Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 363: The Letter (Part 2)

The two young servants became more and more enthusiastic as they talked, momentarily forgetting themselves, causing their voices to grow louder.

Cui Du, who was rolling around on the bed, blushed slightly, got off the bed, and coughed once. The two young servants immediately fell silent.

Cui Du read the letter carefully once more, as if through the words he could see the vibrant and beautiful young girl.

Knock knock knock!

The sound of knocking came.

Swiftly coming to his senses, Cui Du stuffed the letter into his chest and walked forward to open the door.

Standing outside was Lu Cong, Lu Sheren.

Lu Cong’s gaze swept over Cui Du’s radiant face, smiling knowingly: "I heard the Commandery Princess specially wrote a handwritten letter and had it sent to the manor. The Commandery Princess’s esteem for Mr. Cui is truly enviable."

The last sentence was a double entendre, rich with meaning.

Having interacted with Lu Cong for nearly two years in a truly pleasant relationship, Cui Du did not feel embarrassed or shy at being teased this way. He grinned and said, "I also did not expect the Commandery Princess to write a letter."

Lu Cong honestly said, "This year, Nanyang County’s new grain harvest was plentiful. Now with the grain, the Commandery Princess has enough confidence to handle the court’s grain levy, staying proactive and continuing to recruit soldiers and shelter the famine victims. There’s so much she can do. You’re the top contributor, and no reward is too great."

To him, this letter was the best reward.

Cui Du didn’t say it aloud, but the smile on his handsome face expressed everything.

Lu Cong watched, laughed again, "Perhaps you could write a reply to the Commandery Princess, and have Meng Guard take it back."

Cui Du’s eyes brightened, nodding repeatedly.

Lu Cong, quick-witted and sensible, immediately retreated.

Cui Du sat at the table, picked up his usual charcoal pencil, and scribbled away a page. Looking back, unhappy with its sentimentality, he tore it up and started over. The second time, it was too restrained.

Cui Du was still dissatisfied, so he tore it up once more.

He busied himself for quite a while before finally nodding with satisfaction, placing the letter in the envelope, and then went off to find Meng Sanbao.

On that day when out of nowhere, Cui Du fell into his lap, Meng Sanbao was the one who took him to the Prince Mansion, and the two even lived together for a period. With that friendship, they were very familiar with one another.

Meng Sanbao accepted the letter, teased in a low voice, "The Commandery Princess usually writes letters to Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng and even to the Emperor and Grand Empress Dowager. Writing to a peer, though, this is a first."

Cui Du grinned broadly, revealing pearly whites, "I know. That’s why I’m very happy."

Meng Sanbao was almost blinded by the flash of his smile and felt goosebumps as he safely stored the letter, "Rest assured! I will personally deliver the letter to the Commandery Princess."

Cui Du nodded continuously, urging Meng Sanbao to set off.

Meng Sanbao chuckled in exasperation, "It’s already dark, let me at least eat a hot meal and sleep before I go. The Commandery Princess is inspecting Bo Wang County, the letter will definitely reach her in just two or three days, what’s the rush."

That kind of longing to sprout wings and fly to her side, how could it be described as mere urgency.

A thought flashed through Cui Du’s mind, and his eyes suddenly lit up, "By the way, I have an idea."

...

Three days later, Bo Wang County Government.

Tang Youyin reported with cupped hands, "The household registers have all been verified, not missing a single person. The accounts for the grain distribution are clear and accurate."

Jiang Shaohua was quite satisfied, "With County Magistrate Chen doing his duties, of course, I trust him."

Beside her, Chen Jinyu smiled brightly, "The Commandery Princess has already inspected the famine victims’ villages. Will you be going to the iron mine tomorrow?"

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, "Yes, I need to go inspect the mine." She paused and then said, "Notify them of my decree, Ma Sheren and Yang Shi will stay at the county government. Chief Historian Chen, Chen Sheren, and County Magistrate Chen will accompany me into the mine."

Ma Yaosong and Yang Zheng both agreed, though they felt somewhat disappointed.

Only those who accompany the Commandery Princess into the mine are her true confidants. This trust and honor have always belonged to the Chen family ancestors.

As they were speaking, the dust-covered Meng Sanbao came in, his thick black face filled with a satisfied smile, "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, I’m back."

Jiang Shaohua smiled at Meng Sanbao, "You’ve endured hardships on your journey, go and rest a while!"

Meng Sanbao grinned, "I have another important matter to report, Mr. Cui came back with me.

What?

Cui Du came too?!

Jiang Shaohua rarely was taken aback, instinctively standing up, "Where is he?"

Meng Sanbao replied with a smile, "Mr. Cui is waiting outside, if the Commandery Princess wishes to see him, I will immediately go invite Mr. Cui in."

Jiang Shaohua uttered an ’um’.

Chen Zhuo coughed once and signaled to everyone with a look.

Everyone immediately understood.

The handsome young man entered, wearing plain clothes, and first saluted the Commandery Princess with cupped hands. Chief Historian Chen and others exchanged greetings with Cui Du and then bowed to take their leave.

"Commandery Princess, I have official duties to attend to, I will take my leave."

"Commandery Princess will enter the mine tomorrow, I will go now to arrange the horses and carriages."

Chen Jinyu’s big black eyes wandered between the Commandery Princess and Cui Du, eager to stay and watch. But she saw her grandfather subtly glaring in her direction.

Chen Jinyu had no choice but to find an excuse and take her leave.

After exiting, Chen Jinyu turned back for a quick peek.

Chen Zhuo couldn’t help but reach out and gently pat his granddaughter on the back of her head, "That’s enough, no peeking. Go back and chat with your mother."

Chen Jinyu sighed internally. She actually preferred to be busy with work rather than chat with her own mother.

Seeing her granddaughter’s reluctance, Chen Zhuo smiled and reminded again, "You frequently run around, it’s rare for you to come home, so fulfilling filial duties is also right. Don’t upset your mother, or she’ll find fault with you."

Chen Jinyu had no choice but to nod in agreement.

Mrs. Yao was idle and delighted to see her daughter, eagerly grasping Chen Jinyu’s hand, asking all sorts of questions, "Why aren’t you serving by the Commandery Princess’s side, back home during the day?"

"The Commandery Princess treats our Chen family with grace as high as a mountain, you must serve well and ease the Commandery Princess’s worries."

Chen Jinyu chuckled, "Mother always used to complain that the Commandery Princess had all sorts of shortcomings, why has your tone suddenly changed?"

Mrs. Yao laughed, "Back then, I was just a frog at the bottom of a well, with a narrow vision, not knowing the Commandery Princess’s good. Now your elder brother and Miss Xue Liu are engaged, and next year he will marry Miss Xue Liu."

"Thinking about this, even in my dreams I burst into laughter."

Listening, Chen Jinyu suddenly came to realize, feeling somewhat uneasy, "So, mother, it’s because of brother’s engagement that you are grateful to the Commandery Princess? And you don’t mind me continuing to serve by her side?"

Mrs. Yao glanced at her daughter with a smile, "Yes, now I see things clearly. Conventional young ladies are many, but capable ones like you are few."

"Besides, the Commandery Princess can be a matchmaker for your elder brother, she definitely won’t ignore your lifelong affairs."

"So tell me, you’ve been in the Capital City for more than half a year, always by the Commandery Princess’s side, entering the palace and attending court sessions. Have you met any young talents in the Capital City?"

Chen Jinyu: "..."