The coachman was so shocked his eyes nearly fell out.
He had been driving the carriage for his master for twenty years, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that he usually acted with impunity. This kind of humble and ek behavior today was a first.
Why did Pri Minister endure such idle anger? Is the Nanyang County Princess so formidable that even the Pri Minister has to avoid her edge?
"Hurry up!" The voice from inside the carriage carried a hint of displeasure.
The coachman quickly ca to his senses, replied softly, and found another spot to park the carriage. Then he respectfully opened the carriage door.
Pri Minister Wang, in his official robes, got off the carriage with a calm expression. Minister Zhang, waiting nearby, coughed and approached with clasped hands, exchanging greetings.
Pri Minister Wang nodded slightly and walked alongside Minister Zhang.
Minister Zhang glanced at the carriage not far away, bearing the emblem of the Nanyang Prince Mansion, and felt a surge of anger. In a lowered voice, he said, "This Commandery Princess doesn’t abide by any rules."
Pri Minister Wang’s voice was indifferent: "She’s just a young girl acting unruly, what can we old ministers do?"
Minister Zhang was rendered speechless.
Who would have thought that the greatest disadvantage would turn into Jiang Shaohua’s advantage? Leaning on age is nothing; relying on youth to act arrogantly is even harder to deal with.
"Today, for the grand court eting, are we really going to let her, a woman, enter the Jinluan Palace?" After a while, Minister Zhang managed to say another sentence.
Pri Minister Wang also felt displeased, but did not show it at all, and said lightly, "The Crown Prince has already approved it; as ministers, we have nothing to oppose."
This is the crux of the matter.
After all, this is Jiang Family’s world. The Crown Prince Jiang Song, who is about to sit on the Dragon Throne, takes care of his cousin Jiang Shaohua in every way. As ministers, they can create obstacles in secret, but can they openly oppose the Crown Prince?
This also shows Jiang Shaohua’s cunning. After entering the Capital City, she always puts Empress Dowager Zheng and the Crown Prince first, charming this pair of grandparents to the point of distraction. Now, with these two great backers, Pri Minister Wang truly can’t do anything for the mont.
This account should be marked for now and settled slowly in the future. Minister Zhang exhaled a heavy breath and followed Pri Minister Wang into the Jinluan Palace.
At this ti, many ministers had already arrived inside the palace. The ministers removed their plain clothes, changed into official robes, wore solemn expressions, and waited quietly.
The Nanyang County Princess, standing among the Vassal Kings, was as conspicuous as a bright flower blooming in a dense forest.
Prince Wu’an and his sons, having suffered a great loss, stared heavily at Jiang Shaohua but said nothing. Those like Prince Dongping, a slick and seasoned Vassal King, certainly wouldn’t provoke this thorny flower.
Jiang Shaohua stood calmly in the Jinluan Palace, occupying a very forward position, silently yet dominantly asserting her presence.
As soon as Pri Minister Wang and Minister Zhang entered the palace, the originally silent civil and military officials imdiately clasped their hands in greeting.
Pri Minister Wang smiled warmly and exchanged pleasantries with the crowd. He even took the initiative to greet Jiang Shaohua: "The Commandery Princess has co early today."
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "It’s my first ti attending the grand court eting; I’m quite excited, so I ca early today. Being young and inexperienced, I’ve made Pri Minister Wang laugh."
Pri Minister Wang chuckled: "The Commandery Princess is exceptionally wise, calm, and decisive, a heroine among won. The words young and inexperienced have nothing to do with you. The Commandery Princess is too modest."
"With such high praise from the Pri Minister, I shall shalessly accept it." Jiang Shaohua curled her lips.
Stabbing in the back while smiling face-to-face—this is the most basic skill and etiquette in the court.
The previous falling out looked unsightly, but once patched up, wasn’t the facade restored?
The crowd saw it in their eyes and reminded themselves again. Pri Minister Wang, being over sixty, has navigated the court for decades, so having such maturity and poise is nothing unusual. But this Nanyang County Princess is only thirteen, yet she possesses such composure and strategy; truly remarkable.
"The Crown Prince has arrived!"
With a loud announcent, all the ministers imdiately stood solemnly and clasped their hands: "We respectfully welco the Crown Prince."
Jiang Shaohua’s voice was also among them. Most wonderfully, her clear and pleasant voice was not drowned out by the voices of hundreds of n and was the first to reach the Crown Prince’s ears.
The Crown Prince, still dressed in plain mourning clothes, had a glimr of a smile in his eyes.
Behind the Crown Prince, the young reading companions each raised their eyes to look at the Nanyang County Princess, feeling complicated and indescribable.
Jiang Yi thought this cousin was outstanding, and the montum of the Empress Dowager’s faction had greatly increased.
Li Boyuan thought, who would dare marry such a formidable girl into their ho as a wife in the future.
Wang Jin glanced secretly, then lowered his eyes.
Zheng Chen’s feelings were the most complex, even sowhat unspeakably proud. Upon reflection, thinking about how Jiang Shaohua treated him with coldness, that pride turned into intense anger and resentnt.
Jiang Shaohua didn’t look at anyone. She joined the ministers in welcoming the Crown Prince, then stood silently, listening attentively.
The Dragon Throne in the Jinluan Palace was still empty; the Crown Prince sat on the wooden chair beside the forr Dragon Throne.
Pri Minister Wang, as usual, was the first to speak: "The nation cannot be without a ruler for a day. Now that the Emperor’s funeral is over, we ask the Crown Prince to ascend the throne as the new emperor."
Heavy ministers of third-rank and above spoke one after another, respectfully requesting the Crown Prince to ascend the throne.
According to custom, three requests and three refusals are necessary. Yesterday at the Imperial Mausoleum was the first ti, and today’s grand court eting is the second.
The Crown Prince, as expected, refused, claiming he wants to focus on mourning for the Emperor.
The entire morning’s grand court eting passed with the ministers’ persuasion and the Crown Prince’s refusals.
Jiang Shaohua, like the other Vassal Kings, spoke up to persuade at the appropriate ti and stood quietly at other tis, not being ostentatious.
After the morning session was adjourned, the ministers each returned to their governnt offices to work.
The Crown Prince had Pri Minister Wang, Duke An, and several Vassal Kings stay behind to discuss Pingzhou’s military affairs. Naturally, Jiang Shaohua was also kept behind.
None of the ministers said a word. The Crown Prince had acquiesced, so what was there to oppose?
"General Fan has already set out with troops to Pingzhou." The Crown Prince, full of concern, frowned slightly: "Provisions and supplies were sent out a few days earlier. Currently, civil unrest in the North is frequent, and I’m just worried that rebels might seize the provisions."
The Crown Prince’s worry was not unfounded. Most of the Northern States were affected by drought. The most serious was Pingzhou, followed by Youzhou, Dingzhou, and Bingzhou. Currently, Pingzhou has fallen into the hands of Tan Sheng, the "King of Pingzhou," and Youzhou, Dingzhou, and Bingzhou are also stirring.
The common people are nearly starving, and for a bite of food, they dare do anything. The team delivering provisions is in constant danger.
Duke An clasped his hands and reported: "The Crown Prince, please rest assured; the team escorting the provisions consists of two thousand elite soldiers. Even three or five thousand rebels wouldn’t dare seize provisions. Even if faced with famished rebels attempting to seize food, the two thousand elite soldiers can handle it."
Pri Minister Wang glanced at Duke An: "Duke An is so certain, would you dare to sign a military pledge?"
Duke An was also not to be trifled with and retorted coldly: "Pri Minister Wang made guarantees that day, and what was the result? The Heroic Guard Camp was utterly defeated, General Du died in battle, and the Emperor ascended to heaven in anger. Yet, Pri Minister Wang is still standing here quite well?"
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