Chapter 291: Chapter 291

In her previous life, Jiang Shaohua single-handedly raised her son, gaining considerable experience in taking care of young boys. She first ordered Eunuch Yuan to take the Second Prince aside for convenience.

When Eunuch Yuan returned, there were a few more scratches on his face, and his hair was disheveled, making him look quite bedraggled.

Jiang Shaohua’s expression darkened slightly, and she coldly glanced at the Second Prince.

The Second Prince shrank back, wanting to cry but not daring to, his tears spinning in his eyes.

Jiang Shaohua pulled the Second Prince over, just like yesterday, feeding him buns and water. Once he was full, she unceremoniously pinpointed his stunned acupoint, then instructed Eunuch Yuan, "Take the Second Prince to the carriage to rest. Bring him back after he sleeps for half a day."

After her rebirth, she suddenly possessed divine power. Over the past three years, she practiced diligently every day, becoming increasingly skillful and brave, and her divine power became even more astonishing. Holding the Second Prince all the time, she never felt tired.

However, she had already shown what needed to be shown and displayed the strength that needed to be displayed, and she had no interest in holding the Second Prince all the time.

Eunuch Yuan hastily complied, carrying the sleeping Second Prince to the carriage.

Half a day later, the Second Prince indeed woke up.

Logically, being free from Jiang Shaohua’s "clutches," the Second Prince should be happy. But the reality was quite the opposite. As soon as he opened his eyes and found himself in the carriage, the Second Prince immediately began to wail.

Eunuch Yuan was already used to his master’s temper, and he gently coaxed him, "Your Highness, what do you want?"

"Cousin!" the Second Prince cried and shouted as he wept.

Eunuch Yuan’s mouth twitched slightly, thinking this was odd. The Nanyang County Princess never showed a pleasant face, always using acupoints and scaring him, so why did the Second Prince seem to favor staying with her?

Eunuch Yuan had no time to carefully consider this. The Second Prince’s piercing cries could almost break everyone’s eardrums.

Eunuch Yuan hurriedly picked up the Second Prince and ran breathlessly to the side of the Nanyang County Princess: "Your Highness woke up and wants to see the Commandery Princess!"

The Second Prince sobbed spasmodically, with tears and snot everywhere.

Jiang Shaohua looked a bit repulsed, took a handkerchief, and wiped his face. Then she held him in her arms: "No crying."

The Second Prince immediately stopped crying, obediently resting in his cousin’s fragrant embrace.

The Crown Prince noticed this scene and also found it amusing. He turned his head and whispered, "Taking care of my second brother along the way, you’ve worked hard."

Jiang Shaohua softly replied, "Being able to do something small to ease my cousin’s worries gives me great joy. There is still half a day and a night journey before we reach the Emperor’s Mausoleum, cousin, you have to hold on."

The Crown Prince nodded, sighing inwardly.

A journey of two days and two nights had exhausted their spirits to the brink of collapse. When the distant solemnity of the Emperor’s Mausoleum came into view, it was just the fifth hour of the following day. A faint light appeared in the sky.

Tears filled the eyes of everyone accompanied by a warm and spontaneous wave of emotion.

The Second Prince had taken another nap, rubbing his eyes and looking around.

Jiang Shaohua, seeing that he was not crying or fussing, finally engaged him in a few words: "This is the Emperor’s Mausoleum. Later, when the coffin is buried, you will follow your cousin to pay respects. At that time, you can cry loudly. However, you must not run around or shout recklessly."

The Second Prince nodded aggrievedly, reaching out to tug at Jiang Shaohua’s sleeve: "Cousin, I’m hungry."

Others ate just one meal a day, enduring through it. But the Second Prince, without missing a meal, had three meals a day.

The burying of the Emperor’s coffin involved lengthy and complicated procedures. Minister Li, who had been lying in the carriage all night, was supported down and gathered himself to preside over the funeral ceremony.

Jiang Shaohua, holding the Second Prince, stood behind the Crown Prince. In terms of standing position, she was even closer than Prince Dongping and Prince Huaiyang. Whether Prince Dongping and Prince Huaiyang were pleased or not, no one knew.

Prince Wu’an and his son stood behind the Vassal King. Thɪs chapter is updated by 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵

After walking for two days and two nights, Prince Wu’an was already exhausted, and the last of his energy was spent glaring angrily at Jiang Shaohua.

The Heir of Prince Wu’an quietly tugged at his father’s sleeve, signaling him to restrain himself a little.

Jiang Shaohua, having only rested for half a day, carried the Second Prince with vitality all the way to the Emperor’s Mausoleum. This stamina was frighteningly full. Neither they nor the experts in the Imperial Guard, with their remarkable skills, could compare with such endurance.

From this, it could be deduced that Jiang Shaohua was not merely bluffing but truly had ability and strength.

Respect must be given to those with ability and strength. This has nothing to do with gender or age, but only with the level of prowess.

Reluctantly retracting his gaze, Prince Wu’an inwardly snorted.

A young girl; no matter how capable, what does it mean? She’s just a pawn in the hands of Empress Dowager Zheng, a blade for the Crown Prince to suppress Prime Minister Wang. Once the pawn crosses the river, it becomes useless, and when the blade dulls, it is discarded. What’s there to be arrogant about?

More than half a day later, the coffin was finally buried.

The Crown Prince personally held a handful of dirt and spread it over the tomb, tears streaming down.

The Second Prince, having been instructed by Jiang Shaohua, began to cry loudly, aligning perfectly with the scene as the officials’ mourning cries filled the air.

Jiang Shaohua used a ginger handkerchief prepared earlier to wipe the corners of her eyes, soon reddening her eyes.

Yellow paper money was stacked and burned, with flames three feet high. A piece, caught by the wind, spun and blew onto the Second Prince’s hair.

Unfortunate Second Prince, in an instant, his hair was singed, and he cried out in terror.

Zheng Chen, standing nearby, reacted quickly, rushing to the Second Prince’s side.

A figure closer and faster than him snatched a long sword from a nearby Imperial Guard, and with a flash of the blade, severed the singed hair of the Second Prince.

It was Jiang Shaohua.

The Second Prince plunged into Jiang Shaohua’s embrace, crying with all his might: "Cousin, I’m scared."

Jiang Shaohua easily picked up the Second Prince, patting his back: "With cousin here, don’t be afraid."

The Second Prince buried his head in his cousin’s neck and continued to cry.

Jiang Shaohua gently patted the Second Prince’s back while quietly retreating. The brief chaos quickly subsided, and the funeral proceeded as planned.

The fire in front of the Emperor’s Mausoleum continued until dusk.

The Crown Prince, drained and overwhelmed by grief, fainted in front of the mausoleum. The accompanying Doctor Ji hurriedly administered acupuncture for emergency treatment.

The Crown Prince was unconscious, the Second Prince had cried himself to sleep, and the head of the Imperial Family, Prince Gaoliang, was tongue-tied, unable to say a complete sentence. The young companions of the Crown Prince had neither the credentials nor qualifications to deliver declarations on his behalf.

The eldest Vassal King, Prince Dongping, naturally stepped forward, announcing that everyone would rest at the Emperor’s Mausoleum for the night and continue the journey in the morning. The Vassal Kings of the Imperial Family agreed, but the officials remained unmoved.

Prime Minister Wang, without a word, cast a glance at Prince Dongping and played along: "You’ve all heard Prince Dongping; now take your rest!"

Only then did the officials disperse.

This is the power and influence of a prime minister. Not to mention Prince Dongping, even the Crown Prince’s orders pale in comparison right now.

Jiang Shaohua coldly tugged at the corner of her mouth.