As the morning court session came to an end, Emperor Yuan and the civil and military officials argued, and the civil and military officials finally won.
Not only can the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet not be held in a grand manner, but Prince Rong is also not allowed to return to the capital.
Privately, Emperor Yuan wanted to agree to the Empress Dowager's request.
On the one hand, he wanted to fulfill his filial duty, but he also felt that the prince of Rong would not be able to achieve anything. On the other hand, the queen mother's health was deteriorating, and she only had one or two years left.
Why can't the wish of a dying person be fulfilled?
Civil and military officials said that even a lion would use all its strength to fight a rabbit, and asked Emperor Yuan not to underestimate anyone.
It is also said that a good father will have a good son, so we should take precautions before trouble occurs.
Finally, the civil and military officials stated that Daxia had sent troops to Chishui and Eastern Turkestan in less than a year, spending a large amount of money and leaving the treasury empty.
At this time, they should use the money to reward the three armies instead of the annual birthday banquet.
In addition, a group of officials from the Ministry of Revenue also said that the imperial palace should reduce expenses and Emperor Yuan should set an example.
Emperor Yuan was unable to convince the civil and military officials and could only face the swords of the Empress Dowager alone.
Shoukang Palace.
Emperor Yuan paced back and forth at the door, hesitating for a long time before walking in.
As soon as he entered the inner hall, he saw the Empress Dowager lying on the bed with her hair loose, and the head aunt of Shoukang Palace was feeding her medicine.
Hearing footsteps, the Queen Mother looked up.
When she saw that it was Emperor Yuan, she was happy at first, but then she felt disappointed when she saw the expression on Emperor Yuan's face.
She guessed the result.
Emperor Yuan sat beside the Empress Dowager's bed, took the medicine from the aunt in charge, and fed her the medicine himself.
The Queen Mother silently drank the medicine that was fed to her mouth, and waited quietly for Emperor Yuan to speak.
After feeding her the medicine and putting down the medicine bowl, Emperor Yuan slowly said, "Mother, there is good news from the front line that the Eastern Turks have surrendered.
We have won this battle. Soon, the army will return victorious, and my son has ordered a reward for the troops."
The Queen Mother understood the hidden meaning in his words, but she said nothing.
"The two expeditions cost a huge amount of money. My son has decided to reduce the expenses of everyone in the palace by 30% starting from me.
"The Queen Mother's birthday banquet needs to be simple this year. Next year, your son will hold a grand birthday banquet for you!" Emperor Yuan continued.
"Next year?" The Queen Mother forced a pale smile, "Will there be a next year?"
Emperor Yuan felt a pain in his heart and quickly held the Empress Dowager's hand, "Mother, please don't say that. You will definitely get better. Your son still wants you to see more prosperity."
The Queen Mother pulled back her hand and turned her head away from Emperor Yuan, "I just want to see that child again..."
"Mother, when you are better, I will take you to see them."
Emperor Yuan thought of a compromise. Since the civil and military officials did not agree with Prince Rong and the Crown Prince returning to the capital, he would take the Queen Mother to see them.
The Queen Mother was not happy to hear this, because she knew that with her physical condition, she could not go out.
"Mother..." Emperor Yuan's eyes were red. "How about your son summon Jiang Yueyang to treat you? She is a good doctor and will definitely make you better."
Since the Empress Dowager became seriously ill, Emperor Yuan had suggested to her many times that Jiang Yueyang should come to treat her. However, because of Prince Rong's incident, the Empress Dowager harbored resentment towards Jiang Yueyang and would rather die than let Jiang Yueyang treat her.
This time was the same. She looked at Emperor Yuan with hatred, "Even if I am terminally ill, I don't want her to treat me!"
"Mother! Prince Rong's affairs have nothing to do with her!"
"It doesn't matter?" The Queen Mother cried and laughed, "If it weren't for her, how could my son die?"
Emperor Yuan's face darkened instantly, "Mother, Prince Rong's death was all his own fault! He wanted to rebel and usurp the throne!"
The Empress Dowager had nothing to say. She stared at Emperor Yuan with her eyes twisted and her breathing rapid, still blaming Jiang Yueyang for Prince Rong's death.
After a moment of silence...
"Mother, please don't be angry with your body, okay?" Emperor Yuan spoke again, his tone softened.
The Queen Mother raised her hand and pointed outside, "Go away. I don't want to see you anymore. In the future, you don't have to come to Shoukang Palace again."
This sentence completely chilled Emperor Yuan's heart. He slowly stood up and said calmly, "My mother has given an order, and I dare not disobey. From now on, I will not set foot in Shoukang Palace again."
Hearing this, the head aunt beside her hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the queen was just angry at the moment, please don't take it seriously."
Before he finished speaking, Emperor Yuan turned around.
The aunt in charge anxiously chased after him, but was stopped by the Empress Dowager after only two steps.
"Let him go!"
Emperor Yuan stopped and the aunt in charge showed joy on her face, thinking that the relationship between mother and son had taken a turn for the better.
Unexpectedly, Emperor Yuan said in a cold voice: "The Queen Mother is not in good health, so she should rest and recuperate. The birthday banquet... is cancelled!"
Emperor Yuan gave an order to cancel the empress dowager's birthday banquet.
At that time, on the other side, Jiang Yueyang was taking Gu Ruo's pulse in the main hall of the East Palace.
When the court was dismissed, she wanted to take a look at the Supervisory Office and then go home to rest.
Unexpectedly, Gu Ruo's maid Su Ye was waiting for her on the way out of the palace.
"Yangyang, how is it?"
Jiang Yueyang took back her pulse-checking hand and said with a smile, "Congratulations, Crown Princess. You are already one month pregnant."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the palace maids and eunuchs in the palace showed happy expressions.
Very good!
Gu Ruo was also very happy. She raised her hand and gently stroked her flat belly, where a little life was growing.
Although His Highness treated her very well on weekdays, they had been married for more than a month, but they had only shown affection twice.
The arrival of the child made her feel much more at ease.
Gu Ruo's eyes became moist as she thought about it, "Yangyang, do you think he is a boy or a girl?"
[It's a boy.] The system automatically gave the answer, [But, normally you can't tell the gender of the baby after one month of pregnancy.]
Jiang Yueyang understood what he meant. To reduce trouble, she could only say, "Replying to the Crown Princess, it is still impossible to tell the gender of the fetus after one month of pregnancy. It will take at least three months."
"Then I'll wait a little longer." Gu Ruo couldn't hide the smile in her eyes, "Yangyang, there's no need to be so distant between you and me, just call me as before."
Jiang Yueyang smiled and nodded, "Aruo, congratulations."
At this time, a young eunuch came in, bowed and said respectfully, "Crown Princess, His Highness learned that Master Xiao Jiang was coming, so he ordered the Food Bureau to prepare some food and send it over."
Gu Ruo's expression changed slightly, but she soon smiled again, "Your Highness is thoughtful. Hurry up and serve the food. Yangyang and I are hungry too."
The young eunuch waved his hand outside, and people from the food bureau came in one after another with food and filled the table.
Gu Ruo pulled Jiang Yueyang to sit at the table and personally picked up some food for her, "Yangyang, I remember you like chicken wings, eat more. And this garlic pork ribs, you also like it."
"You eat too." Jiang Yueyang picked up her favorite lotus root slices and stewed lamb, "I remember you really like lotus root."
Only then did Gu Ruo realize that on the table there were not only the dishes that Jiang Yueyang liked, but also the dishes that she liked.
Her eyes were filled with tears. Your Highness...
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