Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 643: Negotiation (Part 2)

In this negotiation, only Mr. Zhao was present from beginning to end, listening clearly.

Empress Dowager Ren Zheng tried both coercion and persuasion, but Jiang Shaohua firmly refused to relent, making her stance very clear. The Zheng Family must withdraw from the center of political power.

As long as the Grand Empress Dowager lives, the Zheng Family can still enjoy some protection. Once the Grand Empress Dowager passes away, the Zheng Family is bound to decline.

However, for a family with a son who committed treason, this is already the best outcome possible.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was filled with dissatisfaction but had no choice. She sighed deeply, "Give me all the letters!"

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, stepped forward, and handed over the letters to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng didn’t open the letters to read them. With her hands, she relentlessly tore them all into pieces. Tears unknowingly welled up in her eyes, streaming down her worn-out, aged face, a madness mixed with desolation.

The fragments of letters were scattered all over the floor. Grand Empress Dowager Zheng laughed heartily for a moment, then suddenly burst into tears.

Decades flew by in the blink of an eye. After living a lifetime of splendor, now she endures the grief of seeing her descendants pass on before her. More painful still, power slipping through her fingers like water, unreachable no matter how hard she grasps.

Jiang Shaohua sat by the bedside, gently comforting, "Grand-aunt must be feeling utterly heartbroken; have a good cry, and once it’s over, you’ll need to pull yourself together. Prince Ping is still young; he needs his grand-aunt’s careful watch."

Imperial Concubine Fan is a foolish woman; taking care of Prince Ping’s daily life poses no problem. But fearing that Imperial Concubine Fan harbors resentment, she might often speak nonsense in front of Prince Ping. If by chance he grows up one day and is incited to act "inappropriately" to the point that it must be dealt with, Jiang Shaohua cannot be blamed for being ruthless and unfeeling.

These words did not need to be spoken aloud by Jiang Shaohua; Grand Empress Dowager Zheng naturally understood them all.

Prince Ping must have a calm, rational, and clear-headed elder by his side.

After crying for a long time, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s emotions gradually settled, "The country cannot go a day without a sovereign. Let the Ministry of Rites choose an auspicious day soon, and hold the enthronement ceremony at once!"

Jiang Shaohua opened her mouth to agree immediately.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s eyes were swollen from crying, her voice hoarse, and she forced herself to gather her energy and continued, "As for court affairs, with Chief Historian Chen assisting you, along with loyal ministers like Minister Dong and Minister Ji, it is not a difficult task for you. As for the harem, I will manage it for you. Do you trust me?"

Jiang Shaohua sincerely replied, "Over these years, it was only with grand-aunt’s protection and support that I have what I have today. If grand-aunt is willing to continue managing the harem and easing my burdens, I am immensely grateful. If I can’t even trust grand-aunt, who else in this world can I trust?"

Mr. Zhao nodded repeatedly in his heart, giving a fierce thumbs-up to the Commandery Princess.

The Commandery Princess is indeed very articulate.

Whether or not Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was moved is hard to say, but Mr. Zhao was so moved that he almost burst into tears.

Clearly, Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was moved too, her voice choked with emotions, "Shao Hua, I raised two grandsons and one granddaughter. Now, both the eldest grandson and granddaughter are gone, leaving only an immature Prince Ping. From today on, you are my direct granddaughter, and for the rest of my life, I will depend on you."

Jiang Shaohua was also moved, her eyes turning red, choking back tears as she called out grandmother, "In my heart, grandmother has always been the most respectable, dearest, and most dependable family member. I am still young, and inevitably make mistakes in my words and actions; I would ask grandmother to continue to guide and advise me."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng and Jiang Shaohua embraced and cried together for a while.

The pair of newly acknowledged grandmother and granddaughter appeared to become the closest and most trusted individuals in the world to each other. No longer was there any trace of the past fierce confrontations.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng wiped her tears and softly said to Jiang Shaohua, "You are to become the Emperor. How can you still be living outside the palace? From today, you shall reside within the palace."

"And Elder Changning, being your husband, he shall live in the palace too."

"In Jingyang Palace, there are accommodations. You are accustomed to living there, so come live there tonight. Our grandmother and granddaughter can talk daily."

Jiang Shaohua said, "How about letting Prince Ping stay with grandmother, and I will stay at Zhaohai Palace? I will come every day to greet grandmother."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng did not insist and nodded.

Jiang Shaohua further said, "I have one more thing to tell grandmother. Actually, during the mourning period for my cousin, I found out that I was pregnant. Now it’s been over three months, and the fetus is stable."

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "..."

Mr. Zhao was too shocked, reflexively looking up at the Commandery Princess.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was also very shocked, her eyes fixing on Jiang Shaohua’s lower abdomen. Jiang Shaohua had been in mourning for Emperor Taihe, wearing white mourning attire, which was loose and concealed her waistline.

"Why didn’t you mention such an important matter earlier!" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was both angered and anxious, "You killed in battles, carried a coffin for burial; none of these are auspicious. Pregnant women should not see blood or be involved in funerals. You...you disregarded all the taboos!"

"Did you summon the Imperial Physician?"

Jiang Shaohua, somewhat helpless, replied, "No. In these times, one thing followed another. I was busy stabilizing people’s hearts and handling government affairs. Where would I have the time to summon an Imperial Physician?"

The truth was, with the unsettled situation, it wasn’t appropriate to announce her pregnancy, for fear of causing further unrest.

Grand Empress Dowager Zheng immediately said, "I will summon the Imperial Physician to examine you now."

Mr. Zhao, not waiting for the order, stood and went outside, calling for the Imperial Physician to enter the chamber.

There were two Imperial Physicians on duty at Jingyang Palace on a rotating basis. With one shout, Mr. Zhao summoned both. They each took turns checking Jiang Shaohua’s pulse.

"How is Shao Hua’s condition?" Grand Empress Dowager Zheng impatiently inquired.

The two Imperial Physicians suppressed the shock in their hearts and respectfully replied, "To reply to the Grand Empress Dowager, the Commandery Princess has a happy pulse."

"The Commandery Princess has been pregnant for over three months, and the pulse is stable and strong!"

Only then did Grand Empress Dowager Zheng relax and instruct, "Explain carefully how to maintain and secure the pregnancy. Zhao Chunming, fetch paper and pen, and take note of everything."

Jiang Shaohua also let out a silent sigh of relief. Knowing of her pregnancy was one thing, but hearing it confirmed by the Imperial Physicians brought a sense of reassurance and closure.

... 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

After dark, Jiang Shaohua returned to Zhaohai Palace.

Chief Historian Chen, Cui Du, and others were waiting in the hall.

"Has the Grand Empress Dowager agreed to see the Commandery Princess?" Chief Historian Chen eagerly inquired.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, "Yes, not only did she see me, but she also decided to support my accession as Empress."

At that, everyone smiled brightly with joy.

Though Grand Empress Dowager Zheng couldn’t stop the Commandery Princess’s ascension, having her pull a long face every day was unappealing. For the Commandery Princess to ascend with legitimacy and with the support of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng allowed her to stand tall, unperturbed by any rumors or slander.

Cui Du expressed some concern, "Is it possible the Grand Empress Dowager’s just buying time with sweet words to pacify the Commandery Princess?"

Jiang Shaohua replied calmly, "Naturally, it is a delaying tactic."

Cui Du: "..."