Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 402: Severance (Part 1)

Cui Du stayed at the Prince Mansion for two days, then returned to the field manor.

Lu Cong unexpectedly came out to greet him and joked in a low voice, "Both Sherens from Prince Zheng haven’t left yet, why did Mr. Cui come back so early?"

With two powerful rivals at the Nanyang Prince Mansion, Cui Du actually just returned to the field manor. Does he have such confidence in himself and the Commandery Princess?

Cui Du casually smiled and said, "With the two honored guests accompanied by the Commandery Princess, there’s no point in me staying at the Prince Mansion, so I might as well return early to the field manor. I should teach the new batch of farmers how to manage the soil meticulously."

Now, the new grain has been widely promoted, and basically all the common people know how to farm. However, the training classes at the field manor have not stopped. As usual, they last two months per session, and the curriculum has been greatly expanded.

Lu Cong was deeply impressed by Mr. Cui’s large-heartedness and didn’t say more. He immediately went to arrange the training affairs. Mr. Cui only took charge of teaching classes and ignored all other trivial matters. Lu Cong, stationed at the field manor, held the primary responsibility for the overall organization of the farmers’ training.

Zheng Chen and Wang Jin sensed something was wrong after not seeing Cui Du’s figure for half a day. Upon asking, they learned that Cui Du had already returned to the field manor.

Zheng Chen was displeased and sneered, "This Cui Du doesn’t consider us in the slightest."

Seeing him wander around was indeed annoying and irritating. But leaving silently like this, clearly dismissing them, was even more unpleasant.

Wang Jin sighed softly, "Now I understand why the Commandery Princess regards him differently."

Jiang Shaohua is someone who accomplishes great things and has no patience for daily expressions of fidelity. Cui Du lowers his head and works, diligent in his duties, which actually aligns more with Jiang Shaohua’s desires.

Zheng Chen discerned the meaning in Wang Jin’s words, his eyes flashing with coolness, "You rate Cui Du quite highly."

Wang Jin said seriously, "Apart from personal grudges, Cui Du is indeed a capable minister. Just the merit of cultivating new grain is enough to command respect."

Zheng Chen had no counterargument, snorted, "It’s a pity that such a capable minister is only willing to be used by the Commandery Princess. Tan Langzhong’s attempts to win him over seem pointless."

Wang Jin, humble and modest in front of Jiang Shaohua, was not so when speaking to Zheng Chen, retorted sarcastically, "For such a capable minister, any gesture of goodwill isn’t excessive. But you, always so sour and jealous, unable to tolerate anyone, is quite off-putting."

"If I remember correctly, the Commandery Princess has never shown you any favor. Where do you get the nerve and confidence to make such a show?"

To be honest, this reunion has made Zheng Chen unusually restless and sharp. He wasn’t like this back in the Capital City.

Zheng Chen coldly curled his lips, dropping a line, "What I think, what I do, is none of your business."

Then he flung his sleeves and left.

Wang Jin watched Zheng Chen’s departing figure, once again convinced that Zheng Chen wasn’t quite right.

...

The person who understands you most isn’t your friend, but your rival.

This saying is not false.

Zheng Chen was indeed exceptionally agitated.

After his rebirth, he didn’t attempt anything earth-shattering; instead, he patiently waited, just like in his previous life, for everything to progress as before, for the day when he would regain power.

But the situation gradually slipped out of control. Jiang Shaohua rose like a dark horse, becoming the greatest variable in the court. Pingzhou was divided by rebellious forces, and now plague outbreaks have erupted, throwing the entire North into chaos and unrest, this turmoil arriving years earlier than in his previous life.

This feeling of losing control was truly unsettling. He came to Nanyang County not entirely for personal matters, but for another hidden reason. He wanted to ask Jiang Shaohua directly, what exactly did she intend to do?

This was also his last effort for the sake of their past relationship.

Cui Du’s sudden departure ignited a flame in Zheng Chen’s heart. He had no intention of avoiding anyone and, under everyone’s watchful eyes, went to the study room of Nanyang Prince Mansion: "Kindly convey that I have an important matter and wish to see the Commandery Princess."

Outside the study room, Chen Jinyu’s eyebrows twitched slightly, feeling a touch of displeasure.

Is the Commandery Princess someone you can see whenever you want?

She replied in a tone neither soft nor hard, "The Commandery Princess is discussing affairs of state with Chief Historian Chen; please wait a moment, Zheng Sheren."

Zheng Chen’s gaze turned colder, "Whether to see me is for the Commandery Princess to decide. Chen Sheren, just go in and report."

Chen Jinyu wasn’t afraid of him, calmly stating, "The Commandery Princess and the Chief Historian have not finished their meeting, and no one is allowed to disturb them. Please be patient, Zheng Sheren."

Zheng Chen was full of discontent but couldn’t force his way into the study, maintaining a blank expression as he waited outside.

This wait lasted for an hour.

Only after Chief Historian Chen came out did Chen Jinyu indeed convey the message. After a while, she slowly came over to invite Zheng Chen into the study.

Zheng Chen entered the study with a cold yet handsome face.

Inside the spacious and bright study, besides Jiang Shaohua, there were also Song Yuan, Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and other trusted aides.

Zheng Chen directly stated, "I have something to say to the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at him, then turned and instructed, "All of you leave." Noticing Song Yuan furrow his brow, Jiang Shaohua smiled and added, "With this Commandery Princess’s skills, no one can harm me."

That’s true indeed. Only then did Song Yuan lead the trusted aides out.

The heavy doors finally closed.

Zheng Chen stepped forward a few paces, narrowing the distance between them to six feet. This was an extraordinarily intimate distance.

Jiang Shaohua slightly raised an eyebrow, "What do you want to say?"

Zheng Chen fixed his gaze on Jiang Shaohua’s eyes, "I should be the one asking you. Cousin Shao Hua, don’t you have anything to say to me?"

Their eyes met, but there was no sense of old feelings difficult to forget; instead, the tension boiled over, sparking at the slightest provocation.

Jiang Shaohua said blandly, "How laughable. It was you who insisted on coming to see me, saying there was something to discuss. Now you’re questioning me."

Zheng Chen’s handsome face slightly darkened, "There’s no one else here, just the two of us. There’s no need to act all high and mighty as the Commandery Princess; you know I’m not afraid of you."

Jiang Shaohua sarcastically tugged at the corner of her mouth, "That’s right, if there’s fear, it should be me fearing the future Prime Minister Zheng."

In the past life, after Zheng Chen became the Da Liang Chancellor, he wielded power alone, and his ruthlessness even surpassed Prime Minister Wang’s. Zheng Chen’s words and actions were extraordinarily domineering and assertive. Usually reserved, today he finally fully revealed himself.

"With you here, whether I can become Prime Minister again is quite uncertain." Zheng Chen’s face bore no expression, his words laced with chill, "But let’s not discuss the future; let’s talk about now. Jiang Shaohua, you secretly raise soldiers, send people to promote new grain everywhere, harbor the hungry, and send people to Pingzhou to treat the plague. With such ostentation and prominence, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Jiang Shaohua’s expression didn’t change, "Expanding the Personal Guard Camp is to protect Nanyang County and ensure Jingzhou’s safety. Promoting new grain is to fill the bellies of the northern people. Sheltering the hungry is to give them a path to survival. Treating the plague is because the court does nothing and lets the plague rage, so I must act."