Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 410: Power Struggle (Part 3)

When this matter was brought up, the face of the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng darkened suddenly, and she let out a cold snort from her nose: "Isn’t it that Prime Minister Wang, who has been obstructing and causing trouble at every turn? Otherwise, this matter should have been settled long ago."

Zheng Chen calmly picked up the conversation: "The Emperor said that the Nanyang County Princess submitted a memorial, asking for Mr. Cui to be conferred the title of Marquis. This reward is indeed astonishing and unprecedented. Cui Du is not yet of age. If he is made a Marquis early on and achieves great merit later, wouldn’t he then be made a Duke?"

"Prime Minister Wang’s obstruction of this matter is not entirely out of self-interest."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, having received substantial tribute from Nanyang County over the years and with Mr. Zhao often whispering in her ear, had long sided with Jiang Shaohua. Hearing this, she said: "Shao Hua already mentioned it in her letter to me, only this once, never again."

Zheng Chen patiently advised: "After so much dispute and deadlock over this matter, there must be a conclusion. If we give in one step, it will let Prime Minister Wang give in one step as well. It wouldn’t hurt for you, Grand-Aunt, to discuss it with the Emperor again."

Only then did the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng reluctantly nod.

In the evening, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng specially invited the Emperor to Jingyang Palace for dinner.

The young Emperor had to bear the burdens of state affairs, worrying about the complicated government affairs every day. What troubled him more was that, as the Emperor, he didn’t have the final say in important national matters; everything required balancing and restraining the contention between two factions, which was truly exhausting.

Feeling sorry for her grandson, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng didn’t rush to bring up court affairs, but first sighed: "Sitting on that Dragon Throne is truly not easy. Look at your weary appearance; it truly pains me."

Emperor Taihe thought if you, Grandmother, are genuinely worried about me, you should hold back a bit instead of getting involved in every matter.

He could only think such words in his heart; saying them was impossible. Emperor Taihe pulled himself together and smiled: "With Grand Empress Dowager caring for me and having my back, I feel assured."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng found this remark quite agreeable and responded with a cheerful smile: "I am your real grandmother, naturally siding with you in everything. The courtiers who devote themselves to their duties are all good ones, like Duke An and Minister Ji, they are loyal and good ministers. But Prime Minister Wang, Minister Zhang, Minister Dai, Minister Zhou, they are quite capable as officials, yet their minds are filled with too many miscellaneous thoughts, forming factions within the court and manipulating state affairs, which is really detestable."

Indeed, the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was still unreservedly disparaging Prime Minister Wang’s faction in front of the Emperor, just like before.

This method might be old-fashioned, but it’s definitely effective. When the person closest to you keeps speaking ill of others in your ear every day, whoever you might be, you’ll be unconsciously influenced.

The young Emperor Taihe truly had numerous discontents regarding the forceful Prime Minister Wang, and he whispered: "The epidemic in Pingzhou, most of the rebel army in Pingzhou died because of the epidemic, they’ve become a disorganized mob now. This is divine retribution for the rebel army in Pingzhou, which indeed pleases my heart. However, there are more than two hundred thousand ordinary people in Pingzhou, how could they all be left unattended?"

"Prime Minister Wang refuses to send people to Pingzhou, and more than half of the courtiers support this. I am really helpless."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng coincidentally agreed with Prime Minister Wang on this point: "Pingzhou has already become the territory of the rebel army. Don’t be fooled by the fact that most of the rebel army are dead; for all you know, once they’ve survived the epidemic, the rebel army would regroup and reassemble. Now is the time they can’t be softened on."

"The epidemic is a natural disaster, whenever it breaks out, many people will die. Sealing off Pingzhou to prevent the epidemic from spreading is already done."

"Besides, isn’t it true that Shao Hua has already sent Doctor Sun there? Nanyang County is in the north, much closer to Pingzhou. Let Doctor Sun and his group go, cure the epidemic, and it’s a great achievement. The court will heavily reward them for sure. In case anything unexpected happens, and Doctor Sun and his group all die in Pingzhou, it won’t affect the court."

The Emperor Taihe remained silent.

He suddenly felt a bit envious of the Nanyang County Princess far away.

Nanyang County isn’t big, it’s entirely Jiang Shaohua’s territory, what Jiang Shaohua says goes. Whatever she wants to do, a single command and it’s done. Yet as the Emperor sitting on the Dragon Throne, he is like a puppet on strings, whatever he says or does, he has no say in it.

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng rambled on for quite some time before bringing back the topic to the matter of granting Cui Du a title: "... Today, Zixian came to the palace to pay respects to me and mentioned this matter."

"I wanted to ask the Emperor, what is your plan exactly?"

Emperor Taihe was slightly helpless: "Shao Hua’s cousin has several times contributed grain to the court, and Cui Du deserves half the credit for it. If it weren’t for him cultivating new grain, where would all this grain in Nanyang County come from? I want to follow Shao Hua’s cousin’s wish and confer the title of Marquis on Cui Du. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Wang and others disagree."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng sighed with pity: "Enough, I won’t trouble the Emperor anymore. Otherwise, how about we take a step back and grant Cui Du an Earl title? I’ll personally write to Shao Hua to explain."

"If we step back this far and Prime Minister Wang still dares to nag, I’ll personally go to the Jinluan Palace to reason with him."

...

Days later, the personal letter from the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng arrived in Nanyang County.

After reading the letter, Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows relaxed, and she smiled slightly.

Chen Jinyu seeing the Commandery Princess in a good mood, also smiled and asked: "Is there some good news from the Capital City?"

Jiang Shaohua responded with a hum: "Sort of! To see if it will come true, we need patience a bit longer."

The way of officialdom is much like doing business. Start high, settle low. What she wrote in the memorial was asking for the title of Marquis, but in her heart, she was aiming for the position of Earl. Now, it seems she might get her wish.

Jiang Shaohua instructed someone to invite Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng over, and she let them read the letter from the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

Chief Historian Chen was very satisfied, stroking his beard with a smile: "This is such a great joy, should we inform Mr. Cui in advance?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "No hurry. It won’t be too late to speak once the court’s official reward and decree arrive. That way, we prevent any changes midway."

Chief Historian Feng focused on more practical concerns: "Are we starting to prepare the military grain for the court now?"

"No rush," Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "The grain from Nanyang County didn’t just appear from nowhere. Let the court rewards arrive first, then we give them fifty percent. Another fifty percent, we’ll send to the court next year."

Chief Historian Feng breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to take his leave.

Thus, after another half month, there was finally movement from the court. Emperor Taihe dispatched an imperial envoy to announce the decree and conferring titles.

By now, it was already the chilly depths of winter. When the imperial envoy arrived in Nanyang, it was just at the end of the year. The County Magistrates in the Fourteen Counties could all come and participate in this grand event.

The Nanyang Prince Mansion was bustling with activity due to this event. Cui Du, who had been busy at the field manor, was urged by Cui Ping and others to return to the Nanyang Prince Mansion.

The first matter upon returning to the Prince Mansion, naturally, was to see the Commandery Princess and express gratitude for her grace.

Under the smiling gaze of many Prince Mansion officials, Cui Du gratefully bowed and thanked her favor.