CHAPTER 182: CHAPTER 182: BREAKING TIES (PART 1)

The moonlight is like water, gently pouring down.

The handsome youth under the moon, shed all his pride, looking at her imploringly.

This scene was so similar to their farewell back then.

Jiang Shaohua recalled the past, a strong sense of bitterness surged through her nose, and her voice lowered: "Zheng Zixian, it’s all over. Between us, it ended long ago. In this life, each of us has our own path to follow. Let’s just part ways!"

Zheng Chen’s eyes reddened, suddenly he took two steps forward, and tightly grasped Jiang Shaohua’s hand: "No, I won’t part."

His hands were very sore now, without much strength. Jiang Shaohua could easily shake off his hand with a slight effort.

Yet Jiang Shaohua did not break free, she lifted her eyes to meet his gaze, softly said, "Would you be willing to come to Nanyang County?"

Zheng Chen was caught off guard by the question, reflexively replied, "What do you mean by this?"

Jiang Shaohua closely stared into his eyes and spoke clearly and slowly: "If you are willing to let go of everything in the Capital City and come to Nanyang County, we could be together forever. After my coming-of-age ceremony, we will marry, live together day and night, never separating."

Zheng Chen: "..."

Zheng Chen’s mind went blank for a moment. After a while, he realized, and a sense of indescribable anger welled up: "Jiang Shaohua, you want me to abandon my family and future to become your husband?"

"Why not?" Jiang Shaohua retorted: "You just asked me to let go of Nanyang County and follow you to the Capital City. Why can’t I make the same request?"

How could this be the same!

The fury gathered in Zheng Chen’s eyes as he murmured through gritted teeth: "You are a woman, it is only natural for you to marry. I am the Young Master of the Zheng Family, the future head of the Zheng Family. The Zheng Family has hundreds of clansmen in the Capital City, and thousands more with ancestral roots in Xingyang. The honor and disgrace of the Zheng Clan for decades to come relies on me. How could I abandon my family to become your husband? Jiang Shaohua, you know this is impossible!"

Jiang Shaohua did not get angry, her voice calm and sharp in the night breeze: "I am not an ordinary woman, I am a Commandery Princess with lands and real power, my status is akin to a Vassal King. I have the Nanyang Prince Mansion, two thousand personal soldiers, and over a hundred thousand citizens of Nanyang. I once abandoned all this to go to the Capital City, and you saw the consequences."

"Now, given the chance to start anew, I will not repeat the same mistakes. Leaving Nanyang County, I am just Jiang Shaohua. Only here, am I the Nanyang County Princess."

"Your reasons for unwillingness to come to Nanyang County are exactly my reasons for being unwilling to go to the Capital City."

"Zheng Chen, do you understand now?"

Although they were holding each other’s hands from a close distance, it was as if there was an insurmountable chasm between them.

Zheng Chen’s burning heart gradually cooled, his voice hoarse: "I understand now."

"Jiang Shaohua, in your heart, I will always be second. Back then, you chose Wang Jin and gave up on me. Later you chose your son, once again leaving me. Now, you chose Nanyang County."

"In the end, you just don’t love me enough."

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes flashed with tears, yet her voice remained calm, almost cold: "Same goes for you. For the sake of the Zheng Family, for the future Prime Minister Zheng, you refuse to be the husband of the Nanyang County Princess."

"We both have our own aspirations and ambitions. Different paths are not meant to be pursued together."

Zheng Chen suddenly laughed, his handsome face slightly twisted.

He slowly released Jiang Shaohua’s hand, gradually stepping back, creating a distance between them.

He stood still nine feet away, as when they first met, looking at her carefully.

What Jiang Shaohua was feeling, no one knew. At least at this moment, her face revealed nothing, remaining calm and composed.

"Commandery Princess has grand aspirations," after a long time, Zheng Chen spoke slowly, changing his address: "Admirable. However, keeping Nanyang County won’t be easy. Surely, Commandery Princess is aware, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have considerable concerns about Nanyang County."

"How long does the Commandery Princess think she can peacefully remain in Nanyang County?"

Jiang Shaohua also smiled: "That’s my concern. No need for Young Master Zheng to worry. If anyone secretly stirs up trouble and I find out, that person will be my enemy, and also the enemy of the Nanyang Prince Mansion."

"I think, as Young Master Zheng aims for the court, he wouldn’t want to make enemies everywhere."

Zheng Chen did not nod, responded indifferently: "The court is like a muddy pool, once involved, you may be swallowed up anytime. It’s unclear who is a friend or an enemy now. If the Commandery Princess wholeheartedly supports the Empress Dowager, that would be a different story."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "I am but a young Princess Jiang, naturally I would seek the support of the Empress Dowager in all matters."

"Doesn’t Young Master Zheng do the same? Since you bear the Zheng name, to become the head of the Zheng Family, you must rely on the Empress Dowager. Without the Empress Dowager, how would all the civil and military officials pay attention to a non-adult Young Master Zheng?"

Zheng Chen felt a stab but remained unchanged in expression, even grinned: "What the Commandery Princess says is true. The Zheng Family belongs to the Empress Dowager’s clan, is Da Liang’s outer family. This identity cannot be changed. It’s both the advantage of the Zheng Family and the indelible mark on me, Zheng Chen."

"This is all fine. Names are just illusions, real power in hand is what matters. I imagine the Commandery Princess understands this deeply. That’s why you are unwilling to leave Nanyang County, holding tightly to all that is yours."

In the last two sentences, there was a hint of sarcasm in the words.

Jiang Shaohua wasn’t angered: "Exactly. This profound truth I only understood at the moment of my death, which is rather tragic."

"For coming to the Nanyang Prince Mansion, Young Master Zheng must have put in a lot of effort. But it’s destined to be fruitless. I will prepare some local specialties for Young Master Zheng to take to the Capital City, as a token from me to the Empress Dowager, to express my sentiments."

Zheng Chen raised an eyebrow: "Are you driving me away? I’ve just arrived at Nanyang Prince Mansion today, you should at least show some hospitality. Though we are not fated to be husband and wife, we have been old acquaintances for many years. Are you really so heartless?"

"Or are you afraid to face me? Afraid your own feelings might waver!"

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "Zheng Zixian, don’t you find such a low-level provocation laughable?"

"We have met as needed, said all that needed to be said. It is best for us to keep our distance in the future, should we be traveling side by side instead?"

"You should not think that prolonged persuasion will change my mind. You know my temperament."

Yes, hadn’t he known long ago?

She has always been the Jiang Shaohua who never looked back once a decision was made.

Past life and this life, she never changed. It was his foolish dream, delusional thinking that a trip to Nanyang County could change her mind.

Zheng Chen laughed at himself: "I will stay at the Prince Mansion for three days and then leave."

Jiang Shaohua nodded: "Alright, I will have Chen and Feng, the two Chief Historians, entertain you."

Zheng Chen’s heart had nowhere to vent his resentment, he sneered coldly: "Both of them are quite aged, let Ma and Mr. Cui accompany me for three days."