CHAPTER 105: CHAPTER 105: LETTING GO

"Commandery Princess, I have brewed some flower tea and prepared some snacks," Tu Bai appeared with a bright smile.

Yin Zhu chimed in with a smile, "The Commandery Princess has been sleeping all afternoon. It’s almost evening. Only then did I dare to wake the Commandery Princess."

Two familiar smiling faces, like a clear spring, gurgling into the heart.

A warmth spread through Jiang Shaohua’s heart, and her muddled and gloomy mind suddenly cleared. The fragrance of flower tea and snacks lingered around her nose, her stomach empty and growling.

"Quick, bring them over."

The two maids responded happily, one holding snacks, the other pouring hot tea, both presenting them to the Commandery Princess.

A plate of snacks entered her mouth, and half a pot of fragrant flower tea was consumed, reviving her strength and spirit.

Those gut-wrenching, heart-piercing past memories suddenly became light and airy. That persistent face quietly faded away.

Jiang Shaohua slowly exhaled, a smile reappearing in the corners of her eyes and brows.

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai also relaxed, grinning as they said, "Today the Commandery Princess really frightened us maids."

"It’s all that Young Master Zheng’s fault, coming to disturb our Commandery Princess for no reason, even gifting some noble steed. Does our Commandery Princess lack a good horse that she needs his?"

Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but laugh.

Upon reflection, isn’t that just the truth? She had everything she wanted, could do whatever she wished, why should she give up her all for others?

In her past life, at sixteen, she gave up on the affection between two people. In this life, she let go even earlier.

She hadn’t wronged anyone.

She just cherished and loved herself more.

Once understood, she suddenly felt enlightened.

Jiang Shaohua rose from the bed, walked out of the military tent, and first said to Song Yuan, who had been guarding outside most of the day, "Uncle, you worked hard today. I’m fine now. Uncle, please return to your tent to rest! I have Qin Hu and the others with me."

Song Yuan scrutinized her, noticing Jiang Shaohua’s serene expression and calm gaze, finally easing his heart that had been on edge for half the day.

He cupped his hands in salute and took his leave, giving Qin Hu and the other trusted aides a warning glance before departing.

Receiving the Commander’s fierce warning in his eyes, Qin Hu subconsciously straightened his posture.

"Where is the Commandery Princess heading now?" Qin Hu asked softly.

Jiang Shaohua replied with a smile, "It’s almost dinner time. I, the Commandery Princess, am going to the kitchen to see what the meal is like tonight."

Clearing her heart, with the sunset splendid and the evening breeze gentle, Jiang Shaohua walked briskly to the kitchen.

At this time, the kitchen was bustling with activity.

Around twenty burly cooks were busy in front of the large stoves.

When Jiang Shaohua entered, the cooks weren’t flustered.

These days, the Commandery Princess regularly visited the military camp, coming to the kitchen every two or three days. Initially, the cooks were very afraid, but unexpectedly, the Commandery Princess didn’t seem to intend to hold past grievances, saying: "In the past, the kitchen deducted the food portions, leaving soldiers neither full nor hungry; this was all Zuo Zhen’s fault, nothing to do with you. Even if someone occasionally benefited, it was due to Zuo Zhen’s intimidation."

"As for past matters, I, the Commandery Princess, won’t pursue them. However, from today onwards, if there’s any more trickery in the kitchen, any more deduction of grain, I, the Commandery Princess, will hold you accountable."

The entire kitchen let out a sigh of relief. Truth be told, while the soldiers barely ate half-full, the cooks had plenty of oil and water every day. If pursued rigorously, each would undeservedly receive thirty to fifty military beatings.

The Commandery Princess was magnanimous and forgiving. They were lucky to escape this disaster, and these days they gave their all to perform well, even receiving compliments and rewards from the Commandery Princess!

Tonight’s meal consisted of pork and cabbage stuffed buns, along with a thick, hearty porridge.

Jiang Shaohua was quite satisfied after seeing it.

The soldiers needed to be full to train. She wanted a group of elite troops, not underfed, complaint-filled soldiers with low combat effectiveness.

After dinner, Chen Zhuo sent a letter to the military camp.

In fact, Chief Historian Chen, who was inspecting the Taiping Grain Warehouse on behalf of the Commandery Princess, sent someone to deliver a letter every day, long if there was something to report, short if not.

Today’s letter was quite thick. Jiang Shaohua, feeling the envelope, surmised.

It seemed there were some issues in Xi’e County.

After reading the long letter, Jiang Shaohua’s gaze turned cold, her smile faded: "Qin Hu!"

"Present!"

"Go invite Commander Song, General Meng, as well as General Yu and General Li."

...

In half an hour, four military generals gathered in the Commandery Princess’s tent.

Jiang Shaohua handed the letter to Song Yuan: "This is a letter from Chief Historian Chen, you all have a look."

Song Yuan skimmed through it, his eyebrows tightening.

Meng Dashan, with a straightforward temper, slapped the table upon reading it: "What a Tang family! Controlling the grain shops and acting like tyrants in Xi’e County, even the West County Magistrate had to look at their faces to buy grain to refill the Taiping Grain Warehouse. They’ve become local emperors!"

"Commandery Princess, I will immediately lead people to uproot the Tang family."

Yu Chong and Li Tie hadn’t seen the letter yet, but just from Meng Dashan’s words, they could guess the situation was not far off.

Da Liang had forty provinces, three hundred prefectures, and over a thousand counties. In the Capital City, the emperor’s authority was naturally supreme, and many of the Inspectors of the forty provinces were trusted heavyweights. But at the prefecture and county level, imperial authority’s influence greatly diminished, with various clan forces filling the rural areas.

The largest clan in Xi’e County was the Tang family. Half the people in the county bore the Tang surname.

The Tang family controlled the grain shops, iron shops, wineries, and cloth shops — all the key industries in Xi’e County. The West County Magistrate wanted to buy grain to store it, but the Tang family, hoarding the grain, refused to sell and even raised prices by thirty percent.

No wonder the Commandery Princess was furious!

Yu Chong stepped forward, volunteering: "Commandery Princess, please allow me to lead troops to the Tang family."

Li Tie, seeing a chance to prove himself, couldn’t let it slip by, thumped his chest and pledged a military guarantee.

"Give this task to me, within five days, I shall bring the head of the Tang Family Master to see the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua, originally stern-faced, couldn’t help but laugh at this: "Just a warning and deterrence will suffice, it’s not to the point of taking heads. Am I such a ruthless person?"

Li Tie chuckled awkwardly, silently thinking to himself. Who was it that ordered the killing of five hundred bandits in Li County? Who was it that injured the commander without a word upon arriving at the Nanyang Army Camp?

The word "ruthless" doesn’t fit the Commandery Princess at all.

"The Tang family, knowing the Prince’s Mansion had issued official documents, still acted like this, clearly disregarding the Prince’s Mansion."

Song Yuan spoke up, "They should be severely punished to set an example."

Jiang Shaohua nodded briefly: "I, the Commandery Princess, will personally visit Xi’e County to see what kind of person the Tang Family Master is."

"Convey my command; all in the Personal Guard Camp shall prepare tonight, setting out at dawn tomorrow."

Jiang Shaohua’s gaze skimmed over Yu Chong, landing on the eager-faced Li Tie: "General Li, select five hundred soldiers to accompany me, the Commandery Princess, on the journey."

Li Tie was overjoyed, responding loudly to the order!