Clumsy martial artists, when angered, are extraordinarily frightening.
When they say they will hit, they truly hit!
Yang Zheng was speechless.
Feng Wenming had to continue smoothing things over: "Commander Song is wholeheartedly loyal, everyone sees it. Yang Shi has shown absolutely no disrespect to the Commandery Princess either."
"Yang Shi is or isn't?"
Yang Zheng endured the humiliation, forcing a stiff smile: "Yes, yes, indeed."
Wen An stopped in his tracks, looking back.
Shen Mu was preoccupied with the construction of granaries, too busy to watch the commotion, and hurried along quickly.
Wen An hastened his steps to catch up: "Wait a moment."
Shen Mu responded with a grunt, slightly slowing his pace as a gesture. Wen An, panting heavily, caught up and, with self-deprecation, smiled: "I'm old, useless now. Not as strong as Brother Shen."
Shen Mu and Wen An had been colleagues for years, hearing the implication, turned his head to glance at him: "Are you complaining that the Commandery Princess gave you only five days?"
Though short and stout, Wen An with a short neck was quite agile as he turned his head to look around: "Shh! Don't say that carelessly."
"Today, the Commandery Princess showcased her divine power, you saw it too. I reckon, from now on, we should all keep our heads low and toes grounded."
Shen Mu said: "I've always acted like that."
Wen An was not embarrassed at all, smiling as he continued, "How many diligent and capable officials like Brother Shen can there be? I'm almost sixty, another year and I can retire and spend my days with grandchildren, enjoying a peaceful life. The fewer tasks, the easier it is."
Saying this, he sighed: "Enough, let's not talk about it. The Prince appeared in a dream to the Commandery Princess, she values it so much, I'll risk sleepless nights to get the task done well."
The Commandery Princess displayed divine power, suppressing the arrogant and proud Qiu Dianshan, and dealt with the high-minded and irritable Yang Shi.
Chief Clerk Wen weighed his old bones and made a wise decision quickly.
Shen Mu said, "I actually think the Commandery Princess like this is very good, better than before."
Wen An didn't quite agree, lowering his voice to say: "After all, she's a young lady, should be gentle and virtuous, learning arts like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. After coming of age, finding a good husband is the major life event."
This wasn't Chief Clerk Wen belittling the Commandery Princess.
In fact, such thoughts were truly normal. Not only did men see it as natural, but even women thought the same.
Shen Mu pondered: "The Commandery Princess is not an ordinary girl; she is the Nanyang County Princess, our liege. We as subjects just follow the Commandery Princess's orders. For the rest, we need not worry, nor have the right to worry."
Indeed.
Wen An laughed lightly, shifting his thoughts to the upcoming task, the smiling face like Maitreya Buddha instantly turning sour: "Eh, enough talk, let's go, go, go. I must attend to the task."
...
Inside the study.
Jiang Shaohua gently rose with soft eyes: "Uncle Chen, please sit."
Without outsiders, Jiang Shaohua in front of Chen Zhuo seemed like an ordinary younger generation.
Chen Zhuo became an Advanced Scholar at twenty-two, and the following year, he accompanied Prince Nanyang to Nanyang County. He watched Jiang Yan grow up, and Jiang Shaohua was born and raised under his watch.
He was both a minister and close friend with Prince Nanyang. Both loved chess, often playing games together. Young Jiang Shaohua would watch the chess game by the side, and Prince Nanyang would smilingly let her call once "Uncle Chen."
Chen Zhuo, carefree and unruly, would just smile and respond.
However, all this happened before Jiang Shaohua turned six. As she grew older, if she called him like that, Chen Zhuo would immediately rise to avoid and decline.
This was Chen Zhuo's prudence and humility as a subject. Prince Nanyang also stopped Jiang Shaohua from calling him like that.
Today, this sudden address instantly pulled Chen Zhuo's memories back to a few years ago.
Chen Zhuo felt warmth at his heart and a slight ache in his nose: "The Commandery Princess holds an esteemed status, I am merely the Prince Mansion Chief Historian, and this call of Uncle Chen, I am truly unworthy of."
Jiang Shaohua pursed her lips in a smile: "Now there's no one else around, I call you privately, how can it be unworthy?"
She reached out to tug at Chen Zhuo's sleeve, letting him sit down. Personally poured a cup of clear tea, placing it gently by Chen Zhuo's side: "Over the past year, I handled no affairs, dedicating myself solely to mourning for my grandfather. The mansion's affairs rested on Chief Historian Chen, I am truly grateful from my heart. This cup of tea is my tribute to Chief Historian Chen."
Chen Zhuo wanted to rise to receive the tea, but the Commandery Princess's slender fingers lightly pressed on his wrist, making him unable to move.
Chen Zhuo: "..."
Chen Zhuo was extremely shocked, blurting out: "How does the Commandery Princess suddenly have such strength?"
The Commandery Princess was a good seedling for martial arts, with the Prince personally teaching her boxing, horse riding, and archery skills. Despite her youth, she could knock down two or three strong men alone.
Yet, previously, the Commandery Princess never had such surprising strength.
Jiang Shaohua followed Chen Zhuo's gaze to her hand, softly saying: "I don't know how it happened either. Grandfather appeared in a dream to me, and when I woke, my strength suddenly grew."
The heavens have eyes, allowing her to return to youth and granting her divine power.
This was the most reasonable explanation she could think of.
Chen Zhuo remained deeply shocked: "Is this... the divine power bestowed by the Prince to the Commandery Princess?"
Jiang Shaohua's mind flashed a distant, loving face, a slight ache in her nose. She nodded: "It must be."
Then she demonstrated once to Chen Zhuo.
She picked up a small tea cup, held it in her palm, and exerted slight force. Then opened her palm, the cup had turned to fine powder.
Jiang Shaohua silently estimated in her heart: "I applied approximately fifty percent of my strength just now. To fully understand the extent of my power, I need to test it at the Martial Arts Training Ground."
Chen Zhuo: "..."
Chen Zhuo took a deep breath, brought the tea cup to his lips, drank a large mouthful to steady himself. Fortunately, the tea wasn't too hot: "Who else knows about this matter?"
Jiang Shaohua gazed at him with clear eyes: "After discovering this, I first told Chief Historian Chen. Even Mrs. Zhang does not know."
Chen Zhuo slowly exhaled: "Such a heavenly phenomenon can easily incite fear. The Commandery Princess must keep this secret."
"Especially must be kept from the Capital City."
Chen Zhuo spoke tactfully, yet Jiang Shaohua understood instantly.
The late Emperor deeply loved his younger brother, granting the vast Nanyang County to Prince Nanyang as his fiefdom. All internal affairs, tax duties, military matters belonged to Prince Nanyang, making Nanyang County a nation within a nation.
Once the late Emperor passed, and Emperor Taikang ascended, he was displeased with this arrangement.
Emperor Taikang, openly and covertly, weakened Prince Nanyang's influence at court. Four years ago, General Wan of the Nanyang Garrison died of his old illness, and the court dispatched a new general to take charge of the Nanyang Garrison.
The court intended to reclaim Prince Nanyang's military authority. Arms couldn't twist the thigh, Prince Nanyang swallowed the frustration. In the subsequent years, the numbers in the Personal Guard Camp of the Prince Mansion tripled from five hundred to two thousand.
Emperor Taikang on the Dragon Throne, also tacitly endured.
Nanyang County and the court have a complex and delicate relationship that must be handled cautiously.
"Chief Historian Chen's advice is valid." Jiang Shaohua softly said: "I think the same."
The Commandery Princess listening to advice was reassuring.
Chen Zhuo felt quite gratified.
Then, he saw the young Commandery Princess gazing at him with dark eyes: "Do you know about Lu Xuan secretly colluding with Yang Shi and Qiu Dianshan?"