CHAPTER 190: CHAPTER 90: NEWS

Chen Jinyu came over with Song Yuan’s letter, smiling brightly.

Commander Song has been gone for more than two months without any news. Even the Commandery Princess, not to mention Chen Jinyu, secretly harbors worry.

These days, traveling is no easy matter. Even though Commander Song and his group of trusted aides are skilled and brave, unexpected events are hard to avoid.

Today, a letter has finally arrived. Chen Sheren’s face beams with joy, and even the Commandery Princess, usually composed and self-controlled, breaks into a smile: "Quickly, bring it over."

Jiang Shaohua quickly unfolds the letter, eagerly scanning it.

The letter is as succinct as the person himself. Song Yuan, typically silent and reserved, writes concisely. It’s rare to receive a letter, and yet it’s only half a page long—finished in one glance.

Chen Jinyu is full of anticipation: "How is it? Did Commander Song and his team find new grain seeds?"

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes are brimming with smiles, nodding vigorously: "Yes, they did. The journey was fairly smooth; they reached Nanhai County within a month and waited at Nanhai County’s dock for a month, finally acquiring corn and sweet potato seeds from a marine vessel. Commander Song bought all of them, filling three horse carriages."

"Commander Song sent a letter back, first to inform me of this good news. Secondly, because the carriages travel slowly, they might not return before the year’s end. We’ll patiently follow along."

Chen Jinyu is overjoyed, clenching his fists and cheering.

Jiang Shaohua smiles and instructs: "Quickly invite Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng, I want to share this joyful news with them."

Chen Jinyu responds instantly, departing from the inner hall. Ma Yaosong swiftly moves closer: "Commandery Princess, any instructions? I’ll run errands."

Ma Yaosong handles tasks efficiently, is bright and nimble, constantly accommodating Chen Jinyu, eagerly taking on errands and laborious tasks.

After months of interaction, Chen Jinyu and Ma Yaosong have become quite familiar; there’s no way to feel dislike towards him. Hearing this, Chen Jinyu replies with a smile: "The Commandery Princess wishes to meet Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng."

Ma Yaosong nods and promptly conveys the message.

At the end of the year, it’s the busiest time. Chief Historian Chen has to write letters and send gifts to officials in the Capital City, assess and record the officials of the Fourteen Counties, alongside several long-term followers who keep busy. Chief Historian Feng has to tally the year’s accounts.

Upon hearing the Commandery Princess’s summons, they each set aside their tasks and come together.

Jiang Shaohua is in an excellent mood, speaking with a cordial demeanor: "This is Commander Song’s letter, take a look, Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng."

While Chen Zhuo reads the letter, Feng Wenming can’t contain his anxiety and leans in directly.

Observing this, Jiang Shaohua finds it amusing and exchanges a smile with Chen Jinyu.

In life, having a childhood friend accompany you for decades is indeed a blessing.

"Commander Song has accomplished great deeds this time!" Chen Zhuo’s expression softens, smiling broadly.

"Mr. Cui deserves the primary credit." Chief Historian Feng, vibrant with energy, smiles and continues: "Once the new grain seeds are brought back, Mr. Cui will work hard to cultivate and promote them. If it’s truly as Mr. Cui said, yielding twenty bushels per acre, even at half, producing ten bushels of new grain, the Fourteen Counties in Nanyang County will see double the annual grain production."

"Stocking three years’ worth of grain won’t be challenging."

"At that time, the Commandery Princess must richly reward Mr. Cui."

Speaking of which, Cui Du has not returned to the Prince Mansion for more than a month. The Commandery Princess chose a hundred trusted aides’ families to go to the field manor, and Cui Du, tending to the warm greenhouse and busy building a new one, practically resides in the fields.

Meanwhile, the Commandery Princess visits the field manor for inspections roughly every half month.

Jiang Shaohua smiles and says, "I am aware of this matter. There’s no rush now; let’s wait until the new grain seeds arrive, trial plant them for a year and see the yield."

Chen Zhuo promptly says, "This piece of good news must be delivered to Mr. Cui first."

Hence, capable and talented individuals are always regarded highly.

When Cui Du first came to the Prince Mansion, he was an unknown mute. Within half a year, even Chief Historian Chen now respectfully refers to him as Mr. Cui.

Jiang Shaohua smiles gently, saying: "These past couple of days I have been idle, thus it’s a good time to personally visit the field manor."

Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng, frantically busy to the point of wishing to split themselves in two, involuntarily twitch their mouths upon hearing this.

...

The next day, Jiang Shaohua rode to the field manor.

The winter winds cut sharply; the thick red cloak billows in the cold wind, fluttering like vibrant flowers blooming in winter.

Chen Sheren and Ma Sheren came, along with dozens of personal soldiers accompanying.

"Mr. Cui, the Commandery Princess has arrived."

Upon hearing the word Commandery Princess in the greenhouse, Cui Du springs out immediately, like a startled rabbit from its nest.

Jiang Shaohua stands smiling outside the greenhouse, watching Cui Du with beads of sweat on his forehead: "It’s very cold outside, but inside the greenhouse is quite warm, enough to break a sweat."

Cui Du grins: "The Commandery Princess rode all the way here, come into the greenhouse for a bit; it’s quite warm."

Jiang Shaohua responds affirmatively and enters the greenhouse together with Cui Du.

Chen Jinyu, out of habit, meant to follow inside.

Ma Yaosong coughs, quietly suggesting: "Chen Sheren, over there, they are building a greenhouse, shall we take a look?"

Chen Jinyu pauses for a moment, quickly understanding and nods.

As for Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and other trusted aides, naturally they cannot stray too far, stepping back seven or eight meters. All the trusted aides encircle this greenhouse.

Meng Sanbao winks at Qin Hu, then nodded towards the greenhouse.

Qin Hu cast a sideways glance, gesturing a ’shush’ hand sign.

It’s not that they are overthinking.

The Commandery Princess seems easygoing, yet very few truly earn her favor. Typically, her closest is Chen Sheren; after all, they are both girls, childhood friends, being closer is natural.

How long has this Mr. Cui been here? To sum it up, less than ten months! The Commandery Princess regards him differently, favoring him; every meeting involves considerable alone time...

Actually, inside the greenhouse, the pair of young man and woman maintain six feet distance, discussing business matters, nothing inappropriate.

"The vegetables in the greenhouse sufficiently supply the Prince Mansion," Cui Du says with a laugh, "the leftovers are sent to the Personal Guard Camp."

Seven-tenths of the greenhouse vegetables are sent to the Personal Guard Camp.

In the Personal Guard Camp, there are eighteen hundred strong men... no, secretly recruiting soldiers these past months, increasing the number by at least three to four hundred. Such a large group consumes an astonishing amount of food monthly.

Raising armies has never been an easy task. The Nanyang Prince Mansion supports so many personal soldiers largely thanks to Bowan County’s silver mines.

This is extremely confidential within the Prince Mansion; no more than five people are aware.

Jiang Shaohua hasn’t revealed this to Cui Du, nor does Cui Du dwell on it. He merely works quietly, hoping to alleviate the Commandery Princess’s burdens.