CHAPTER 183: CHAPTER 183: BREAKING TIES (PART 2)

Jiang Shaohua said lightly: "Ma can go, but not Cui Du. He has an urgent task, leaving tomorrow, and cannot be delayed."

In the field manor, there are over a hundred greenhouses cultivating new grain varieties, various vegetables, and fruits, concerning the future livelihood plans of Nanyang County, which absolutely cannot do without Cui Du. Indeed, it is a critical matter of the first order.

Zheng Chen, unaware of the inside story, listened to this excuse of protection and evasion, with anger mixed with jealousy boiling in his heart, and sneered: "The Commandery Princess is only ten years old this year, and it will be five or six years until the marriageable age. Even if you want to choose a husband, you should pick carefully."

"Someone like Cui Du, how could he ever catch the eye of the Commandery Princess?"

Jiang Shaohua frowned slightly, somewhat displeased: "I have told you before, Cui Du is an official of the Prince Mansion, a capable minister under my command. Your frivolous words not only belittle me, the Commandery Princess, but also humiliate him. If there’s a next time, don’t blame me for being impolite."

Zheng Chen was almost choked by his words, with sparks of anger flashing in his eyes, and he said stiffly: "Speaking of which, one thing is indeed strange."

"I know you learned martial arts young and are quite skilled. But how did you suddenly become so formidable?"

Without boasting, his skills had never met a match among his peers. Li Boyuan couldn’t last fifty moves under him. In the past life, Jiang Shaohua could only hold up for twenty or thirty moves at most.

But tonight, just a moment ago, when he furiously made a move, Jiang Shaohua stopped him. After just over ten moves, he was repelled. His hands trembled slightly from overexertion, even now.

But looking at Jiang Shaohua, her face was calm and her breath steady, which left him astonished and puzzled.

Jiang Shaohua smiled lightly: "That is the secret of the Commandery Princess, not to be disclosed."

Zheng Chen remained silent, his emotions extremely complex.

Male superiority over females has always been the norm. Even someone as noble as Empress Dowager Zheng would provoke much criticism by interfering with politics.

Jiang Shaohua, with soldiers, fiefs, and real power, is also an anomaly in Da Liang. Back then, it was because of the late Emperor’s momentary softness that Prince Nanyang’s memorial was approved. Nowadays, it’s impossible.

Now that Jiang Shaohua has mysterious and unpredictable divine power, with many loyal civil and military officials, he should no longer look at her with the same condescending gaze as in the past...

Jiang Shaohua patiently waited for a moment, seeing Zheng Chen remain silent, she took the initiative to ask: "Do you have anything else to ask?"

Zheng Chen snapped back to reality, locking eyes with Jiang Shaohua’s bright and sharp black eyes, all words stuck in his throat, and after a while squeezed out a few words: "You won’t marry Wang Jin, will you?"

Upon hearing the name of her former husband, Jiang Shaohua’s expression didn’t change a bit: "Of course not."

"Then what about Wang Yu?" Knowing her best, he hardened his heart and directly poked at her sore spot as soon as he spoke: "Can you bear to let him go?"

Jiang Shaohua was silent for a moment and said: "Mother and son for a lifetime, I believe I have wholeheartedly served him. However, he bears resentment and dissatisfaction towards me, showing that I am a failed mother. Since this is the case, he won’t need to come again in this life."

Zheng Chen wanted to laugh but found himself unable to, pulling the corners of his mouth stiffly: "Your heart is indeed ruthless."

"Otherwise?" Jiang Shaohua laughed self-deprecatingly: "I rejected you, stayed with the Wang Family, gave everything for him, how did he treat me?"

"Don’t pretend to be innocent. I know you’ve done a lot behind the scenes. There were constant rumors inside and outside the Wang Family, and someone was always sowing discord in Wang Yu’s ear. He believed I was entangled with you, and that you were dealing with the Wang Family with full force because of me. That’s why he harbors resentment towards me as a mother."

"You don’t need to argue, I understand you, just as you understand me. You placed more than one person in the Wang Family."

"None of this matters anymore. The past doesn’t need to be mentioned again."

Zheng Chen forced a bitter smile: "Indeed, it doesn’t need to be mentioned again."

Jiang Shaohua said lightly: "Since there’s nothing left to say, then go back! Tomorrow, I will let Ma and Chen Sheren take you around Nanyang County."

Zheng Chen nodded, looked at Jiang Shaohua with complex emotions, and then stepped away.

Jiang Shaohua didn’t stay in place, quickly entering the courtyard.

After Zheng Chen walked some distance, he stopped and turned, only to see the tightly closed gate of the courtyard.

Just like her heart towards him, tightly locked.

She must be the most heartless and cold-blooded woman in the world.

Past memories surfaced like a torrent, Zheng Chen’s heart churned, his throat seemed blocked by a huge stone, he let out a bitter smile. In the end, he turned his head and slowly walked away.

...

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai cautiously attended to the Commandery Princess as she changed clothes and lay down to sleep.

"Why are the two of you looking at me like that?" Even though Jiang Shaohua was full of thoughts, she didn’t show it and still had the mood to joke with the two maids: "Are you wondering, what kind of relationship do I have with that Young Master Zheng?"

Tu Bai, being quite blunt, nodded honestly.

Yin Zhu was much more clever and whispered: "If the Commandery Princess wishes to speak, we’ll listen. If the Commandery Princess doesn’t want to say more, we’ll just attend to your rest. As for that Young Master Zheng, he has nothing at all to do with us. We only care if the Commandery Princess is happy today."

Jiang Shaohua thought seriously for a moment: "Not particularly happy, nor very sad."

Reconciliation with an old friend is never a pleasant thing.

Fortunately, she was already strong and resolute enough to bear all the consequences of her choices and decisions.

Pain can always be endured.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai exchanged a glance, said no more, each blew out a candle, leaving only one in the corner. Then they both withdrew.

Jiang Shaohua did not feel sleepy for a while, staring at the top of the tent. After counting sheep for a while, reaching two hundred and fifty-seven, she gradually fell asleep.

That night, Jiang Shaohua slept relatively peacefully.

The one tossing and turning, unable to sleep, was Zheng Chen.

As for Cui Du, he went to bed early and slept soundly, rising early the next morning to bid farewell to the Commandery Princess.

Jiang Shaohua was summoning her officials for a meeting, and although Cui Du had no official status, he was part of the Prince Mansion, so after announcing his presence, he entered the study.

Jiang Shaohua smiled: "You have serious matters to attend to, quickly return to the field manor!"

Cui Du, seeing the Commandery Princess looking healthy and spirited without signs of depression, felt at ease and said respectfully: "I will be busy for a while and have no time to return to the Prince Mansion. If there’s anything the Commandery Princess needs, send someone to the field manor with a message, and I’ll return immediately."

All the officials: "..."

What could the Commandery Princess possibly need you to be found immediately for, Mr. Cui? Are you getting a bit too full of yourself!

Jiang Shaohua, however, didn’t mind at all and nodded with a smile: "Okay."

Cui Du happily bowed and took his leave.

As he reached the main entrance, a voice came from behind: "Mr. Cui, where are you heading so early in the morning?"

Cui Du turned his head and raised an eyebrow with a smile at the lavishly dressed gentleman approaching elegantly: "I’m going to the field manor on duty. Young Master Zheng, where are you heading so early in the morning?"