The previous Pri Minister Wang, overbearing and strong-willed, even dared to question Empress Dowager Zheng face to face. Now, because of Emperor Taikang’s demise from the great defeat in Pingzhou, Pri Minister Wang has beco much less assertive.
Moreover, it is currently a period of national mourning; the Emperor has not yet been buried and is lying in the coffin before them. How dare a subject make a scene in the morial hall?
It seems Jiang Shaohua has seen through this point, which is why she appeared at the morial hall, kneeling in the position originally for Prince Nanyang.
In fact, it is not only Pri Minister Wang’s faction that finds Jiang Shaohua dazzling; even the officials from the Empress Dowager’s faction secretly frown.
However, even Pri Minister Wang has endured it, so there’s nothing they cannot endure.
To speak of it, Nanyang County Princess has always been a clear supporter of Empress Dowager Zheng, and she is considered an important force in the Empress Dowager’s faction. Jiang Shaohua’s swift entry into the capital and the palace, and her performance at the morial hall, assertively announce the presence of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, boosting the montum of the Empress Dowager’s faction.
All these undercurrents are concealed. The crowd continues kneeling in mourning, occasionally bursting into wails of grief.
The day becos bright, and Empress Dowager Zheng cos to the morial hall with the support of palace attendants. As a mother, there’s no reason for her to kneel before her son. Empress Dowager Zheng simply supports the coffin and wails mournfully.
This scene is one the ministers have beco accustod to. The only change is when Empress Dowager Zheng is about to collapse from exhaustion, Nanyang County Princess rises and supports her retreating.
Once Jiang Shaohua leaves, all the ministers in the morial hall inexplicably breathe a sigh of relief.
Indeed, she’s just a young girl, even though she’s a Commandery Princess, she should be in her proper place. What’s the point of staying among the ministers?
Unfortunately, they sighed too early.
By midnight, Nanyang County Princess appeared again in the morial hall.
That is to say, Nanyang County Princess accompanied Empress Dowager Zheng for most of the day, until Empress Dowager Zheng fell asleep, and then ca to keep vigil.
On the third day, it was the sa.
It remained the sa on the fourth and fifth days.
The ministers went from being shocked and dissatisfied to privately discussing it, to gradually getting used to it, and even secretly developing a sense of admiration.
Five days and nights without sleep—what astonishing perseverance, stamina, and endurance this is. Even the Crown Prince, after the Emperor’s demise, only managed to endure for three days and nights; afterward, he simply couldn’t keep it up and had to sleep for two hours each night before returning to the morial hall.
This Nanyang County Princess seems as if she doesn’t know fatigue, keeping vigil night and day like this...
"Cousin Shao Hua, you’ve stayed up for five days in a row; your eyes are red from fatigue," the Crown Prince couldn’t help but whisper, "Your filial piety and grief for Father Emperor, Grand Empress Dowager knows, I know, all the ministers see it. Don’t overstrain yourself, take a rest tonight."
Even an iron man would tire. Jiang Shaohua, having endured for several days and nights, was indeed very weary. Her eyes were red, and her lips slightly dry.
"I’ll listen to Cousin’s advice." When she spoke, her voice was sowhat hoarse, "I will go sleep for two hours and return at dawn."
The Crown Prince gave a nod.
Jiang Shaohua stood and slowly retreated. At this mont, the ministers still in the morial hall were all watching her departure.
Duke An suddenly noticed his son also quietly getting up and leaving, feeling sowhat amused.
After this year, Zheng Chen would be fifteen. He himself had been this age once and could easily see through his son’s intentions.
However, the Nanyang County Princess is not a delicate and easily plucked flower. She herself is a towering tree. To get close to her would not be easy.
When Zheng Chen moved, Wang Jin noticed imdiately.
Wang Jin stared at Zheng Chen’s departing figure, his brows frowning quietly.
Kneeling beside him, Li Boyuan had long since dropped his head, quietly asleep. Jiang Yi’s gaze wandered around, barely pulling the corners of his mouth without making a sound.
Wang Jin didn’t know how to describe his feelings at the mont. After all, he had only formally spoken with the Nanyang County Princess once, and although he had seen her these past few days, he hadn’t gotten the chance to speak with her closely. He didn’t have the qualifications for anger or jealousy.
If he had to use a word, it would be slightly displeased!
...
"Cousin Shao Hua."
Jiang Shaohua stopped her steps, turning to look at the approaching young man.
Everyone in the palace was dressed in white. The young man before her looked particularly good in white, as if haloed by the palace lanterns’ light.
"Cousin Shao Hua," Zheng Chen stopped in front of her, gazing deeply into her eyes, softly calling her by her given na, "I’ll escort you back."
For a mont, as if returning to a past life, back to the youth they once shared.
Jiang Shaohua’s heart trembled for a mont, then imdiately regained calm, saying indifferently: "The Crown Prince is still in the morial hall; Mr. Zheng, running out like this is improper, you should go back."
This was not ridicule, but a fact.
As the Crown Prince’s Companion, one should stay by the Crown Prince’s side, putting the Crown Prince first in all matters.
Zheng Chen looked at her: "After I send you back, I’ll return to His Highness’ side. Don’t worry, His Highness won’t bla ."
Jiang Shaohua’s voice remained indifferent: "Mr. Zheng, we are both young, and such interactions can easily lead to misunderstandings. I will soon return to my Nanyang County, and Mr. Zheng has his own aspirations. We are not on the sa path and should keep our distance."
This was not a deflection, but the truth.
There was a flash of frustration in Zheng Chen’s eyes, his voice lowered: "Jiang Shaohua, I just want to see you off, why keep at arm’s length?"
Jiang Shaohua raised her eyes in return: "I don’t want to be entangled with anyone irrelevant. It’s best to clear things up early."
She had also refused him repeatedly before.
But at that ti, he simply would not listen.
Now, she possessed the power to make him quiet down and listen.
Seeing that familiar yet unfamiliar face, Zheng Chen’s heart felt as if it were pricked by a needle. He remained silent for a mont, then turned and returned to the morial hall.
Jiang Shaohua left without hesitation.
The Zhaohai Palace had many rooms. But the ministers keeping vigil were more nurous; heavyweights like Pri Minister Wang and Duke An could use a room alone, while the others often shared rooms, taking turns to rest.
The room where Jiang Shaohua rested had been prepared five days ago, quite close to Empress Dowager Zheng.
"Commandery Princess, you finally agreed to rest." Chen Jinyu was almost crying with relief. Yin Zhutu Bai imdiately went to prepare warm water, to help the Commandery Princess wash her face and hair.
Song Yuan and Ma Yaosong were at the guard station, while Chen Jinyu, as the Commandery Princess Attendant, stayed by Jiang Shaohua as a female official. However, Chen Jinyu couldn’t enter the Emperor’s morial Hall, so she stayed in the room.
At that mont, Jiang Shaohua finally breathed a true sigh of relief, showing her fatigue: "It’s the first ti appearing before everyone, so I had to adopt a certain deanor."
"But you can’t endure it for so long." Chen Jinyu said as she brought a warm towel to apply to the Commandery Princess’s red eyes, muttering softly, "Five days and nights without closing your eyes, even an iron man couldn’t withstand it."
Jiang Shaohua did not respond.
She was truly exhausted and had already fallen asleep.
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