Chapter 299: Chapter 299

To Jiang Shaohua, dealing with Princess Bao Hua and the others is truly not a difficult task.

In this lifetime, she has already escaped the glamorous cage, breaking free from the fate of a caged bird. How could an eagle soaring in the blue sky compare with a caged bird in height or length?

Her real opponents have never been them.

Jiang Shaohua stayed in the palace until dusk before leaving. This time, Mr. Zhao personally escorted her to the palace gate.

"The Commandery Princess’s actions greatly please the Empress Dowager." Mr. Zhao whispered with a smile, "The Lady often praises the Commandery Princess in front of her servants."

Jiang Shaohua smiled faintly and whispered, "I appreciate Mr. Zhao often speaking on my behalf. This friendship, I have accepted, and will definitely repay generously in the future."

The Commandery Princess is truly an open-hearted person.

Mr. Zhao felt delighted and whispered further, "The Lady is very fond of the Commandery Princess and seems to have intentions of keeping her in the palace."

Jiang Shaohua’s brows did not move: "I must return to Nanyang County. If the Lady brings this up, please help me navigate it a bit."

Mr. Zhao responded with a diligent smile, "Of course, the Commandery Princess can rest assured, the servant will certainly always speak for the Commandery Princess in the Lady’s ear."

Mr. Zhao escorted Jiang Shaohua all the way to the palace gate. By this time, the sky had already darkened into dusk.

Dozens of personal soldiers were waiting outside the palace gate.

Jiang Shaohua’s brows relaxed, her mood lightened considerably, and she turned to Song Yuan and the others with a smile, "Let’s return to the Prince Mansion."

The crowd unanimously agreed.

After a stick of incense, Jiang Shaohua stepped into the Nanyang Prince Mansion. Personal soldier Sun An hurriedly approached and presented a letter: "Commandery Princess, Chief Historian Chen’s letter has arrived."

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, accepted the letter and casually opened it. Content orıginally comes from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝖿𝗂𝗋𝖾※𝙣𝙚𝙩

While she was away from Nanyang County during this period, all matters of the Prince Mansion were entrusted to Chen and Feng, the two Chief Historians. Especially Chief Historian Chen, who managed personnel, was busy and heavily stressed.

Chief Historian Chen wrote a letter every seven or eight days and sent it to the Capital City. All major and minor matters were reported to her in the letters.

"...This year’s spring plowing has begun. All fourteen counties are planting new grains and actively opening wasteland for farming. Among them, Li County contributed the most, opening more than twenty thousand acres of wasteland. I have authorized the issuance of a commendatory official document on behalf of the Commandery Princess with substantial rewards."

"Tang Wu took grains to sell in the North, and initial results have appeared. According to my knowledge, five counties have already started planting corn and sweet potatoes. However, during the transportation of grain, the convoy was twice attacked by hungry people trying to seize it. They were driven away by the trusted aides, but the Personal Guard Camp suffered over twenty casualties..."

Seeing this, Jiang Shaohua furrowed her brows and then sighed lightly.

These were expected occurrences. Yet, when they actually happened, they still left her feeling as if something was stuck in her throat.

"Did something happen to the Personal Guard Camp?" Song Yuan, who had been closely observing the Commandery Princess’s change in expression, asked softly.

Jiang Shaohua made a sound of affirmation: "During the transportation of grain, they encountered hungry people, resorted to arms, and killed over a hundred to repel them. Our side also suffered over twenty losses."

Song Yuan comforted her softly: "Soldiers are raised for a thousand days, only to be used at crucial moments. Since they are trusted aides of the Commandery Princess, they are prepared to charge into battle for her at any time. The Commandery Princess need not feel guilty or blame herself."

Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment before saying: "Those who love should not manage wealth, those who care should not command armies. I understand the reasoning behind this. It’s just that I’m feeling frustrated and upset, so I speak of it before Uncle."

After speaking, she regained her spirits and continued reading the letter. Once she finished, Jiang Shaohua spoke softly, "Chief Historian Chen has given me a list of names to privately contact and move with."

On this list, there were a total of twelve individuals. The highest-ranked was the second-ranked Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, and the lowest-ranked was the seventh-ranked Imperial Censor, who was low in position but high in power. Among them, eight were civil officials, and four were military generals. These were all influential officials in the Da Liang Court.

This is the well-maintained network of relations that the Nanyang Prince Mansion spends large sums of money on each year.

This layer of connections typically does not show itself, but it subtly operates in the background.

For example, when Jiang Shaohua clashed with Prime Minister Wang, rebuked Minister Zhang and Minister Dai, and acted against Prince Wu’an, none of these caused a major stir. Similarly, when Jiang Shaohua went to the Imperial Mausoleum and entered the Jinluan Palace to attend the grand court meeting, it did not provoke widespread criticism. It’s the people on this list who secretly play a role.

The new emperor’s ascension is a significant event for the country, with the process of three refusals and three invitations followed by the formal coronation ceremony, which will take at least three to four months. This means Jiang Shaohua will still have to stay in the Capital City for nearly half a year.

The relations that need maintenance should also begin to be privately initiated.

Song Yuan hesitated slightly and advised in a low voice, "The Commandery Princess is currently quite prominent, moving around too much might draw too much attention and cause unnecessary trouble."

Jiang Shaohua considered for a moment: "Uncle’s words are reasonable. It’s inconvenient for me to move, so I’ll let Uncle represent me to visit various places."

Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong are still too young and lack experience. Song Yuan, being from a military family, a fifth-rank personal soldier commander, and Jiang Shaohua’s uncle, is the most suitable to represent her.

Jiang Shaohua gave Song Yuan the list and whispered a few instructions.

Song Yuan agreed to each one and then privately instructed Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao: "I will be busy in the coming days, so you two must be extra cautious when accompanying the Commandery Princess to the palace."

Qin Hu scratched his head and asked in a low voice: "What if the Commandery Princess makes the first move, what do we do?"

This was a good question.

Song Yuan looked over expressionlessly.

Qin Hu immediately understood: "As long as the Commandery Princess is not bullied, that’s enough."

"Who can possibly bully our Commandery Princess?" Meng Sanbao said proudly, puffing out his chest, "When it comes to rhetoric and skills, our Commandery Princess is top-notch."

See the pride in his demeanor.

Song Yuan’s eyes flashed with amusement, and he spoke no more.

In the following days, Song Yuan left early and returned late, extremely busy. The originally filled warehouses of the Nanyang Prince Mansion quietly diminished by half.

After visiting each of the twelve people on the list, Song Yuan made a visit to the Song Family.

He is from the third household of the Song Family, and now the master of the Song Family is from the main branch of the first household. He must address General Song as Grand Uncle.

General Song was also courteous to this nephew.

Among the Song Family’s descendants, only a few are capable and promising. Song Yuan, in his prime, is the personal soldier commander of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, a fifth-rank military official. He is already quite presentable.

"I heard you’ve been moving around these past days," General Song spoke frankly, "Are you perhaps drawing people for your Commandery Princess?"

Song Yuan downplayed it: "Some courtiers are old friends of the Prince when he was alive. We must visit them a bit, to avoid losing propriety."

General Song looked at Song Yuan and said gravely, "You’ve been at the Nanyang Prince Mansion since you were fifteen, serving for almost twenty years. Have you ever thought of serving somewhere else?"

Song Yuan didn’t think and refused immediately: "I’ve never thought of it. I’ve long made up my mind to stay by the Commandery Princess’s side."

General Song reminded without much emphasis: "I see that the Commandery Princess’s actions show she’s not an ordinary person. She will inevitably encounter storms and disputes in the future. You should think it over clearly."