CHAPTER 322: CHAPTER 322: IMPERIAL ENVOYS (PART 3)

Five days later, three young secretaries set out from the Capital City, beginning an important journey in their lives.

As imperial envoys, they were accompanied by a seasoned old minister as the Vice Imperial Envoy, and a thousand elite troops of the Imperial Army. The convoy’s supply wagons and provisions filled hundreds of carts, stretching out like a long serpent.

The Ministry of Revenue no longer cried about the empty National Treasury. Minister Ji signed and stamped the list sent by the Ministry of War without a word.

Firstly, disaster relief for the victims could not be delayed; secondly, the identities of these three teams of imperial envoys were extraordinary. The Emperor highly valued and trusted them. On top of that, simply for the sake of Prime Minister Wang, Duke An, and Minister Li’s honor, they had to squeeze out supplies from a Treasury stretched as tight as it could go.

Apart from the Imperial Army, the convoy also included personal soldiers from the Wang, Zheng, and Li families. Their numbers were not large, with Wang Jin leading a hundred personal soldiers, and Zheng Chen and Li Boyuan each bringing fifty.

These personal soldiers were all loyal and trustworthy experts. Their only task was to stay by their respective masters’ side day and night, ensuring their safety. In case of an emergency, they would use their own flesh and blood as the final shield to protect their masters.

This was all the official arrangement. Whether there were any Hidden Guards secretly accompanying them for protection was unknown.

"We shall travel north together," Li Boyuan said enthusiastically, "I’ve calculated it; we can at least travel together for seven or eight days before we part ways."

The three counties affected by locusts were all in the North. Indeed, these three teams of imperial envoys could travel together for several days.

Zheng Chen’s eyes flashed, and he said indifferently, "Yan County is the furthest; I need to speed up and reach Yan County as soon as possible. With provisions and supplies, the advance is too slow. So tomorrow, I plan to take half the men and ride ahead."

Li Boyuan, instead of being afraid, was filled with excitement and immediately said, "In that case, I’ll do the same and ride ahead too."

As for Wang Jin, though not physically weak, he couldn’t withstand the strain of riding fast horses for several days, so he remained silently listening.

The next day, Zheng Chen led five hundred Imperial Army troops and rode ahead. Li Boyuan, following his example, also took half his men and set off early.

Only the gentle and jade-like Fourth Young Master Wang rode leisurely in a carriage.

Growing up in luxury amidst splendor, this was the first time in his life Wang the Fourth had stepped out of the Capital City, leading a legitimate mission, his heart inevitably stirred with excitement.

However, once the novelty wore off, the journey became long, dull, and tedious. Fortunately, the Vice Imperial Envoy Tan Langzhong, who was witty, amiable, and understanding, accompanied Wang Jin in the carriage each day. They talked about ancient times, recited poems, discussed folklore, court anecdotes, and historical records.

This Tan Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue was also a staunch supporter of the Prime Minister’s Faction. Prime Minister Wang had specially arranged for Tan Langzhong to accompany Wang Jin, ensuring that everything was handled properly despite Wang Jin’s inexperience. Wang Jin just had to wait for the assignment to be completed and the accolades to be received.

Nevertheless, Wang Jin was not one to sit idly and reap the benefits. Before leaving the Capital, he made many preparations and frequently discussed disaster relief and locust control strategies with Tan Langzhong on the journey.

Tan Langzhong couldn’t help but secretly admire him. Indeed, as the beloved son personally taught by Prime Minister Wang, Wang Jin was calm, clear-headed, and thorough, and the solutions he proposed were practical and feasible.

Given time, Fourth Young Master Wang would certainly achieve great things.

At night, the group rested at a post house. After several consecutive days of travel, Wang Jin felt as if his entire body was about to fall apart. Lying on the bed, utterly exhausted, he found no sleep. A cold and beautiful girl’s face quietly emerged before his eyes.

Sometimes stern, sometimes frowning, sometimes smiling gently.

Wang Jin turned over to face the inside. The face did not fade but instead became clearer, her bright eyes fixedly looking at him...

Wang Jin turned over again, lying flat on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, his handsome face suddenly showing pain as though he had thought of something.

...

On the same night, Zheng Chen, who had traveled three hundred li farther than Wang Jin, also found himself tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

The thoughts in his mind were far more complicated and chaotic than Wang Jin’s, and also much more ruthless and clear-headed.

Jiang Shaohua knew what would happen more than a year later, as did he. In fact, in his previous life, after the new emperor’s death, Empress Dowager Zheng, in a fit of rage, purged the Gao Liang Prince Mansion and Prince Dongping Mansion. It was he who led people to seal the two mansions, sending the father and son of Prince Gaoliang into the Heavenly Prison. He personally escorted the father and son of Prince Dongping to the Capital City.

Subsequently, Empress Dowager Zheng supported the young Second Prince to the throne. Jiang Shaohua married into the Wang Family, and he took Fan as his wife, stabilizing the court with the power of marriage.

After Prime Minister Wang’s death, he rose rapidly in the court’s power struggle, becoming the youngest chancellor in Da Liang’s history within a few years.

With Da Liang in constant turmoil, losing nearly half of its territory, the dull and slow-reacting Emperor was like a puppet on the Dragon Throne. He, as the Da Liang Chancellor, was the real powerholder.

Drunk in the lap of beauties, sober to control the realm. His only major setback in his past life was failing to marry the woman he loved.

Reborn in this life, he secretly stirred the pot to quickly rise to the top. Unexpectedly, chaos broke out first in Pingzhou, and the court’s army failed to suppress it promptly. The rebels in Pingzhou seemed to grow stronger and stronger.

And then there was Jiang Shaohua...

Thinking of that proud figure standing in the court, Zheng Chen furrowed his brows even tighter.

What exactly does she want?

Does she really intend to stay in Nanyang County forever?

With her forceful entry into the court, a place by the Emperor’s side, becoming favored in Jingyang Palace, and even receiving special affection from the young and naive Second Prince, how could Jiang Shaohua not have ambitions for court power?

Furthermore, the father and son of Prince Gaoliang’s plan to secretly rebel and assassinate the Emperor—how should he respond? Should he reveal the secret in advance to save Jiang Song’s life, gaining more trust and political capital? Or pretend ignorance, letting everything unfold as it did in the previous life?

What choice will Jiang Shaohua make?

He only slept for less than two hours during the night. Fortunately, his youthful vigor allowed him to endure the occasional sleepless night. Early the next morning, the Young Master appeared full of spirit before everyone: "The journey is only a third complete. From today on, we will travel an additional twenty li each day. Increase the speed to reach Yan County as soon as possible."

The elite soldiers replied boisterously.

The Commander of the Personal Soldiers, Peng Sihai, rode his horse, following closely behind his master. During a midday break for a meal of dry rations, Peng Sihai quietly approached and spoke softly, "Does the Young Master want to make a detour and pass through Nanyang County?"

According to the current route, there was no need to pass through Nanyang County. To go there, it would require a detour, adding roughly a day’s journey.

Zheng Chen shook his head without hesitation: "No need, proceed along the original route."

Jiang Shaohua was still in the Capital City; what was there to see in Nanyang County without her?

...