Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 714: Virtuous (Part 2)

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "What’s there to be ungrateful about? You’re taking good care of the Grand Empress Dowager, which also eases my burdens."

Mr. Zhao replied repeatedly, his peripheral vision quickly glancing at Eunuch Lin.

Where in the palace is there no struggle for power? Eunuch Lin is the loyal dog of Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, and Zhao Jingming, who stands behind the Empress, is not to be trifled with either.

Eunuch Lin, with deep scheming, didn’t show any signs, and respectfully welcomed the Empress and the Imperial Consort to the bedside.

"Shao Hua," the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, upon seeing Jiang Shaohua, immediately burst into tears, "You’ve finally come to see me. Every time I think of the Zheng family, my heart begins to ache. Oh dear!"

It’s unclear if the pain is real or fake, but the face of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng indeed turned pale, clutching her chest and wailing incessantly. The Imperial Physicians standing nearby immediately gathered around the bedside, busy diagnosing and needling her, busily engaged for a while.

Jiang Shaohua patiently accompanied her, softly comforting, "Grandmother, don’t keep brooding over this small matter of the Zheng family."

"No matter how big the matter is, it’s like a gust of wind, disappearing after it passes. Now, caught in the middle of a storm, it’s inevitable for the Zheng family to face some unpleasant words pointed out by the officials. After a few months, this issue will also fade away."

Quiet it will become, but the gold, silver, jade, treasures, field manors, and good shops "offered" cannot be taken back.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng is as fond of wealth as if it were her life. In her eyes, the Zheng family’s assets are almost like hers. For the Zheng family to offer half of their assets to the National Treasury is like cutting a large piece of flesh from her body; how can it not be heart-wrenching?

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng continued her sorrowful weeping.

Jiang Shaohua comforted with words, but inside he sneered coldly.

Isn’t this just the beginning, and she’s already so heartbroken! In the future, when there are soft knives cutting bit by bit, there will be more times for the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng to cry.

In fact, the once domineering and unreasonable Grand Empress Dowager Zheng has begun to show weakness by crying and whining, which itself indicates that the power of Jingyang Palace is not as strong as before.

Cui Du also stepped forward, "Grandmother, don’t cry; think positively in all matters. The Zheng family surrendered half of their assets to maintain the peace and safety of the entire clan. According to Da Liang Law, the entire clan would be executed, and their property confiscated. That would really leave nothing."

Is this comfort?

It’s like stabbing her heart with a needle!

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng could no longer hold it in, glaring at Cui Du, "What nonsense are you talking about!"

People like to pinch soft persimmons. She no longer had the confidence to command Jiang Shaohua, but with Cui Du, she had no such concerns. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Cui Du had no intention of indulging the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, directly retorting, "I’m just speaking the truth."

"Now that Duke An has lost his position as Chief of Staff, and the Duke Mansion’s plaque has been removed, the Zheng family wants to be stable, they have to keep their heads down and live conservatively."

"Think of Prince Huaiyang, who offered up eighty percent of his assets, living quietly with his five sons and six grandsons behind closed doors. If such a grand Vassal King can do it, what kind of standing does the Zheng family have that they cannot achieve the same?"

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was so angry that her eyes nearly turned completely white, "You! Are you intent on driving me mad? Get out! I don’t want to see you!"

Not only did Cui Du not leave, but he stepped closer to the bedside, "Grandmother, whether you want to see me or not, it can’t be helped. The Emperor has to attend court daily and handle political affairs and doesn’t have much free time to visit Jingyang Palace. As the Imperial Consort, I must come on behalf of the Emperor to care for your ailment. From tomorrow, I’ll be here every day to accompany you."

Cui Du emphasized justly, "This is what Grandmother taught me. As an Imperial Consort, you must be virtuous and relieve the Emperor’s worries."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng: "..."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was so angry that she nearly fainted on the spot.

Jiang Shaohua held back a laugh, softly coughing, "Enough, say a little less; don’t upset Grandmother."

Cui Du chuckled in response, finally stopping.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, wiping her tears, complained to Jiang Shaohua, "I’m ill, needing peace and quiet for recovery. Elder Changning’s sharp tongue, I cannot endure."

Jiang Shaohua replied indifferently, "Cui Du has a quick tongue and sometimes speaks less pleasantly, but his heart is good. The things he mentioned just now are all considering the long-term well-being of the Zheng family."

"The court has already sent troops to Yu State to quell the rebellion. In the coming months, news regarding the Yu State Army will continuously reach the court. Zheng Chen is within the Yu State Army; the court’s victory is best. If the war goes awry, how could the civil and military officials in the court not take out their anger on the Zheng family? At such times, the Zheng family can only keep a low profile to avoid provoking public anger."

At the mention of Zheng Chen, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng deflated like a punctured balloon, immediately showing a dejected demeanor and fell silent.

Jiang Shaohua and Cui Du exchanged a glance, each secretly laughing in their hearts.

Indeed, from the next day, Cui Du began coming to Jingyang Palace to "care for the sick."

Seeing him as an eyesore, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng simply ordered someone to call over Prince Ping.

Cui Du was also happy to play with Prince Ping.

In the entire Imperial Palace, the most carefree and happiest each day was Prince Ping, Jiang Hao. After moving into Jingyang Palace, he grew a bit plumper and more energetic, joyously running around every day.

"Brother-in-law," Prince Ping was able to clearly call Cui Du by now, "I want to climb a tree."

Cui Du gently coaxed, "Grandmother is ill, we must stay by her side. Once she’s well, brother-in-law will take you to the Imperial Garden to climb trees."

The unruly child’s temper of Prince Ping flared up immediately, fussing, "I want to climb a tree! I want to go now!"

The sharp cries floated in through the open window lattice, piercing into the ears of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Agitated by the noise, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng immediately sent Mr. Zhao to relay a message, "Have Elder Changning take Prince Ping to the Imperial Garden."

Stop causing commotion by her side, or she really might fall ill.

Cui Du didn’t miss a day coming to Jingyang Palace to "care for the sick," for almost half a month. The reputation of his virtue spread from within the palace to outside.

Prime Minister Wang, upon hearing this, chuckled, "That Elder Changning is truly virtuous."

Using the word "virtuous" for a man comes with a hint of disdain.

Even though Cui Du is the Empress’s spouse, the Da Liang Imperial Consort, holds the Elder Changning title, and the position of Minister of Agriculture, the disdain still occasionally appeared in the unspoken exchanges of glances and whispered conversations amongst the people.

Nobody would admit how much envy and jealousy this contained.

Even Prime Minister Wang would sometimes silently regret missing the opportunity to affiliate his family with the Empress.

If Wang Jin were not his chosen successor, competing with Cui Du back then... Hmph! Cui Du would never surpass his son.

These thoughts, Prime Minister Wang would never share with Wang Jin.

Not only could he not speak of it, but he also had to do his utmost to downplay his son’s infatuation with the Empress.

Even though all the civil and military officials in the court had privately joked about this matter, no one dared to gossip in the Prime Minister’s Mansion. Thus, Prime Minister Wang could pretend it never happened.