Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 395: Petitioning for Merit

Doctor Tan never expected that his attempt to poach someone would result in himself being swayed by Lu Cong’s words.

Indeed! This realm ultimately belongs to the Emperor. Although the Emperor is young now, he will eventually mature and take command of the court. Prime Minister Wang has tasted the sweetness of wielding power alone; how could he be content to step back? There is bound to be conflict between the sovereign and his ministers.

This hidden worry is not for the present but for the future. In officialdom, choosing a side is important, but leaving oneself an escape route is equally important.

Lu Cong rose without any apparent intention: "I’ll see Doctor Tan off."

Doctor Tan steadied his mind, smiled, and got up to leave.

Lu Cong escorted Doctor Tan to the door and seemingly casually said with a smile: "I’ll write to you once you return to the Capital City."

Doctor Tan glanced at Lu Cong, smiled, and replied: "Then I will await Mr. Lu’s letter."

To suddenly address him as Mr. Lu at this moment, of course, carried deep meaning.

The tacit understanding among old hands in officialdom flashed at that moment. A smile flitted across Lu Cong’s eyes as he slightly nodded.

The happenings at the field manor naturally did not escape Jiang Shaohua’s notice. Before Lu Cong could return indoors, the news reached Jiang Shaohua’s ears.

"Commandery Princess, this Doctor Tan is truly irksome," Chen Jinyu grunted unhappily, "He went to catch up with Mr. Lu, surely intending to curry favor and incidentally undermine our Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua faintly smiled, "Anyone who can be undermined isn’t fit to be my pillar."

True enough.

Chen Jinyu thought for a moment and laughed, "If I were Mr. Lu, I wouldn’t want to leave Nanyang County. Aside from the Commandery Princess, who else would make such use of a criminal minister? If he goes to the Capital City, he could only be a lackey under Prime Minister Wang. How could that compare to the freedom in Nanyang County?"

"As for future prospects, assisting Mr. Cui in promoting new grains and later introducing high-yield, high-flavor vegetables and fruits are great deeds for the nation and its people, deserving a place in history. With half of the bright path already traveled, how could one abandon it midway?"

Lu Cong is, of course, a clever man, seeing things clearly and thinking them through.

Thus, to win over subordinates, one cannot rely solely on empty promises but must provide tangible benefits.

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "Mr. Lu is a smart person; he will naturally make the right choice." After a pause, she continued, "As for Cui Du, I also have faith in him."

Mentioning Cui Du, Chen Jinyu couldn’t help but murmur a few words: "Commandery Princess, why push Cui Du to the forefront? He has always been working diligently in the field manor, unnoticed by the court. Now it’s indeed hard to stay hidden."

"With such meritorious achievements, Cui Du deserves to be in the spotlight," Jiang Shaohua said earnestly, "I cannot, out of selfish desire, keep him hidden. That would be unfair to him."

"Prime Minister Wang cannot lure him away, but isn’t the Commandery Princess worried that the court might issue a decree to summon him to the Capital City to serve?" Chen Jinyu furrowed his brows, pointing out the greatest concern: "Under the Heaven, everything belongs to the sovereign. If Prime Minister Wang persuades the Emperor to issue a decree, how do we deal with it then?"

Jiang Shaohua replied calmly, "No need to wait, I will draft a memorial tonight to commend Cui Du. Tomorrow, someone will deliver it to the court."

This was to make Cui Du’s status clear and legitimate.

Chen Jinyu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, "So the Commandery Princess had plans all along, I was overthinking."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly.

Chen Jinyu eagerly spread the paper and prepared the ink, while Jiang Shaohua sat at the table, holding a pen to write a lengthy memorial. Of course, a personal letter to the Emperor was essential, along with another to the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng.

The next morning, a few swift horses set off from the field manor, heading toward the Capital City.

The matter of Jiang Shaohua writing the memorial to the court was not something she intended to hide. Soon, Cui Du heard the news and hastened to see the Commandery Princess.

"The Commandery Princess wrote a memorial to commend me?" Cui Du, unaccustomed to formalities, always forgot in his urgency.

Jiang Shaohua smiled, acknowledging with a hum: "For such extraordinary accomplishments, commendation is due."

Cui Du scratched his head: "I don’t quite understand court protocols. For someone like me, what kind of rewards could I receive?"

Jiang Shaohua playfully glanced at him, "What kind of reward do you want?"

What he wanted, of course, was a status befitting of her, allowing him to be her husband in a rightful manner.

No matter how thick-skinned Cui Du was, he couldn’t voice this thought; he coughed to clear his throat: "I truly don’t know what I want." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Jiang Shaohua thought to herself that he might as well have it written on his face, yet he was pretending. Since he was too shy to speak, she didn’t plan to unveil it: "With your merits, the court ought to confer a title. The specific title depends on the Emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager, and the officials."

After a pause, she softly added: "I privately wrote letters to the Emperor and the Grand Empress Dowager. This year, with the multiple grain contributions from Nanyang County, resolving the court’s shortage, all this fundamentally stems from your contributions. The Emperor won’t withhold a title, nor will the Grand Empress Dowager oppose it."

Cui Du stupidly uttered, "Oh."

Jiang Shaohua said no more, merely looking at him with a smile.

Cui Du grinned widely, and then, a flash of inspiration came to him, a revelation.

The Emperor not withholding a title meant he would have a status sufficient to match her. The Grand Empress Dowager not opposing implied he would not be prevented from joining the Nanyang Prince Mansion as a son-in-law.

His intentions, the Commandery Princess knew them all.

She was also showing hers through actual deeds.

Cui Du almost leaped up: "Commandery Princess!"

Jiang Shaohua acknowledged with a cheerful hum, her tone rising, she tilted her head slightly, looking playful and cute.

Cui Du’s heart was melting; he had forgotten what he meant to say; he just laughed foolishly.

Chen Jinyu’s mouth twitched slightly, silently turning his head aside.

The trusted aides had already quietly dispersed.

"Commandery Princess!" Cui Du called out again.

Jiang Shaohua pressed her lips and smiled: "I’ve been right here without moving, why do you keep calling me?"

Cui Du couldn’t stop grinning: "I don’t even know. I’m just so happy I want to call the Commandery Princess’s name and hear you acknowledge me."

Jiang Shaohua was amused, her smile widened.

In the distance, a commotion arose.

Jiang Shaohua turned her head and saw Wang Jin and Doctor Tan being stopped by the trusted aides.

Stopping the Fourth Young Master Wang was Qin Hu.

Qin Hu thought to himself that although the mute could not match our Commandery Princess, he was still better than a fair-faced young master from the Capital City. He thought this but spoke courteously: "Mr. Wang, please stay; our Commandery Princess is discussing important matters with Mr. Cui and should not be disturbed."

Wang Jin looked at the young man and woman gazing at each other with smiles, and jealousy filled his heart. However, as a gentleman, he couldn’t force his way in or spoil the scene. Blocked by Qin Hu, he stopped and stood watching.

Doctor Tan thought the Fourth Young Master was in quite a woeful state. Well, he better keep his distance to avoid the discomfort.

Doctor Tan warmly greeted Mr. Lu: "Please, Mr. Lu, lead me to the farmlands."

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