CHAPTER 337: CHAPTER 337: SPROUT (PART 1)

There is nothing in this world more beautiful and moving than these words.

Jiang Shaohua was overjoyed upon hearing them, clutching Cui Du’s hand and smilingly sighed, "What virtue and capability do I have to deserve you?"

Cui Du responded without hesitation, "I am the fortunate one to have met the Commandery Princess." He paused, then smiled, "After this year’s autumn harvest, the Commandery Princess need not worry about food shortage and can recruit more refugees from the North to enrich the population of Nanyang County."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and acknowledged, "Your words have indeed spoken to my heart. That is exactly my plan."

"The North is in chaos, and the people are starving and suffering. I cannot save everyone, but I can at least put in some effort to save as many as I can."

And it is an opportunity to expand the population and increase strength, making it much easier to recruit soldiers in the future. Truly, it is a matter that benefits in multiple ways!

Cui Du suddenly thought of something and curiously asked, "Pingzhou also suffered from drought. How exactly is that man, Tan Sheng, feeding the army and the people?"

Jiang Shaohua’s expression was somewhat subtle as she looked at Cui Du, "Do you really want to know?"

Cui Du sensed something in those few words, and his eyes widened in shock, "It can’t be as I think it is!"

"It is exactly as you think." Jiang Shaohua rarely sighed deeply, "Pingzhou has been at war constantly, leaving no time to grow food. Half of the army’s food in the chaotic forces of Pingzhou is looted, and the other half is made from human meat."

"So, once the coerced populace joins the chaos, there is no turning back. They are all determined to follow Tan Sheng in rebellion."

Eating human flesh is no longer merely a metaphorical description.

Can those who have eaten human flesh still be considered human?

Cui Du felt an extreme revulsion, a faint nausea rising within him.

Unnoticed, Jiang Shaohua let go of his hand and walked forward slowly.

Cui Du silently followed behind her.

"On the way back from the Capital City, I encountered several groups of refugees. Among them, quite a few had eaten human flesh." Jiang Shaohua said softly, "I should have eliminated them promptly. But thinking more carefully, when a person is starving to the extreme, with no food to eat, not even wild vegetables or leaves to be found, they have no choice but to take this route if they don’t want to starve to death."

"What right do I have to accuse and scold them? It is clearly the court’s fault for not providing timely relief and distributing grain, with no follow-up measures."

"My cousin is still a teenager, newly ascended to the Dragon Throne, barely understanding the policy documents. Prime Minister Wang seeks to hold the power solely in his hands, while the party of the Grand Empress Dowager and Duke An seeks to contend with the Prime Minister Faction, hence the incessant struggles."

"I have attended the court for three months, participating in both grand and small sessions, and all I heard the most were the disputes between the two factions, fighting over major and minor matters, over sending imperial envoys, over deploying military generals, over expenditures, fighting over everything."

"Officials genuinely committed to serving and working have become a rare commodity."

At this point, Jiang Shaohua rarely became angry. She stopped in her tracks, dark flames flickering in her pitch-black eyes, "There is nothing more destructive to a country than factional strife. If everyone united their efforts, efficiency would increase several-fold, policies could be rapidly established, passed down and implemented, saving more people."

"They clearly understand the reasoning, yet they refuse to cease their actions. Everyone has their own thoughts, their own selfish desires."

"The Da Liang Court is filled with such officials. What can the Emperor sitting on the Dragon Throne do? I see all of this day after day, and it fills me with extreme anger."

"However, I am merely a Nanyang County Princess. My ability to enter the court with the support of the Grand Empress Dowager is already a result of the ministers yielding. What I can do is limited to this extent. Apart from contributing some grain seeds, there is hardly anything else I can do."

"I do not wish to stay in the Capital City because I do not want to remain in that quagmire. It is suffocating."

"I want to return to my Nanyang County. At least there, my word counts. I can do my best to unite the hearts of the subordinate officials and County Magistrates, working together to govern Nanyang well, so that the people can live in peace and contentment."

Jiang Shaohua, usually calm and composed, had hardly ever been so profoundly angry and agitated.

It was also the first time Cui Du saw the Commandery Princess this way.

He gazed at her, her cheeks flushed with anger, her eyes shining brightly, and suddenly said in a low voice, "Has the Commandery Princess ever thought that perhaps one day, you could stand in a higher position. Then you could change all of this."

Jiang Shaohua: "..."

In broad daylight, under the clear sky, with many eyes watching.

Cui Du openly spoke such rebellious words, as casually as suggesting the Commandery Princess should try a new dish at noon.

Even with Jiang Shaohua’s experience and insight, she was stunned.

She stared dazedly at Cui Du, as if seeing him for the first time, "Do you... know what you’re saying!"

"I know." Cui Du maintained his righteous and self-assured tone, "I just think that the Commandery Princess is the most suitable person to sit in that position."

Jiang Shaohua was rendered speechless and after a while, she rubbed her forehead with her hand, "Remember, such words must never be spoken again."

As a Vassal King, harboring ambitions to usurp the throne is equivalent to treason. Any action or indication of such thoughts would bring great disaster.

Cui Du nodded in understanding, "I will remember all the Commandery Princess’s words. I won’t say it in the future."

"You must not even think it in your heart." Jiang Shaohua glared at him, "Get rid of such rebellious thoughts from your mind as soon as possible."

Jiang Shaohua’s expression was very serious, not at all joking.

Cui Du suddenly realized something, he was silent for a moment and then said in a low voice, "My mother has been in politics all her life, she is capable and ambitious. In fact, on my maternal side, almost all of them are in politics. My aunts and maternal aunts are all formidable and capable women. So I’ve always been used to seeing women in politics, never thinking that women are weaker than men."

"Commandery Princess, I was not joking just now. From the bottom of my heart, I sincerely respect and admire you. I believe you surpass everyone in the world, whether man or woman, no one is your equal..."

"Don’t say any more." Jiang Shaohua frowned and interrupted Cui Du, "Da Liang and that world of yours are different. Succession to the throne is a major matter concerning the Da Liang Country’s fate. Women do not have inheritance rights, like Princess Bao Hua, who is clearly the eldest legitimate daughter but can only remain in the harem. The Grand Empress Dowager’s involvement in politics has incurred criticism from ministers, even though the Emperor relies on her heavily, there is still a sense of caution and vigilance."

"I, as a woman, got to be part of the court because I inherited my grandfather’s title. It was when my grand uncle was alive that I was personally appointed as a Commandery Princess with real power, a status equivalent to a Vassal King. In the two hundred years since Da Liang was founded, I am the only one, there has never been a precedent."

"I am grateful to my grand uncle, grateful to my grandfather; it is they who gave me the identity and status that allow me to stand tall."

"I am also Da Liang’s most loyal subject, with absolutely no ambition to seize the throne."

...