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Chapter 441: Combining Hardness and Softness

The empress dowager remained silent for a long time, and couldn't help but recall the childhood of Huaijin and Chengzhang. The two were brothers and grew up together, so there was no need to explain their feelings.

Her life in the palace was difficult at that time, and her greatest wish was to protect her children well.

But later on, she was pushed step by step to the position she is in today, and of her children, only His Majesty is left...

The Queen Mother said softly, "When Chengzhang was young, he and Huaijin had a very good relationship. They had a deep brotherly love. Whenever one was punished, the other would always stand up to protect him."

Shen Shuyi said softly: "My lady, everything in the world has changed over time, why should we cling to the past?"

People will change, but change is the only constant.

She had experienced the feeling of being close to each other but eventually becoming enemies, but perhaps Emperor Qianwu should be thankful that his brother still cared about him until his death.

The Queen Mother chuckled and said, "It's ridiculous to say that I'm not as clear-headed as you think."

Shen Shuyi said softly, "I am just a bystander. If it really happened to me, I would be confused as well."

The Queen Mother said nothing, and gently turned the ivory beads in her hand.

Shen Shuyi said again: "No one knows your majesty and the late Second Prince better than you. You might as well think about how to resolve the rift between the two. For example... why did the two become estranged? Or... did the late Second Prince leave anything to prove his feelings for your majesty..."

The Queen Mother pursed her lips slightly. Although she said nothing, it was obvious that she was indeed reminiscing.

Shen Shuyi didn't say anything more. This was enough.

She knew that the biggest regret for the Queen Mother was that she, as the Queen Mother, could no longer do anything for her dead children.

Therefore, if she could do anything to relieve her guilt, she would do it.

Frankly speaking, the Empress Dowager treated her well in her previous life.

But later... the empress dowager suspected that she was involved in the deaths of Xiao Heyu and Xiao Yuncheng, and gradually became indifferent to her.

After all, no matter how close the Queen Mother is to her, she can never compare to the real prince and grandson of the emperor.

What's more, she was helping Xiao Tingshan, the emperor's grandson who had no feelings for the empress dowager at all. The empress dowager's favors for him could be regarded as compensation for all these years, but if Xiao Tingshan killed other princes and fought for the throne, the empress dowager would inevitably feel resentful.

Thinking of this, Shen Shuyi couldn't help but think of many things.

In her previous life, the Empress Dowager became indifferent to her. It was not known whether Xiao Tingshan had done something in secret, or whether he had not been able to conceal what he had done, which resulted in the Empress Dowager becoming a little distant from her.

Things in the past can no longer be verified, and it is not easy for someone like the Queen Mother to be sincere to her.

"Why aren't you speaking?" The Queen Mother withdrew her thoughts and looked at Shen Shuyi.

Shen Shuyi said softly: "I just thought of some old things and felt that things in the world are unpredictable. Sometimes a little misunderstanding can alienate the closest people."

The Queen Mother nodded: "That's true."

The Queen Mother did not continue the topic, but asked: "I punished you last time, don't you hate me?"

Shen Shuyi said: "I can't say I bear a grudge, but I do feel a little aggrieved. However, after listening to what the queen said today, Shuyi finally understood the queen's intentions."

"Oh? Tell me."

Shen Shuyi said in a deep voice: "The queen wants to teach Shuyi that being too rigid will lead to failure."

The Queen Mother looked at the girl's clear and cold eyes and was in a trance for a moment.

She is different from Changle after all...

She had also taught Changle, but Changle was always stubborn and obstinate. If you said too much, she would remain silent.

In comparison, although Shen Shuyi is also stubborn, he is more flexible and has long understood that being too rigid will lead to failure.

"You are very insightful, but I am the one who worries too much." The Queen Mother said in a deep voice.

"Shuyi will benefit greatly from the guidance of the Empress." Shen Shuyi said seriously.

The Queen Mother smiled, looked at Chenxiang and said, "Give her some medicine for her injuries. It's freezing cold right now, so go back and take good care of yourself."

"Thank you, Queen Mother."

Shen Shuyi looked calm, knowing that this was a common tactic used by those in power, punishing first and then rewarding to show the emperor's grace.

After she left, the Queen Mother fiddled with the ivory beads in her hand and said slowly, "This boy is very careful and knows when to act. Shen Jingchuan has really raised a man of character."

"I'm sure Miss Shen will be proud to receive a word of praise from the Queen." Haoyue responded softly.

The Queen Mother lowered her eyes and said, "It would be great if Changle understood the principle of combining hardness and softness like her."

Chen Xiang said: "Your Majesty hasn't praised anyone for a long time. I guess Miss Shen really pleases you."

The Queen Mother stood up and said, "He is a very pleasing and transparent character."

Chen Xiang responded: "It's not easy for Miss Shen to get to where she is now. She has fought her way out on her own."

The Queen Mother had previously asked someone to investigate the Shen family's affairs and did know something about them.

"She really has no one to rely on in the Shen family." The Queen Mother said slowly, and then her eyes fell on the ivory beads in her hand: "Qingyuan Marquis Mansion is not bad..."

Chen Xiang continued, "The eldest son of the Qingyuan Marquis's Mansion has done a great job in saving the emperor. It seems that His Majesty intends to use the Marquis' Mansion."

The Queen Mother said slowly: "If Zhong Yu Huaijin had not been implicated, it would not have been like this based on the merits of the Marquis' Mansion."

"In that case, I will do her a favor as compensation."

*

The autumn hunt was over and all civil and military officials returned to the capital.

The day after Emperor Qianwu returned to the capital, he issued an imperial decree in the Grand Palace, appointing Marquis Qingyuan as co-director of the Privy Council, an official of the second rank.

At the same time, Zhao Baokun was promoted to Shaoqing of Weiwei Temple, and Zhao Baopeng was appointed as Colonel of Longxiang Army.

In addition, the eldest son Zhao Dechuan had made great contributions in rescuing the emperor during the autumn hunt and was appointed as the commander of the imperial guards and cavalry. For a time, the Qingyuan Marquisate was re-employed and became a popular minister close to the emperor.

Qingyuan Hou was old, with tears streaming down his face, kneeling in the hall: "I will not let your majesty down. Thank you for your grace!"

Zhao Baokun and Zhao Baopeng were even more excited.

My cousin didn’t lie to them, they really did it, and my cousin really helped them recover!

From now on, they no longer have to tolerate everything and be bullied!

And the Qingyuan Marquisate was finally no longer an empty shell with only the title but no real power and no favor from the emperor!

Xiao Heyu stood aside, watching this scene with an unfathomable expression.

The expressions of Chai Zhi and the Qin family were even worse.

After all, before this autumn hunt, none of them could have imagined that the Qingyuan Marquisate could win the emperor's favor!

Xiao Tingshan also had complicated thoughts. He expected that His Majesty would definitely reward the Qingyuan Marquisate greatly.

But he still didn't expect that Mr. Zhao would get such an important position.

I just don't know how much of all this was the work of that woman.

In comparison, Shen Jingchuan had a more complicated mood.

Originally, he was quite angry about Shen Shuyi being punished by the Queen Mother, and he scolded her.

But unexpectedly, the Qingyuan Marquis Mansion changed its mind and rose rapidly to prominence, which is no longer the same as before.

At this moment, he felt fortunate in his heart that he had listened to Shen Shuyi before and reminisced with the Marquis's Mansion in time.