Chapter 10, The Position of the Regent

Wang Qingjun smiled and said, "I don't even remember things from the past, do you only know how to tease me?"

The princess said: "Once Little Five ascends the throne, there must be someone to oversee him. However, with only you, Empress Dowager, I fear you may not be able to keep the ministers in check." She then glanced at Liu Xue.

Wang Qingjun stopped at the grape path and said: "Doctor Fang also mentioned that this is amnesia, which cannot be treated with medicine and can only be gradually recovered. You should tell me about the past events so that I have a better understanding."

Madam Mo entered the palace at the age of fifteen and has been in the palace for over twenty years. She knows more about the darkness within the palace than most others. She is well aware that the Princess Qianjin is not here to make a request; she is here to deliver a notification. If Wang Qingjun does not comply, she has plenty of ways to enforce her will. Moreover, Wang Qingjun is currently in a weak position and cannot resist; whether she agrees or not, she must comply.

Liu Xuehui understood and stepped forward to pay her respects, saying to Princess Wang Qingjun: "The princess means that the ministers are watching closely, hoping that Her Majesty the Empress Dowager can set aside past grievances and unite against external threats, so that we will not be bullied."

This is too much! After the princess and her entourage left the palace, Ye Susu could no longer contain her anger and began to cough violently.

Currently, the situation in the court is changing rapidly. The Situ family, holding significant military power, naturally rises to prominence. As a result, Situ Yuan has secured a key position in the court.

Wang Qingjun found it quite strange. Wasn't Chen Wen'an the fiancé of the princess? Why did these few people mention him as if he had provoked them, or as if they had provoked him?

Wang Qingjun looked coldly at the wealthy princess, pondering to herself, someone whose emotions of joy and anger are clearly displayed on their face shouldn't be too difficult to deal with, right

As the atmosphere in the room relaxed, the princess's expression softened, and she nodded, saying: "The Empress Dowager truly understands reason."

Li Songbai nodded and said, "Naturally, we must think of a comprehensive solution"

Tang Tianxi and Tang Tianle were sleeping soundly when they were suddenly awakened by a loud noise, and they couldn't help but cry out "Wah Wah".

Li Songbai checked Wang Qingjun's pulse and nodded, saying: "Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's health has nearly recovered; as long as her diet is appropriate, there should be no major issues"

Wang Qingjun hurriedly got off the ground, reached out to embrace Tang Tianxi, and gestured for Ye Susu to pick up Tang Tianle, softly comforting them. When she saw that they had stopped crying, she turned to the princess and said: "Princess, you frightened Xiao Xi and Xiao Le. If anything were to happen to them, what would we do?" As she spoke, her heart ached uncontrollably.

Wang Qingjun's thoughts turned rapidly, and she smiled as she said: "At present, we are but a mother and her orphaned child; who else can we rely on if not the princess? Naturally, we must invite the princess to jointly oversee the state affairs."

The grape leaned close to Wang Qingjun's ear and said, "My lord, Doctor Li is the son of Li Zong, Li Songbai. When you first entered the palace, it was thanks to Doctor Li's timely reports that you narrowly avoided several disasters. If you wish to meet General Situ Shao, it seems you will also need to ask Doctor Li to find a way for you!"

Chen Wen'an is very, very handsome, very, very... The grape did not know how to express it well, rubbing his hands and said: "In any case, the master should not get too close to him."

Ye Susu has considerable insights regarding the situation in the palace and the court, and her words carry weight. Wang Qingjun must ponder this carefully and thus remarks: "In other words, the current court is divided into three factions: one faction is the powerful elite led by Chen Wen'an and He Tushu, another is the military faction led by Situ Yuan, and the last is the civil officials led by Jian Yunshi"

Why is Chen Wen'an so frightening? Wang Qingjun frowned slightly

Wang Qingjun nodded and said: "The kindness of Doctor Li will naturally be repaid in the future"

Ye Susu also whispered: "The Empress Dowager is currently in confinement, and it is the precious princess who presides over the palace affairs. If General Situ wishes to enter the palace, it may not be easy, so I ask Dr. Li to help find a way!"

Wang Qingjun set down Tang Tianxi and instructed the grape to watch carefully before continuing the conversation: "What does the princess wish to do?"

After the grape finished speaking, Ye Susu continued: "Currently, apart from the master in the palace, the most significant figures are the Princess Qianjin and Chen Wen'an. The great power in the court has entirely fallen into the hands of the Chen family, and I fear that the Chen family will coerce the emperor to command the feudal lords. The master must remain vigilant. If the master appropriately supports Situ Yuanhe and Jian Yunshi, allowing them to counterbalance Chen Wen'an, when the Fifth Prince ascends to the throne, he will not be bullied by the Chen family."

The princess raised her head and saw that both the grape and Aunt Mo were looking at her with a face full of vigilance, which made her extremely displeased. She huffed and said, "Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu are my younger brothers; would I harm them? Just look at the way you two lowly maids are acting, who do you think you are trying to guard against?"

Grapes and Aunt Mo have already entered quietly, standing by the small bed, pushing aside the palace maids beside the precious princess

Speaking properly, the voice of the grape outside said: "I have seen Her Highness the Princess!"

"Master, are you alright? Do you want me to summon the imperial physician to take a look?" Grape said anxiously

The princess stood up and said: "It will be on the day of the full moon for the two little ones. As for how to prepare, there are others to worry about that; Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager, just needs to take care of your health." As she spoke, she instructed Grape and the others, "Take good care of the two princes; if anything goes wrong, it will be on you!" With that, she strode away.

What should I do? Wang Qingjun was completely at a loss.

Wang Qingjun came to her senses and, recalling the words about the grapes, smiled and said: "I would like to meet Major General Situ. Could Doctor Li possibly help deliver a message?"

Get up! The voice of the princess, who is worth a thousand gold pieces, said: "Who is in the hall?"

Grapes recalled another matter and leaned close to Wang Qingjun's ear, saying: "My lord, other ministers may be manageable, but Chen Wen'an is not to be trifled with; you must keep your distance from him."

After Li Songbai left, the princess walked over to the small bed to look at Tang Tianxi and Tang Tianle, exclaiming: "Just the other day when I came to see them, they were still such tiny bundles; today, they seem to have grown a lot!"

The princess, seeing Tang Tianxi and Tang Tianle crying, only puffed up her cheeks and remained silent. Once they had stopped crying, she finally spoke: "Father and Mother are gone, and so are my elder brother and younger brother. Fortunately, there are Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu, so I naturally..." As she spoke, she realized that she should not show weakness in front of Wang Qingjun, so she stopped and turned to look at the palace maid Liu Xue beside her.

Li Songbai bowed and replied: "The imperial physician Fang's mother is critically ill, and he has already taken leave from the palace. I am now here to take the pulse of Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

Madam Mo and the grape also wore solemn expressions, but they refrained from scolding out of fear of waking Tang Tianxi and Tang Tianle

Showing goodwill ~ Ye Susu and others spoke in unison, their tones winding and intricate.

Old Madam Mo also nodded in agreement, saying: "Su Su is right. The master should not only think of himself but also consider the two princes. Once the Fifth Prince ascends the throne, without anyone to rely on, he will only be bullied by others. It is essential to win over General Situ Shao at this moment!"

"It is Doctor Li who has come to diagnose the Ping'an pulse," replied Grape

Grape first recounted Wang Qingjun's background.

Liu Xue softly said: "What the princess means is that she hopes Her Majesty the Empress Dowager can summon the ministers to allow Her Highness the Princess to jointly oversee the country with Her Majesty the Empress Dowager"

"Your Majesty, Imperial Physician Li has come to request a pulse check for peace." A palace maid reported from outside.

Before the words were finished, the precious princess rushed in. Upon seeing Li Songbai, she exclaimed, "Wasn't it Doctor Fang who was responsible for the pulse diagnosis? Why has it changed to someone else?"

Ye Susu was filled with indignation; now that Wang Qingjun is the Empress Dowager, she is the mother of the princess with a title of a thousand golds. Yet, she even omitted the formal greeting and treated Wang Qingjun as if she were invisible.

Oh, is this implying seduction? Wang Qingjun glanced at the grapes, then at Ye Susu, and finally at Mo Momo, cautiously asking: "How should one show goodwill?"

Wang Qingjun lowered her eyelids, her eyelashes fluttering, concealing her anger, and said: "I wonder which auspicious day the Astronomical Bureau has chosen for the enthronement ceremony?"

Ye Susu's eyes lit up, and she smiled, saying: "Indeed, once the national mourning period is over, do you not believe she will marry? As long as she marries into the Chen family, she will become a woman of the Chen surname; how could she still act as regent?"

Both Granny Mo and Ye Susu said in unison: "This is only natural"

The room is so quiet that a pin drop can be heard

Ye Susu and others cast a disdainful glance at Wang Qingjun, exclaiming, "Heavens, is this even a question? As the Empress Dowager, when receiving ministers, all it takes is a slight display of goodwill, and the other party would be overwhelmed with gratitude, determined to pledge their loyalty in return. Oh no, not just loyalty, but a heartfelt commitment to serve the court.

Ye Susu signaled to Wang Qingjun, suggesting that she should agree first and then plan further after overcoming this hurdle

General Situ is indeed wholeheartedly devoted to his master

The grape also fears that Wang Qingjun will not agree, and the princess worth a thousand gold will forcibly take Tang Tianxi away, leaving one feeling anxious in silence

Wang Qingjun lowered her head in contemplation for a moment, then raised it and said: "You need not worry too much. After all, the princess has already been promised to someone. Once she marries another, there will naturally be ministers who oppose her regency."

Ye Susu nodded and said: "Indeed. After the death of the late emperor, the Chen family sought to monopolize power, dismissing many old ministers and appointing new ones. Some who had originally supported the Crown Prince, fearing repercussions due to his exile, had no choice but to submit memorials requesting to retire and return home. Consequently, more than half of the ministers in the court were replaced. The current authorities are all extremely young and impetuous"

When Li Songbai entered to take the pulse, Granny Mo and Putao went to guard the door outside, leaving only Ye Susu inside to serve.

Oh, have you finished taking the pulse? If you have, please go down! The princess of a thousand golds did not care who came to take the pulse of Wang Qingjun; it was merely a casual inquiry.

Listening to the words of the grape, Ye Susu said: "This chip of Major General Situ must be utilized well"

Alright, I understand! Wang Qingjun said awkwardly, as a beautiful and young Empress, it is certainly more effective to win the favor of the ministers.