Being used as a pawn to charge into battle, what would it feel like to be a pawn?
Humiliation, resentnt, disappointnt, indignation... Jiang Shaohua felt none of these negative emotions.
Life is like a ga of chess, where everyone is a pawn on this grand chessboard. Before one has the courage and power to overturn the board, one must remain calm.
Empress Dowager Zheng treats her as a pawn, but little does she know that, in her eyes, Empress Dowager Zheng is rely a pawn to shield from the storm.
In the palace, you use , I use you. It’s enough to mutually leverage each other to achieve common goals.
Most importantly, she simply doesn’t care about Empress Dowager Zheng.
One wouldn’t be disappointed or angry with soone they don’t care about.
The next day, Jiang Shaohua took the opportunity during the Crown Prince’s lunch to speak with him in a low voice.
The Crown Prince hesitated a bit, whispering, "Cousin Shao Hua, this matter might anger Pri Minister Wang."
Jiang Shaohua imdiately raised Empress Dowager Zheng as a shield: "This is the will of the Empress Dowager. I am rely acting according to her wishes."
The Crown Prince was speechless.
He actually has a degree of trepidation towards this overly ambitious grandmother. However, she is his biological grandmother and has always shown him great affection. Politically speaking, the faction of Empress Dowager Zheng and Duke An is a formidable force not to be underestimated.
Empress Dowager Zheng wishes to use Jiang Shaohua as a treasure sword to show her edge to Pri Minister Wang. If this matter succeeds, it could suppress the influence of Pri Minister Wang...
Ultimately, how could a young and passionate Crown Prince willingly be suppressed by a powerful minister?
With this thought, the Crown Prince’s heart was moved, and his expression changed accordingly.
Jiang Shaohua was always attentive to the Crown Prince’s changes in expression, and seeing this, she spoke softly: "Your Highness, rest assured, I will bear this matter alone. It will not involve the Empress Dowager or you."
The Crown Prince thought for a mont and said, "This matter mustn’t be blown out of proportion to avoid ridicule from other ministers."
This was tantamount to tacit approval.
Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows slightly relaxed as she nodded lightly.
She took her leave and hadn’t walked far when a familiar sound of footsteps caught up to her: "Cousin Shao Hua..."
Jiang Shaohua stopped and turned around, her gaze indifferent.
The young man paused mid-sentence and changed the address: "Commandery Princess, please wait. I have sothing to say to you. Please co with ."
Jiang Shaohua did not move: "Whatever you have to say, Mr. Zheng, speak without hesitation."
Outside the Crown Prince’s resting chamber, there were at least six or seven eunuchs, over a dozen Imperial Guards, and three of the Crown Prince’s Companions; with so many eyes watching, what could be said?
Jiang Shaohua, therefore, didn’t give him a chance to approach her to speak.
The fla in Zheng Chen’s heart blazed up, but his face remained calm: "There are too many people here for convenience."
Jiang Shaohua said leisurely, "n and won should maintain their distance; I, as a Commandery Princess, never stay alone with an unrelated man."
Zheng Chen: "..."
Zheng Chen held back again and again, his voice extrely low: "I can guess a little of what the Commandery Princess intends to do. Allow to advise: it’s better to sheath a sharp blade than to expose its edge. Lest it becos too sharp, harming others and oneself."
Though unpleasant to hear, it was spoken out of genuine concern.
Jiang Shaohua remained unmoved: "Does Mr. Zheng have anything else to say?"
Zheng Chen was silent for a mont and, with so difficulty, uttered three words: "Nothing more."
"Thank you for your advice, Mr. Zheng." Jiang Shaohua spoke unhurriedly: "I am well aware, no need for you to worry."
Having said that, she gracefully departed.
Leaving Zheng Chen behind, he exhaled a frustrated sigh.
He still doesn’t have true power of his own. In contrast, Jiang Shaohua, as the Commandery Princess with real power, acts and speaks with a natural air of dominance and authority.
This feeling of being overlooked or even dismissed is quite terrible.
A hand clapped heavily on his shoulder: "What’s wrong? Trying to be attentive but missing the mark?"
Zheng Chen’s mood worsened due to this unrestrained teasing. He calmly removed Li Boyuan’s hand: "Although she is young, she is the Nanyang County Princess and should not be easily offended."
Li Boyuan glanced playfully at Zheng Chen’s pretense, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
Jiang Yi also joined in the fun. These days, being confined to the mourning halls, either kneeling or suffering, unable to speak or laugh was stifling him: "What are you talking about? Tell to relieve my boredom."
Zheng Chen brushed it off with a couple of words casually.
Not far away, Wang Jin, deep in thought lately, remained silent.
...
Two days later, the Emperor’s coffin was taken out of the palace.
The Crown Prince, dressed in mourning attire, walked heavily as he supported the coffin.
The young Second Prince, naive and scared, was so frightened he burst into tears as soon as his chubby little hand touched the cold coffin.
At tis like this, no one ca to hold or console him. In any case, amidst the chorus of cries, the Second Prince’s piercing wails went almost unnoticed.
Because all the eyes were on the young girl behind the Crown Prince.
The Nanyang County Princess in white.
Kneeling in mourning within Zhaohai Palace was one thing, even intruding in martial and political discussions could be tolerated, but now going to the Imperial Mausoleum for the funeral, isn’t this excessively unreasonable? By kinship, blood relation, and status, even if she really had to go, it ought to be Princess Bao Hua, not the Nanyang County Princess.
Nevertheless, the Nanyang County Princess appeared so openly before everyone’s eyes.
The ministers all glanced sideways, instinctively looking towards Pri Minister Wang.
Pri Minister Wang’s face was stern, but he said nothing.
Neither did Minister Zhang nor Minister Dai speak up.
Then an Imperial Censor stepped forth, with righteous indignation, accusing: "In the over two hundred years since the founding of Da Liang, there has never been a precedent for a woman entering court. For a woman to escort the Emperor’s coffin to the Imperial Mausoleum, this is even more unprecedented."
"What is the Nanyang County Princess’s intention in committing such a heinous act?"
The impassioned speech ca from Imperial Censor Bian, known to be a lackey of the Pri Minister.
Pri Minister Wang had taken a silent loss last ti; this ti, he refrained from stepping forward himself. Directing his loyal hound from his faction to speak; whether they bit or not, it did not affect the Pri Minister’s dignity.
Following that, another Imperial Censor, with a square face and big ears, stood up, forcefully impeaching the Nanyang County Princess.
Then, a mber of the Imperial Family also stood up and rebuked in the tone of an elder scolding a junior: "As a young lady, you should remain in the palace, accompanying the eunuchs and princess, making companionship. The Imperial Mausoleum is no place for you."
Indeed, Pri Minister Wang is impressive. He even induced Prince Wu’an to take action.
This Prince Wu’an, already over sixty, by rank, even the late Prince Nanyang would have called him cousin. This ti, he traveled all the way to the Capital City for mourning. What benefits Pri Minister Wang promised in private remain unknown, but Prince Wu’an couldn’t wait to jump out.
Even the ntally prepared Crown Prince was sowhat shocked and surprised.
It’s not strange for two Imperial Censors to speak out; how did a dignified Prince Wu’an beco a tool in the Pri Minister’s hand?
"It is not surprising that Imperial Censors Bian and Fang have spoken out." Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over, her voice calm yet sharp: "That Prince Wu’an, as a Jiang family mber, could say such things is truly laughable and pathetic."
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