Both Emperor Jiang Jing and the Queen were stunned.
Leaving aside the fact that Zhao Hua was now missing without a trace, his words seemed rather presumptuous. However, this gift had truly touched both of them.
Needless to say about the Queen, Emperor Jiang Jing also didn't want Princess Zhao Hua to be alive in his heart.
As an emperor, he could show mercy to the Empress Dowager and the foolish Princess Jianing. But how could he allow someone to snore on the couch beside him? As long as Zhao Hua remained alive, she would be a great threat to him.
Moreover, he didn't say it publicly but quietly asked Liang An to inform them, which also saved his face.
Emperor Jiang Jing had to admit that Ji Junye knew how to conduct himself.
He also saw the gap between himself and Ji Junye.
He had been suppressed by Zhao Hua and the Xue family for too long, and he had always been cautious in everything he did. Now he understood why Ji Junye had achieved so much at such a young age. Not to mention anything else, the most important thing was that he was willing to sacrifice.
And he was willing to sacrifice for his wife and family.
After the banquet, Emperor Jiang Jing issued an imperial edict: Princess Zhao Hua had attempted to rebel. After the failure, she fled from Fuguang Temple. Now her title of princess was revoked, and all efforts would be made to arrest the commoner Shen Zhao and her old subordinates.
When the Queen heard this imperial edict, she was stunned for a moment.
Had he finally realized his mistake?
After being husband and wife for so many years, she knew his character very well. He was the most concerned about his face. Doing this was undoubtedly slapping his former self in the face.
The Queen thought that Emperor Jiang Jing would come to her, but unexpectedly, he didn't. He stayed in his bedroom.
The next day, in Emperor Jiang Jing's imperial study.
Emperor Jiang Jing looked a bit dejected. Although he was trying his best to cheer up, the dark circles under his eyes and his exhaustion couldn't be hidden.
"I've seen these days that you've taken good care of Nian Nian and Si Bao. As their father... I'm ashamed of myself."
Emperor Jiang Jing propped his hands on the table, covered his face, wiped it quickly, and then took his hands away.
"I'm glad you understand, Your Majesty."
Ji Junye replied casually.
Emperor Jiang Jing was speechless for a moment. He was so angry that he wanted to slap the table. He had said so much, and at least Ji Junye should have said some comforting words. But what did he say?
I'm glad you understand!
He wanted to take back his words that Ji Junye knew how to conduct himself. This guy was trying to anger him, his father - in - law!
Angry as he was, Emperor Jiang Jing didn't flare up in the end. After all, considering his status, he didn't even need to come in person. His coming here showed his concern for Nian Nian.
He was indeed a good husband and a good father.
"It's not impossible for you to marry Nian Nian. Besides those two betrothal gifts, I have three more conditions."
Ji Junye immediately perked up, "Please tell me, Your Majesty."
...
Fuguang Temple.
The Empress Dowager was knocking the wooden fish and chanting scriptures. The maid beside her came in, hesitating to speak.
The Empress Dowager lifted her eyelids slightly, "What is it?"
She wasn't really devout in Buddhism. After living a life of luxury in the palace for so many years, suddenly coming to this poor Buddhist temple, she had lost several pounds. Coupled with the previous hunger strike in a fit of anger with the emperor, how could she still have the mood to worship Buddha?
However, her hunger strike wasn't entirely for Jianing. It was mainly because the vegetarian food in the temple was really unpalatable. Eating it occasionally was novel, but eating it every day made her look green.
The maid said, "Your Majesty, the princess... is back..."
The Empress Dowager frowned, "Didn't the emperor promise me to find a good place for Jianing? Is he going back on his word?"
The maid closed her eyes, gritted her teeth, and told her the whole thing.
"The princess pushed the little prince brought back by Princess Chen An into the pool in the imperial garden. Emperor Jing Ye found out and had the princess drowned in the pool..."
The Empress Dowager felt dizzy. Her body went limp and she almost fell. The maid quickly supported her and let her lean on her.
"Your Majesty, please mourn with restraint..."
The Empress Dowager took a breath and struggled to stand up. She wanted to go out and see Jianing.
The stretcher carrying the body was in the yard outside the meditation room. The Empress Dowager trembled as she lifted the white cloth, and then let out a wail.
"Your Majesty!"
The maid rushed forward. The Empress Dowager had fainted from excessive grief.
"Quickly call the imperial physician! The Empress Dowager has fainted!"
Since the Empress Dowager's hunger strike, Emperor Jiang Jing had assigned two imperial physicians to stay here to prevent any accidents to the Empress Dowager.
The imperial physician quickly came to feel the Empress Dowager's pulse. "The Empress Dowager was overwhelmed by anger and grief. Coupled with her weak body due to the previous hunger strike, she fainted in a moment of excitement. I'll give the Empress Dowager acupuncture first and then prescribe some herbal medicine. The Empress Dowager needs to pay attention not to be too emotional, or there will be a risk of a stroke."
The maid nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, imperial physician."
After the imperial physician gave the acupuncture, the Empress Dowager slowly woke up. Two lines of turbid tears rolled down her face and into the pillow.
"Jianing is a princess after all. How could Emperor Jing Ye dispose of her?"
The maid chose her words carefully, "It is said that the biological father of that little prince is Emperor Jing Ye..."
The Empress Dowager's face suddenly turned ashen.
"There's another thing."
"Say it," the Empress Dowager closed her eyes. "There's nothing I can't bear now."
"One of the betrothal gifts that Emperor Jing Ye asked the emperor for Princess Chen An's hand in marriage is... the head of Princess Zhao Hua."
The Empress Dowager was extremely angry. "How dare he!"
The maid knelt down with a thud. "I'm damned for telling the Empress Dowager these things. Your Majesty, the imperial physician said you mustn't be so excited!"
But how could the Empress Dowager listen?
She fainted again.
The imperial physician was in a flurry again.
When this incident spread to the palace, Shen Qing and Ji Junye were having dinner in the princess mansion.
"Why is the Empress Dowager suddenly so ill?"
Ji Junye calmly picked up some food for her and said, "It's your father's doing."
Shen Qing was surprised this time. "Father?"
Didn't her father always remember the Empress Dowager's kindness in raising and supporting him?
She never expected that her father would personally take action against the Empress Dowager.
However, her surprise only lasted for a moment. What happened to the Empress Dowager had nothing to do with her. The Empress Dowager had never asked about her, and even indulged Zhao Hua to harm her life several times. Naturally, she didn't want to fulfill any filial piety.
Si Bao was sitting quietly beside them, holding a bowl. She didn't say a word but listened with her ears pricked up while eating.
Si Bao never talked casually outside, so they usually didn't avoid talking in front of her.
"What did Father say to you in the imperial study today? Why did you stay there for so long?"
"Your father put forward three conditions."
Shen Qing was stunned. "Did you agree?"
Ji Junye gave a soft "um".
Shen Qing felt a bit heart - ache. "You don't have to wrong yourself too much for me..."
Ji Junye held her hand. "As long as it's for you and for our family, I'm not wronged."
Shen Qing withdrew her hand and said awkwardly, "The child is here. What are you talking about?"
She didn't like to show affection in front of the child. She always felt it would have a bad influence on Si Bao, but he didn't care at all.
She changed the topic. "What conditions did Father put forward?"
Ji Junye also sat up straight. "One is about the idle fields. Your father also hopes that the border trade can continue and that the two countries can communicate more with each other."
The raw materials produced in Jing Country were of high quality, and the craftsmen in Jiang Country were highly skilled. The two countries were just complementary.
Shen Qing nodded. "This is a good thing. What about the other two?"