CHAPTER 472: CHAPTER 472: ENTERING THE CAPITAL

"Commandery Princess, we’ve traveled for half a day already, let’s take a break!"

"No need to rest, let’s keep going."

"Even if we can endure, the warhorses need to rest for a while, eat some fodder and drink some water. Otherwise, with this hasty travel, by the time we reach the Capital City, these hundreds of horses will be exhausted," Song Yuan continued to persuade.

Jiang Shaohua paused in silence, then ordered everyone to dismount and rest for an hour.

The trusted aides were all tall and strong and managed to endure the urgent journey. Chen Jinyu, Yin Zhutu Bai, and the three others found it somewhat strenuous. After riding the horses all day yesterday, today they were sitting in the carriage. While the warhorses ran fast, the convoy was left nearly twenty miles behind. At this pace, the convoy would be at least two days late in reaching the Capital City.

Jiang Shaohua had no intention of slowing down to wait. After resting for an hour, she set off on horseback again.

She had no choice but to hurry.

Calculating the time, it’s been nearly a month since Emperor Taihe fell into a coma. The situation in the palace is unclear, the court is tense, and she wishes she could grow wings and fly straight to Emperor Taihe’s Dragon Couch.

With this urgent travel, the swift horses swept through the official road like the wind. Occasionally, there were travelers on the road who, upon hearing the warhorses’ clip-clop from afar, quickly moved aside to the edge of the official road and peeked at them.

"Who are these people making such a grand journey?"

"One person with three horses! How extravagant!"

"They didn’t even raise any banners. With so many noble families in Da Liang, who knows what the origin of this group is!"

"Wait! The leader is a young girl!"

The warhorses galloped, swirling dust everywhere, completely obscuring the appearance of the leading girl. But the imposing aura of galloping on horseback was enough to awe everyone.

Someone gasped, "It must be the Nanyang County Princess!"

Among the noble daughters of Da Liang families, few are surrounded by so many elite soldiers and trusted aides. Apart from the palace’s esteemed Princess Bao Hua and the two Commandery Princesses, only the Nanyang County Princess fits this description.

In recent years, Nanyang County’s new grains have been rapidly promoted; in the north, more than half of the populace has begun planting the new grains. Coupled with the event of curing the plague in Pingzhou, Nanyang County Princess Jiang Shaohua is well-known in the north.

The merchants traveling together by the roadside were all from the relatively peaceful and prosperous south and were no strangers to the Nanyang County Princess.

Everyone watched the Nanyang County Princess and her entourage vanish into the distance, only then sighing, "Such a girl has such imposing might and prestige that we men have no choice but to bow down in respect."

"A vassal king cannot leave the vassal territory without an edict. Where is the Nanyang County Princess going? Could she be heading to the Capital City? It’s said that in the past six months, several big figures in the Capital City have been fighting fiercely, their relationships in tatters. Why would the Commandery Princess leave the peace and luxury of Nanyang County to go to the Capital City?"

"Hey, this matter is not for us to worry about. We are going to Nanyang County to buy grain and vegetable seeds. Let’s not delay any further, let’s move!"

A few merchants teased each other and then continued their journey together.

This has also been the new trade route that emerged in the past year. Southern vendors travel to the north to buy grain and vegetable seeds and sell them in the south. Because Nanyang County’s grain yields are extremely high, and there are many types of vegetable seeds, many of which are new varieties never seen in the south before.

The merchants who spotted the business opportunity came, sniffing the scent of fortune.

These trivial matters need not be detailed.

Let’s speak of Jiang Shaohua and her group, galloping all the way. They missed post houses and camped outdoors. With fierce momentum, refugees avoided them from afar, not daring to provoke them.

After traveling for ten days like this, they arrived at the Capital City.

...

As the tall city gates entered her view, Jiang Shaohua finally took a slow breath, tightened the reins, and ordered everyone to rest on the spot.

Song Yuan rode forth alone to negotiate with the City Gate Guard General.

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept across, landing on the face of the City Gate Guard General.

Over two years ago when entering the capital, the City Gate Officer here was from the Zuo Family. Later, Zuo Yue did something foolish, detaining refugees fleeing to the Capital City as rebels, and was severely reprimanded when the incident got out. However, with Prime Minister Wang’s protection, he was fined a year of salary but retained his official position.

Until this year, when the Left General was implicated and questioned, Zuo Yue was also affected and transferred by the Ministry of War to another place under a pretext.

The current City Gate Guard General was an unfamiliar face. His habit of taking bribes vanished upon seeing Song Yuan’s name card and he respectfully saluted Jiang Shaohua before turning to loudly call for opening the city gates.

Jiang Shaohua had no time or interest in exchanging pleasantries with a City Gate Guard General. She mounted her horse and rode through the city gates.

The matter of Emperor Taihe’s coma is no secret to many. But the palace has issued a lockdown order, and those who know have to pretend they don’t know. Common folk are completely unaware of the impending doom above. Moreover, court affairs have little impact on them; chaos outside hasn’t reached the Capital City.

The streets remained bustling and lively, with people coming and going, all with smiles on their faces.

Jiang Shaohua’s anxious heart calmed significantly upon seeing this. The crowded streets also slowed down the pace of riding.

"Is the Commandery Princess going to the palace now?" Song Yuan asked softly.

Jiang Shaohua pondered briefly, "Let’s return to the Prince Mansion first, send a post to the palace, and wait for the Grand Empress Dowager’s summons."

No matter how anxious the heart is, the surface must remain calm.

Song Yuan responded, then turned and gave the order. The group of trusted aides followed their Commandery Princess, riding all the way towards Nanyang Prince Mansion.

Nanyang Prince Mansion was quite close to the Imperial Palace, and it took half a day of traveling to reach the mansion.

An unexpected figure appeared outside the main gate of Nanyang Prince Mansion.

Song Yuan was a bit surprised and quickly glanced at Jiang Shaohua, "Commandery Princess, it’s Zheng Sheren."

Jiang Shaohua looked from afar at the familiar young figure, a sarcastic smile tugging at her lips, "I fear that upon my arrival in the Capital City, the Zheng Family has already received news."

Otherwise, how could Zheng Chen have arrived so quickly?

The handsome young man standing outside the mansion stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at Jiang Shaohua on horseback from afar.

In over two years since they last met, they had both grown up and embarked on the paths they chose. Unfortunately, their chosen paths led them in opposite directions, passing each other by and then diverging.

The seventeen-year-old youth, tall and leggy, with handsome features and extraordinary demeanor, could make any girl in a boudoir shy and blush.

The girl on the swift horse showed signs of fatigue from the journey, her hair tousled by the wind. Yet her bright black eyes grew sharper. In their exchange of glances, those with slightly weaker resolve would not dare to lift their heads.

Jiang Shaohua, you finally broke your promise to yourself and came to the Capital City.

This time you’ve come, stay completely, don’t think of leaving again.

Zheng Chen unhurriedly cupped his hands in salute, "Minister Zheng Chen, pays respect to the Nanyang County Princess. It’s been more than two years since we last met, has the Commandery Princess been well?"

Jiang Shaohua rode forward, not in a hurry to dismount, sitting high on the swift horse and naturally looking down at Zheng Chen, "Zheng Sheren comes to the Prince Mansion, does he bring the Grand Empress Dowager’s oral decree?"

...