CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: NEW YEAR

On New Year’s Day, Jiang Shaohua wore the grand and exquisite Commandery Princess attire and sat at the head of the main hall, smiling.

The officials, led by Chief Historian Chen, came forward one by one to greet the Commandery Princess and offer their respects.

Jiang Shaohua had already ordered red envelopes to be prepared. The vigorous housekeeper Ma carried the red brocade box, while housekeeper Chen followed the Commandery Princess’s instructions to take out the red envelopes from the box and hand them to the officials one by one.

Cui Du, without any official position, also mingled among the officials, standing behind Minister of Industry Shen.

"Wishing the Commandery Princess a year where all wishes come true, and Nanyang County has favorable weather," Cui Du said loudly with a bow.

Jiang Shaohua relaxed her brows and replied with a smile, "Once Commander Song returns with the new grain seeds, you’ll be busy. As long as you successfully test the new grain, the people of Nanyang County will be able to harvest more per acre, filling their stomachs. That would be a great achievement. When that time comes, whatever reward you desire, I shall grant it."

Saying such words publicly represented the Commandery Princess’s promise.

Cui Du did not refuse, his eyes bright as he agreed.

Chen and Feng, the two Chief Historians, exchanged glances and smiled in tacit understanding.

Once the officials had finished offering their New Year’s wishes, it was the personal soldiers’ turn.

To Jiang Shaohua, the young personal soldiers led by Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao were her most solid strength and support. Emotionally speaking, they were also the closest people to her.

The personal soldiers came forward one by one to receive their red envelopes. Most martial artists are straightforward and forthright, not speaking eloquent auspicious words; for example, Qin Hu opened his mouth and said, "Thank you, Commandery Princess, for the generous red envelope!"

Meng Sanbao joyfully chimed in, "Just right for saving up to marry a wife."

This amused everyone, causing them to laugh heartily.

Jiang Shaohua smiled sweetly, her gaze landing on a familiar face, she called Sun An forward with a smile, "Sun An, I heard your wife is pregnant?"

On that day in Ye County, Sun An requested to marry Huang Sanmei, and upon returning to the Prince Mansion, Jiang Shaohua organized the marriage. Huang Sanmei had no family to call her own, nor any dowry, so Jiang Shaohua gifted her a hundred taels of silver for her dowry and had Mrs. Zhang present the marriage gifts. The wedding was quite lively.

The young couple had nowhere else to go, so they stayed in the Prince Mansion after their marriage. Huang Sanmei was gentle and shy but was extremely diligent in her work. After marrying, she undertook tasks in the mansion’s embroidery room. Within a few months, good news spread.

In the Personal Guard Camp, everyone envied Sun An’s good fortune.

Sun An himself was joyful, and upon hearing the Commandery Princess’s inquiry, he grinned and replied, "Yes, Sanmei is expecting. In a few months, I’ll be a father. If Sanmei gives birth to a son, I’ll have him learn martial arts and serve the Commandery Princess. If it’s a daughter, Sanmei will teach her weaving and silk spinning, and she too will work for the Commandery Princess."

Who says Sun An is taciturn?

His words were warm and sincere, causing Jiang Shaohua to be moved and she promised with a smile, "When the child is born, I will personally name him."

Sun An was overjoyed, kneeling and kowtowing three times.

This made Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao envious and jealous. As the year turned, they were all a year older, they were all of marrying age now.

Meng Sanbao’s sister, Silver Vermilion, was right in front of him, and he occasionally managed to sneak a glance, subtly exchanging a look.

Poor Qin Hu, he had to come up with a plan to see his sweetheart in the military camp moreover, Miss Sun was indifferent and did not care for him.

Can’t say much, thinking of it brings heartache.

Once the personal soldiers received their red envelopes, it was the steward maids’ turn from the Prince Mansion.

Receiving red envelopes is an especially joyful affair. The Commandery Princess distributing them today was also in a particularly good mood, smiling as she said, "Today at noon, the Prince Mansion shall host a banquet, and everyone should gather for some merriment."

Chen Zhuo laughed and said, "Commandery Princess, don’t drink fruit wine today."

Everyone laughed again.

Last night, the Commandery Princess got drunk on one pot of fruit wine. She went to the garden to cool down in the breeze. The Commandery Princess is robust and nothing was amiss, but Cui Du, who accompanied her to the garden, spoke in a hoarse voice today, seeming to have caught a cold.

Jiang Shaohua was cheerfully teased by the Chief Historian, not angry at all, and replied with a smile, "All right, I’ll just watch you drink today."

...

After the second day of the New Year, the county magistrates from each county came to Nanyang County to offer New Year’s greetings to the Commandery Princess.

For those close by, it took just one day to reach Nanyang Prince Mansion. Those farther away, like County Magistrate Cai from Li County, had to ride for three days to get there. The journey was exhausting, and one’s bones seemed to rattle apart.

The Prince Mansion’s capacity was limited, so Jiang Shaohua only accommodated four county magistrates inside, while the rest were settled in houses outside.

The ones hosted in the Prince Mansion included County Magistrate Chen of Bowan County, County Magistrate Cui of Ye County, and County Magistrate Ma of Bi Yang.

The county magistrates looked on enviously but were also accepting. Among the Fourteen Counties, only these three upper counties were present. Each one contributed substantial taxes. Iron mines, horse farms, and silk cloth are precisely the economic pillars of Nanyang County.

However, if they could graciously concede to Magistrate Chen, why could County Magistrate Cai also remain in the Mansion?

"County Magistrate Cai was originally just a poor scholar, a steward. Previously, he roamed the Prince Mansion presenting his posts to anyone who would listen. Now, he’s superior to us,"

County Magistrate Wu of Wan County reminisced about past events, his tone sour enough to spread over ten miles.

Sitting with County Magistrate Wu was County Magistrate Zou from Xi’e County. Wan County and Xi’e County were in the same area; the two of them traveled together and reached the mansion only to be sent to lodge outside.

County Magistrate Zou also felt bitter, but outwardly maintained better: "The Commandery Princess offers a high reward for a mere horse, deliberately showing you and me. County Magistrate Cai’s humble origins, yet the Commandery Princess promoted him exceptionally; he even passed the scholar examination last autumn. He is now officially endorsed as County Magistrate by the Ministry of Personnel."

"Over the past half-year, County Magistrate Cai has been very diligent; he visits the fields daily. Either that or he organizes people to gather herbs in the mountains to supply the county pharmacies. I’ve heard that this alone has greatly increased the income of Li County’s people, making life much better."

"In the future, don’t say such things. If word reaches the Commandery Princess, you’ll be in trouble."

County Magistrate Wu sighed, "I’m just venting to you. Once outside these doors, I dare not say a word. Cai Ye is that old scoundrel, clinging to the Commandery Princess like a tree, currying favor daily. Such people, I disdain to associate with."

County Magistrate Zou agreed deeply, "At tomorrow’s Prince Mansion banquet, let’s ignore County Magistrate Cai."

Their hands tightly locked together, forming an alliance.

The next day at noon, the Prince Mansion opened its main gates wide.

County Magistrate Wu and County Magistrate Zou entered the Prince Mansion together.

Dark, thin, and mouse-like, County Magistrate Cai was dispatched by the Commandery Princess to greet everyone. As the Commandery Princess’s confidant and favorite, there was no trace of arrogance as he warmly chatted with his fellow magistrates.

County Magistrate Wu strode forward, grabbing County Magistrate Cai’s hand, "Today, I must toast Brother Cai two cups!"

County Magistrate Zou: "..."