CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: TURBULENT WAVES

The fact that she could say something like this shows that this Miss Fan has also been pampered by her family growing up. She doesn’t know the difference between ’being the decision-maker’ and ’living under someone else’s roof.’

Nanyang County is far inferior to the Capital City, but in Nanyang County, Jiang Shaohua can act recklessly, doing whatever she wants. She needn’t care about anyone else’s opinion when speaking or acting.

No matter how nice the palace is, to the two of them, it isn’t their home. As imperial family members, though bearing the same surname Jiang as the Princess, their status is significantly different.

If they could, they wouldn’t want to stay in the palace. Unfortunately, they never had the right to choose.

These things are fine to say in private between the two of them, but it’s absolutely forbidden to say in front of Jiang Bao Hua. All they could do was smile at each other.

Jiang Bao Hua smiled and said to Fan Jaining, "It’s understandable that the Shao Hua cousin doesn’t want to come and prefers to stay in Nanyang County. Who knows, maybe in a year or two, she will change her mind and come."

Fan Jaining laughed with a touch of innocence, "The Princess is right. It’s livelier with more people."

Jiang Bao Hua slightly smiled.

This Miss Fan, with a simple and kind-hearted nature, only knows that more people make things livelier, but doesn’t understand the complexity of human nature. More people mean more disputes.

After exchanging a few idle words, they all followed the Princess back to the resting palace to retire for the night.

Meanwhile, Zheng Chen was being teased by the Crown Prince and others, "Zixian, you made a trip to Nanyang County in one month, did you meet the Shao Hua cousin?"

"What is the appearance and temperament of the Nanyang County Princess?" Li Boyuan, being straightforward, blurted out the question.

Wang Jin was equally curious but was more gentle and reserved, not asking the question himself... after all, Li Boyuan had already asked.

Zheng Chen quickly glanced at Wang Jin and replied indifferently, "Casually inquiring about a woman’s appearance is too frivolous."

Li Boyuan rolled his eyes, "Alright, there’s no one else here. Are you going to spread it around? Just quickly tell us!"

Wang Jin pricked up his ears.

The Crown Prince Jiang Song and Prince Gao Liang Jiang Yi were much calmer. Jiang Shaohua is their cousin, and whether she’s beautiful or not doesn’t concern them much.

Zheng Chen was entirely unwilling to discuss this matter and sarcastically replied, "If you’re so curious, why not ride to Nanyang County yourself and see with your own eyes."

Li Boyuan was annoyed and retorted with a cold laugh, "What? Did you hit a wall and get rejected by the Commandery Princess in Nanyang, and now you’re taking it out on us?"

These unintentional words hit Zheng Chen’s sore spot.

Zheng Chen’s face turned cold.

Li Boyuan, rarely having the upper hand verbally, was even more animated, looking like he deserved a beating, "Oh, could it be that I guessed right! Haha! It’s rare for Young Master Zheng to be scorned by a girl, indeed rare!"

Zheng Chen squeezed his right fist hard.

Seeing the tense atmosphere, the Crown Prince quickly laughed to defuse it, "Just joking around, why get upset? Alright, it’s late, go rest early. We still have to get up early to study tomorrow."

Zheng Chen nodded slightly, determined in his heart that during tomorrow’s riding and archery class, he would make sure Li Boyuan ’suffers.’

...

In Jingyang Palace, Empress Dowager Zheng was earnestly advising Emperor Taikang to be cautious of treacherous officials seizing power.

In recent years, Emperor Taikang had heard the same words countless times, his ears almost developing calluses. He did not argue with the Empress Dowager, only perfunctorily responding, "Rest assured, Mother, I have it under control."

"If the Emperor truly has it under control, he wouldn’t have been deceived by Prime Minister Wang." Empress Dowager Zheng’s power in the court grew stronger each day, her tone becoming increasingly assertive as she spoke. "To say nothing else, the new plow design was sent to the Ministry of Industry almost half a year ago, why hasn’t it been promoted to various states and counties yet?"

"Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Industry is Prime Minister Wang’s lackey. With a slight indication, the Ministry of Industry has been procrastinating all this time. Isn’t the Emperor going to take action?"

Empress Dowager Zheng became increasingly irate as she spoke, "If the Emperor doesn’t intervene, I must personally inquire into this matter."

Emperor Taikang felt a headache coming on, "Mother, the Ministry of Industry has been busy with river works for the past few months. Minister Zhou hasn’t even returned home in three months."

"The Ministry of Industry isn’t deliberately delaying, they genuinely can’t manage everything, and they haven’t had time to manufacture and promote the new plow."

Empress Dowager Zheng was not that easily appeased, coldly snorting, "Clearing the canals is important, but promoting agriculture and sericulture is equally important. If the Ministry of Industry doesn’t have time to manufacture and promote the new plow, at least they could have the blueprints drawn up and sent to state and county government offices."

"With the blueprints, they can make some new plows according to what’s drawn."

This indeed was a feasible idea.

Emperor Taikang thought about it and said, "What Mother said is correct. However, replicating the blueprints is a meticulous task. Most of the craftsmen in the Ministry of Industry are illiterate and cannot replicate the blueprints."

"Then select some Hanlin Scholars from the Hanlin Academy who are good at drawing and painting," Empress Dowager Zheng, already considering this, proposed a very reliable suggestion: "I have seen the blueprints, though they are detailed and complex, they can be replicated."

Emperor Taikang nodded in agreement.

Empress Dowager Zheng, seeing her suggestion accepted by her son, finally smiled and said, "I see the Emperor working tirelessly and worrying about state affairs every day. I always think of ways to share the burden for the Emperor."

Emperor Taikang smiled and said, "Mother’s caring intentions are clear to her son. Speaking of which, it is unfilial of me. I should be dutifully serving Mother, allowing Mother to enjoy her twilight years in peace. Now I still let Mother worry like this."

Empress Dowager Zheng was most averse to the word ’old,’ immediately responding, "I eat and sleep well, my health is very good, it’s not yet time to enjoy old age. Being able to concern myself with the Da Liang Court’s affairs pleases me very much."

Emperor Taikang’s smile paused slightly.

Looking at the refreshed face of Empress Dowager Zheng, Emperor Taikang found it difficult to voice what he wanted to say, so he simply smiled.

The next day, Emperor Taikang issued an edict, instructing the Hanlin Academy to select five Hanlin Scholars to go to the Ministry of Industry to replicate the blueprints.

Among those who passed the Advanced Scholar exams to enter the Hanlin Academy, there were bound to be some skilled in drawing and painting. The Hanlin Academy Director quickly selected five Hanlin Scholars.

These five Hanlin Scholars went to the Ministry of Industry, only to be met with closed doors.

"The blueprints for the new plow are very important and have been personally kept by Minister Zhou."

"Then ask Minister Zhou to bring out the blueprints!"

"Unfortunately, Minister Zhou left the capital early this morning to inspect river works."

"When will Minister Zhou return?"

"That’s hard to say. It could be ten days or eight, or it might be two or three months. But don’t worry, Minister Zhou will certainly be back before the end of the year."

Thus, the five Hanlin Scholars returned empty-handed.

The Hanlin Academy Director stroked his beard and said, "In that case, we’ll wait for Minister Zhou to return to the Capital. I will personally report back to the Emperor."

The Hanlin Academy Director personally went before the Emperor to make his report.

Emperor Taikang, upon hearing it, said nothing, merely nodding slightly to dismiss it.

Empress Dowager Zheng was furious, throwing a tantrum in Jingyang Palace. She ordered Duke An to immediately send people to find Minister Zhou and demand the blueprints.

Duke An, indeed a sharp weapon in Empress Dowager Zheng’s hands, promptly dispatched a team of guards to pursue Minister Zhou.