Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 401: A Good Show (Part 4)

Zheng Chen really lost!

Not only did he lose, but he lost quite embarrassingly, just as Cui Du said, he didn’t even last fifty moves!

Wang Jin’s expression was extremely complex. At this moment, he felt as embarrassed as Zheng Chen, whose handsome face was now darkened.

Cui Du didn’t care what Wang Jin was thinking in his heart, but clapped vigorously and praised the Commandery Princess.

This note of praise was extremely grating to Zheng Chen’s ears. He suddenly turned his head and glanced over coldly: "I want to seek some advice from Mr. Cui."

Cui Du looked innocent, waving his hands repeatedly: "Zheng Sheren, don’t joke around. I’ve never practiced martial arts, and would only be beaten up if I went up. You should ask the Commandery Princess for advice instead!"

Zheng Chen sneered: "I thought Mr. Cui was so capable, turns out you never practiced martial arts."

Cui Du looked frank: "Not only have I never practiced martial arts, I haven’t read much either. I’m not good at either civil or military skills, unlike Zheng Sheren and Wang Sheren."

"However, I do have my strengths. I can farm and grow new grains. I spent three years improving wheat seeds. This year’s winter wheat yield can increase by more than thirty percent."

"The Commandery Princess said that this is much more impressive than reading or practicing martial arts."

Zheng Chen was left speechless.

Jiang Shaohua thought to herself that Cui Du really doesn’t know how infuriating he is. Even without her protection, Cui Du wouldn’t suffer a loss!

Wang Jin stepped forward to mediate: "The Commandery Princess is skilled, I’ve never seen it before. It’s a fortunate thing for Zheng Sheren to get advice from the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said: "The Commandery Princess needs to bathe and change clothes, and also summon the officials for discussions. I’ll only be free in the afternoon. This morning, let Cui Du accompany the two Sherens to stroll around the Prince Mansion."

Cui Du acknowledged the order with clasped hands.

Zheng Chen swallowed his frustration and said: "If the Commandery Princess is discussing affairs with the officials, Wang Sheren and I would also like to witness it. Please allow us to join."

Wang Jin was also curious about how the Nanyang Prince Mansion conducted discussions, and immediately echoed: "Please grant us permission, Commandery Princess."

All right then!

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly.

An hour later, the study in the Nanyang Prince Mansion was fully seated.

Jiang Shaohua sat at the head, Zheng Chen and Wang Jin sat to her right, and Chief Historians Chen and Feng sat to her left. As for Cui Du and the other officials, they took their seats according to rank.

In such occasions, Chen Jinyu naturally had a place to sit in.

Zheng Chen glanced over calmly, thinking it was nonsense; Jiang Shaohua being the Commandery Princess controlling the Nanyang Prince Mansion was one thing, but why was Chen Jinyu allowed to sit in this study?

Chen Jinyu was particularly sensitive to such critical and harsh glares, and immediately glared back with bright eyes.

What’s wrong with sitting here?

This housekeeper has been serving the Commandery Princess for more than three years, everyone in the Nanyang Prince Mansion is convinced. You, an outsider, have no qualification to be critical.

Jiang Shaohua scanned over without changing her expression: "What matters are there in the Prince Mansion today, report them one by one."

Following the usual practice, Chief Historian Chen was the first to stand.

Chief Historian Chen reported mainly the correspondences of the court and the affairs reported by the various counties of Nanyang County. These matters all required Jiang Shaohua’s decisions.

Chief Historian Feng reported on the mansion’s expenditures on money and grain. Chief Historian Feng was also a clever man, seriously speaking in front of Zheng Chen and Wang Jin: "...This year’s winter wheat is growing well and should have a good harvest. However, the court repeatedly levying grain from Nanyang County is a significant burden for us."

"I earnestly request the Commandery Princess to write to the court, stating that the grain stock in Nanyang County is depleted."

Zheng Chen’s skin was thick enough, showing no reaction upon hearing this.

Wang Jin’s skin was thinner, feeling slightly hot. After all, the idea of levying grain from Nanyang County initially came from his father, Prime Minister Wang. Everyone knew what his real intentions were despite being cloaked in high ideals.

Cui Du chuckled silently to himself. Chief Historian Feng was also sly enough. Nanyang County had a great autumn harvest this year, with enough grain stock to last three years! Even if the court levied grain two or three more times, it would still suffice, how could the stock be said to be depleted? This was like cursing a bald monk in front of him!

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "It is indeed time to submit a memorial. Please, Chief Historian Chen, draft it carefully today and present it to me once it’s ready."

Following this, Yang Shi, Shen Gongzheng, Chief Clerk Wen, and others reported on the matters they were responsible for, seeking the Commandery Princess’s decisions.

Jiang Shaohua spoke concisely, straightforwardly delivering her instructions.

With outsiders present, some matters were not suitable to be reported. For instance, the Tang Family Grain Shop withdrawing personnel periodically, the Personal Guard Camp sending back the last batch of famine victims, and the situation of resettling famine victims across counties, etc. Thus, the assembly at the Nanyang Prince Mansion concluded in an hour. The various officials hurried away to their tasks.

Wang Jin looked at Jiang Shaohua with admiration: "The Prince Mansion’s discussions are really efficient, so many affairs are settled in just an hour."

In the court, a single issue would be debated and disputed back and forth, with nearly everything entangled between the Prime Minister’s faction and the Empress Dowager’s faction, vying for supremacy in everything.

Jiang Shaohua replied indifferently: "In the Nanyang Prince Mansion, I make the decisions, no one dares to impede or merely comply in appearance. Whatever I instruct, that’s what gets done, so naturally the efficiency of handling affairs is much higher."

Wang Jin’s face felt a little warm.

Zheng Chen’s eyes flashed, he suddenly said: "Nanyang County is just one county, with a population of only about ten thousand across the fourteen counties. The Prince Mansion has only a few officials, making it easy for the Commandery Princess to manage Nanyang. In the Da Liang court, there are about three hundred such places as Nanyang County, over a thousand county magistrates, and hundreds of officials in the Six Ministries in the Capital City. Civil servants, military generals, nobles, and the Imperial Family make the minds complex. Mastering the court is by no means an easy task."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Zheng Chen: "What Zheng Sheren says is true. The Emperor has been on the throne for less than a year, yet to become proficient in state affairs, and the courtiers haven’t fully pledged allegiance and sincerity. Small matters are shirked, big matters are contested, the court is filled with power-hungry people. In a few years, when the Emperor masters state affairs, he will not be manipulated or swayed." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

The last sentence was extremely sharp.

The contending powerful ministers in the court, were none other than Prime Minister Wang and Duke An. The Wang Family was reputed as the foremost family of Da Liang, and the Zheng Family, being in-law relatives, were equally ambitious.

Zheng Chen’s expression did not change, but he looked deeply at Jiang Shaohua: "What the Commandery Princess says is reasonable."

Wang Jin suppressed his embarrassment and concurred: "Although young, the Emperor diligently attends to state affairs with an intention to benefit the people. He will surely be a wise ruler in the future."

Jiang Shaohua slightly curled her lips: "The Commandery Princess will fully assist and support the Emperor. Anyone who dares to plot secretly is an enemy of the Commandery Princess."

Zheng Chen was clear-minded. The words Jiang Shaohua spoke today were meant for him to hear. Because only the two of them understood what Emperor Taihe was about to face.

Jiang Shaohua clearly stated her stance, to fully protect Emperor Taihe’s life and stabilize Da Liang’s rule.

So what about Zheng Chen, what choice would he make?

Cui Du watched this scene, sighing inwardly. Politics and the court are indeed not suitable for him. Every sentence being suggestive and double-edged, how is it not tiresome?

Forget it, he’d better focus on farming!