Zhao serving Grand Empress Dowager Zheng for more than a decade, very familiar with the master’s disposition and temper, immediately sensed the unfavorable situation, quickly laughed: "Nanyang County was passed from Prince Nanyang to the Commandery Princess, who has managed the vassal territory prosperously, sending substantial tributes to Jingyang Palace each year. She even offers up large quantities of military grain to the court, her achievements are remarkable."

"The court should heavily reward the Commandery Princess, where is there any justification to arbitrarily change vassal territories? Not to mention that the Emperor wouldn’t possibly agree, even the entire court wouldn’t approve."

The court barely remains stable, let’s not cause trouble whimsically anymore!

If the Commandery Princess gets provoked and turns hostile, who will clean the mess then?

Mr. Zhao’s tactful persuasion made Grand Empress Dowager Zheng listen, contemplating: "This indeed won’t do. There is no rationale for acting this way."

"Grand Empress Dowager is wise!" Mr. Zhao immediately smiled: "Such a matter has never occurred in previous dynasties, if recorded in Da Liang’s history books, wouldn’t it bring ridicule from future generations?"

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng nodded once and instructed: "Transmit my message to the Li Family, saying the Empress Dowager’s health is unwell, she needs to rest silently in the palace. Li Family women are not allowed to enter the palace and disturb the Empress Dowager before the end of the year."

This is the warning to the Li Family, withdrawing their hands.

Mr. Zhao swiftly responded with respect.

...

Jiang Shaohua returned to Jingyang Palace after dusk.

Mr. Zhao never hesitates to take credit for good deeds, whispered a few words while welcoming the Commandery Princess.

A cold gleam flashed in Jiang Shaohua’s eyes, she smiled at Mr. Zhao: "Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for speaking highly of me. This year, Nanyang County has had a good harvest, I’ll have some local products prepared and send them to your residence."

Mr. Zhao was famously greedy, possessing several private residences in the Capital City. Over the years, the bountiful gifts sent from Nanyang County nearly filled his storerooms.

Such a great benefactor, Mr. Zhao wished to cling even tighter.

Mr. Zhao gleefully smiled widely: "The Commandery Princess is generous, a servant thanks the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua feigned ignorance, maneuvered with Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, and returned to her chamber. After closing the door, her expression turned.

"Prepare pen and ink, I need to write a letter!"