CHAPTER 324: CHAPTER 324: INVESTITURE (PART 2)

Empress Dowager Li’s not fully spread smile froze slightly, and displeasure was evident in her tone: "Why must I see her?"

"Just a mere Nanyang County Princess, even if I don’t see her, what can she do? Could it be that she’s complaining to your Grand Empress Dowager or lamenting before you?"

"If she’s really so spoiled, I absolutely can’t tolerate it."

Emperor Taihe frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "Mother has misunderstood. Shao Hua cousin has never spoken ill of mother before the Grand Empress Dowager, nor has she complained to me."

"She has come three times in succession, and mother refuses to see her. Such a matter cannot be hidden from anyone."

"Shao Hua cousin is a Princess Jiang, and she has always stood firmly by my side. During the locust plague in Yan County, she unhesitatingly donated ten thousand shi of new grain seeds. When locust plagues were reported in Xih River County and Yong’an County, and the court needed to allocate grain, she also agreed without hesitation to sell grain to the court."

"She has rendered great service to the court, and she has shown kindness to me. For the sake of my face, mother should also show her some respect and dignity."

From speaking personally to invoking the court’s righteousness, Emperor Taihe’s tone gradually became serious.

Empress Dowager Li, seeing her son’s genuine displeasure, quickly softened her attitude: "I didn’t think of so much, I was just exhausted from illness and didn’t want to see anyone. These days, everyone in the palace has been visiting me, but I haven’t seen Wanhua and Yuehua either, it’s not just targeted at her."

Emperor Taihe looked at Empress Dowager Li: "At least Wanhua and Yuehua cousin can sit in the side hall and have a cup of tea. Shao Hua cousin hasn’t even entered the side hall, right?"

Empress Dowager Li: "..."

A trace of shame and annoyance flashed in Empress Dowager Li’s eyes, and her tone became strong again: "I just don’t want to see her. She’s always in Jingyang Palace, constantly flattering your Grand Empress Dowager. A few days ago, at the Grand Empress Dowager’s conferment ceremony, she gifted a Buddhist scripture woven with a golden thread, which was time-consuming and extremely precious."

"Look at me, when has she ever been filial?"

"I’m just unhappy, and I don’t want to see her."

Speaking of it, it’s just jealousy and unhappiness. This vexation, which cannot be directed at the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, ends up being vented onto Jiang Shaohua.

Emperor Taihe, caught between his mother and grandmother, was quite troubled and had to comfort her with kind words. However, he still insisted that Empress Dowager Li give Jiang Shaohua some dignity.

Empress Dowager Li unwillingly agreed.

"Shao Hua cousin, the Empress Dowager has been ill these days, having a temper and not being as thorough as usual." In private, Emperor Taihe earnestly consoled Jiang Shaohua: "If there were any inconsiderate words or actions, please, Shao Hua cousin, be forgiving."

Jiang Shaohua immediately smiled and said, "The Empress Dowager is ill and needs peace to recuperate. As a junior, it’s only right for me to visit and pay respects to an elder. It’s not a big deal that the Empress Dowager didn’t see me due to her condition. Cousin need not mind."

Though Empress Dowager Li had her faults, she was, after all, the mother. Emperor Taihe was a filial son who couldn’t speak ill of his mother behind her back. Seeing Jiang Shaohua being so tactful and sensible, Emperor Taihe secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The next day, when Jiang Shaohua went to visit, Empress Dowager Li ordered Lan Xiang to bring Jiang Shaohua into the bedroom.

Jiang Shaohua behaved as if nothing unpleasant had ever happened, smiling and asking about her well-being, sitting by Empress Dowager Li’s bed for the time of one incense stick before taking her leave.

After Jiang Shaohua left, Empress Dowager Li couldn’t help but say to Lan Xiang, "This Jiang Shaohua, so young, yet so thick-skinned. Even though I treated her like this, she could still smile."

Lan Xiang responded deferentially, yet inwardly thought, with the Grand Empress Dowager backing her and the Emperor shielding her, why would the Commandery Princess care whether you like her or not?

...

This matter quickly reached the ears of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

"This Mrs. Li has such a petty mind, acting with such a small mindset." The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng snorted softly, "Compared to the Ji Family of those days, she’s far inferior."

In the words of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, the Ji Family refers to Empress Ji, Emperor Taikang’s first wife and the birth mother of Princess Bao Hua, whom the Grand Empress Dowager sorts as a daughter-in-law.

In the palace, everyone knew that the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng did not favor Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li, of course, was most aware of this and always harbored a grievance. Now that her son had ascended to the throne as Emperor, Empress Dowager Li felt she had now more upright stature, seizing this affair to challenge the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Jiang Shaohua understood well and did not speak out, nor did she follow suit with the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s words.

The Empress Dowager of Da Liang, right or not, was not her place, a junior, a Commandery Princess, to comment.

It was Princess Bao Hua who softly spoke in favor of Empress Dowager Li: "Everyone has a different nature and temper, the Empress Dowager treats me very well."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng glanced at her granddaughter and said lightly, "You are the first daughter of Da Liang. It’s a pity you’re a girl. If you were a boy, the throne would be yours. Mrs. Li is supposed to be good to you."

No response to this would be appropriate.

Princess Bao Hua bowed her head in silence.

Jiang Wanhua and Jiang Yuehua exchanged a glance quietly, not daring to speak.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was evidently dissatisfied with Empress Dowager Li. She spoke in front of so many, clearly intentionally, wanting these words to reach Empress Dowager Li’s ears.

The power struggle at the height of the inner palace was something they wisely chose to avoid, lest they be implicated.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng continued: "In three days, it’s the conferment ceremony, and Mrs. Li is still lying down, unable to rise. I’ll send someone to inquire. If she can’t hold up, the ceremony will be postponed."

With that, she instructed the female official Sufang beside her to convey the message.

Sufang went to convey the decree of the Grand Empress Dowager and soon came back to report: "Back to the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager today is already much improved and able to get up. The Empress Dowager asked this servant to convey to the Grand Empress Dowager, that the conferment ceremony need not be postponed, she can hold on."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s eyes flashed with contempt.

The tug-of-war between mother and daughter-in-law. In this round, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng emerged victorious.

...

Three days later, Empress Dowager Li’s health was fully restored, and she spiritedly completed the conferment ceremony.

Although the conferment of Empress Ji came first, Empress Ji had been dead for almost ten years. No matter how remarkable the dead are, they can’t compare to the living.

Moreover, Empress Ji only had one daughter. Princess Bao Hua, however noble, was still a woman and would have to marry and live outside the palace after the mourning period. This palace, this kingdom of Da Liang, belonged to her son Jiang Song.

As for the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, given her age, perhaps she wouldn’t last many more years. She could bear with it for a few more years.

Starting today, she was the Empress Dowager of Da Liang.

Apart from the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng above her head, she held the most honor and power in this inner palace.

Sitting on the Phoenix Chair, Empress Dowager Li received the homage from the noblewomen’s courtesies with great pleasure.

After the palace banquet concluded, Empress Dowager Li, not feeling tired at all, requested the gift register to look over carefully. When she saw the name of Nanyang County Princess, Empress Dowager Li suddenly exclaimed.