CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 323: INVESTITURE (PART 1)

On the tenth day after Zheng Chen and his entourage left the capital, the court held the ceremony for conferring the title of Grand Empress Dowager. From this day on, Empress Dowager Zheng was officially elevated to Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

As grand as the ceremony for conferring titles in the harem was, it was far less significant than the Emperor’s enthronement ceremony. Besides, given the current emptiness of the National Treasury, even though the Ministry of Internal Affairs still had some silver in reserve, excessive extravagance was not appropriate.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng personally issued a phoenix decree, ordering that the ceremony be reduced by thirty percent according to precedent. This move also brought her a wave of good reputation.

"Shao Hua gave me a good suggestion." Joy brings out one’s spirits, and today the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was splendidly dressed, finally looking somewhat radiant as she did in days past. She gazed lovingly at the girl beside her: "Several Imperial Censors in the court have submitted memorials praising me."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly: "I just mentioned it casually, never expecting that the Grand Empress Dowager would adopt it, truly reducing the scale and expenses of the ceremony and saving a lot of silver. The Empress Dowager’s heart is broad and kind, a blessing to the Da Liang Palace, and even more so to the thousands of commoners."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng beamed with satisfaction at the praise.

Aside from her noble status, she was merely a greedy, vain old woman. She wanted power and benefits, but also desired a good reputation.

With her love for grand displays, she would have certainly wanted to lavishly organize the conferring ceremony. Only after Jiang Shaohua’s reminder did she temporarily cut it by thirty percent. Unexpectedly, this act earned her a good reputation, making Jiang Shaohua seem even more pleasing and considerate in her eyes.

Jiang Shaohua lightly laughed and said: "With the precedent set by the Empress Dowager, I’m afraid the Empress Dowager’s ceremony will also have to be simplified."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng apparently didn’t think much of the Emperor’s birth mother, casually saying: "To confer the title of Empress Dowager, we must first confer it to the late Empress Dowager Ji, only then can it be Li’s turn."

That’s right, Empress Ji was Emperor Taikang’s original empress, Jiang Song’s stepmother. Now that Jiang Song is the Emperor, he must first confer the title to his stepmother, then to his birth mother.

Empress Dowager Li definitely didn’t feel too good about it. However, everything was done according to ancestral laws and regulations. Whether she was happy or not was unimportant.

While they were talking, the palace attendant Sufang quietly entered and whispered a few words in the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s ear.

Jiang Shaohua’s hearing was exceptionally sharp, far exceeding ordinary people, and she unobtrusively listened in.

In a few days, it would be Empress Dowager Li’s conferring ceremony. Empress Dowager Li suddenly fell ill and took to her bed in the palace. Emperor Taihe, being a dutiful son, went to tend to his mother immediately after court.

"Falling ill neither sooner nor later, but at this time." The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng snorted from her nose, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes: "Li just loves to play these little tricks. Her little schemes may be enough to fool the Emperor but can’t fool me."

Jiang Shaohua pretended not to hear, remaining silent.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng didn’t continue, instead saying to Jiang Shaohua: "You should find some free time to visit Li, so as not to be picked on by her."

Jiang Shaohua softly agreed.

...

With Empress Dowager Li’s illness, the entire harem was unsettled.

Imperial Concubine Fan visited her daily to check on her, and the other concubines in the palace also frequently went to pay their respects. The gentle and virtuous Princess Bao Hua also attended to her daily.

Jiang Shaohua had to attend court every day, but after court, she couldn’t avoid paying her respects and showing her face at the Empress Dowager’s quarters.

Empress Dowager Li lay feebly on her bed, refusing to see anyone. Those coming to visit stood outside the door for a while.

The only ones allowed into the chamber were Emperor Taihe and Princess Bao Hua.

When Jiang Shaohua arrived, the palace attendant quietly entered the chamber and reported softly: "To report to the Empress Dowager, Nanyang County Princess has come to pay respects."

Upon hearing Jiang Shaohua’s name, Empress Dowager Li’s eyebrows barely furrowed, and she spoke softly: "She has to attend court every day and accompany the Grand Empress Dowager; it’s unnecessary for her to tend to my minor illness."

It was tantamount to refusing to see her.

This palace attendant, Lan Xiang, was a confidante of Empress Dowager Li. She hesitated before whispering a suggestion: "The Princess now holds significant influence in the court, and both the Grand Empress Dowager and the Emperor value her greatly. The Empress Dowager might as well see her!"

Mentioning the Grand Empress Dowager only worsened Empress Dowager Li’s mood.

She cast a cold glance.

Lan Xiang dared not say more or advise further, quietly accepted the order, and withdrew. Moments later, she approached Jiang Shaohua apologetically smiling: "Princess, the Empress Dowager’s health is weak, and she has already rested. Please visit another day."

Empress Dowager Li had started to secretly compete with Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. In everyone’s eyes, Jiang Shaohua was a staunch follower of the Grand Empress Dowager, natural for Empress Dowager Li to disfavor her.

Jiang Shaohua understood but did not disclose it, smiling: "I will come again tomorrow to pay respects. Please convey my regards to the Empress Dowager, Lan Xiang."

Having said this, she saluted the chamber door and gracefully departed.

Lan Xiang watched Jiang Shaohua’s departing figure, sighing quietly.

In the harem, there could be only one voice. That was the Grand Empress Dowager’s voice.

Empress Dowager Li had been a Noble Consort for many years, humbling herself for two decades, now with her son as the Emperor and herself as the Empress Dowager of Da Liang; she began to feel discontent and rebellious, trying to contend with the Grand Empress Dowager... How could she succeed?

A capable person like Nanyang County Princess should be recruited by all means. Acting this way only thoroughly pushed Nanyang County Princess to the Grand Empress Dowager’s side.

...

Emperor Taihe was no fool; he would realize what was going on in just two days.

On this day, after court, Emperor Taihe once again went to tend to his mother, personally serving Empress Dowager Li a bowl of medicine. After putting down the bowl, he said to Empress Dowager Li: "There are only four days left until the Empress Dowager’s conferring ceremony. Since mother is still ill, how about we postpone the ceremony for a while?"

Empress Dowager Li grew anxious upon hearing this: "No need to delay, I’m already feeling much better."

Emperor Taihe looked at Empress Dowager Li, then spoke after a long pause: "Is mother unhappy because the ceremony expenses were cut by forty percent?"

Could she be happy about it?

Having her thoughts uncovered, Empress Dowager Li told the truth: "I am indeed quite upset. Your Grand Empress Dowager desires a good reputation, so her ceremony was cut by thirty percent. As the Empress Dowager, I can’t surpass your grandmother and had to cut another ten percent."

"Everyone in the harem is watching my embarrassment from the shadows. What kind of glory do I have as Empress Dowager?"

"When your father was alive, he refused to make me Empress. Now that I’ve become Empress Dowager, it’s still so humiliating and stifling..."

Saying this, Empress Dowager Li suddenly clutched her son’s sleeve and began to cry.

Emperor Taihe could only helplessly console his mother: "I know mother suffers grievances. Right now, Pingzhou is at war, and several counties are struck by locust plagues; the palace has no choice but to reduce expenses. Once circumstances improve, I’ll privately honor mother and make up for everything."

Empress Dowager Li then smiled through her tears, wiping them away.

Then, she heard Emperor Taihe continuing: "When cousin Shao Hua comes in the future, mother should still see her!"