Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 532: Misunderstanding

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng felt increasingly fond and compassionate towards Jiang Shaohua, seeing how sensible she was.

She gently stroked Jiang Shaohua’s hair, "For assassins to dare cause trouble in Nanyang County, it shows their audacity. Be extra careful on your way back. Also, find out the identity and background of these assassins."

Jiang Shaohua responded softly, then suddenly looked up, "There’s something else I need to report to Grand Aunt. Last night, Zheng Sheren was escorting me back to Jingyang Palace. On the way, he made some sarcastic remarks that were hard to tolerate, and in a moment of anger, I hit him."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng was speechless for a moment:

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng, though amused, couldn’t help but reprimand her a little, "Your temper is indeed too strong. You must change this habit a bit in the future. You’re about to marry into the family, and Zixian feels uncomfortable about it. Even if he said a few more words, you shouldn’t have hit him."

"Zixian is very skilled. If he hadn’t let you win, you wouldn’t have been his match."

In the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s heart, her nephew was the best martial artist in the court. Even if Jiang Shaohua had some skills, she couldn’t possibly be a match for Zheng Chen. Surely Zheng Chen deliberately let her win. The so-called beating was simply a young man in love trying to make his sweetheart happy.

Jiang Shaohua had no intention of explaining and simply went along with the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng’s words, "Grand Aunt is right, I was a bit willful."

The Grand Empress Dowager Zheng soon dismissed this insignificant matter and repeatedly urged Jiang Shaohua to be careful when returning to Nanyang County.

Jiang Shaohua complied with great obedience.

Yin Zhutu Bai had quietly started packing three days ago. After getting the Commandery Princess’s confirmation tonight, they were all exhilarated.

The next day, Jiang Shaohua did not attend the morning court meeting, and after bidding Emperor Taihe farewell once again, she left without any hesitation.

Zheng Chen had already "reported sick" last night and returned to Duke An’s Mansion to rest quietly.

Emperor Taihe ordered Wang Jin, Li Boyuan, and Jiang Yi to see Jiang Shaohua off from the Capital City.

Li Boyuan gave her a big salute, "Commandery Princess, take care on your journey!"

Jiang Yi laughed warmly and intimately, "Cousin, don’t forget to write to us often after you return to Nanyang County."

As for Wang Jin, instead, he was the most silent. Standing in front of Jiang Shaohua, he had a thousand words in his heart but couldn’t utter them. Finally, he bowed deeply, "Commandery Princess, take care!"

Keen to return, Jiang Shaohua nodded to the three and then galloped away.

With two hundred trusted aides riding along, a cloud of dust rolled along the official road, and in no time, they were out of sight.

Wang Jin watched the direction in which the Commandery Princess disappeared, feeling as if a piece of his heart had been hollowed out.

Li Boyuan nudged Wang Jin with his elbow, teasing softly, "Enough, stop looking. That Elder Changning only had his left arm injured, and the Commandery Princess rushed back to the Capital City, anxious and all, which shows their deep feelings as betrothed."

"Zixian and Miss Fan’s engagement is about to be finalized. You should also consider your own future seriously."

Jiang Yi chimed in, "Among us, Li Boyuan is the quickest to act. In less than half a month, he’ll be bringing home a bride."

Li Boyuan grinned with pride.

Wang Jin, feeling down, was not in the mood to joke and let the two mock him without response.

Li Boyuan suddenly coughed, "Have you heard? Last night, Zixian escorted the Commandery Princess back to Jingyang Palace and somehow, they fought. He reported sick and left the palace in the middle of the night. Could it be that he did something he shouldn’t have and angered the Commandery Princess?"

Though Li Boyuan was inwardly unconvinced by Jiang Shaohua, he was aware that she wasn’t one to cause trouble without reason. For her to hit so hard, there must have been a reason.

Wang Jin had his own speculation but didn’t say much, merely replying, "I don’t know what happened."

Jiang Yi coughed, "Before returning to the palace, let’s visit Duke An’s Mansion."

Everyone agreed.

Unexpectedly, they did not find Zheng Chen at Duke An’s Mansion.

Mrs. Zheng greeted the three secretaries on his behalf, full of apologies, "Zixian is unwell and has a high fever; it’s not suitable for him to see anyone. Thank you for coming to see him. When he recovers and returns to the palace in a few days, he will personally thank you."

After leaving Duke An’s Mansion, Li Boyuan couldn’t help but mutter, "Seems like he got quite a beating!"

Jiang Yi and Wang Jin exchanged a glance and tacitly chose not to comment.

At this moment, Mrs. Zheng sat by the bedside, looking at her son, who was covered in bruises and resting painfully, feeling both heartache and anger, "This Jiang Shaohua, she hit so hard! Elder Changning’s assassination attempt, what does it have to do with you? If she’s upset, let her catch the assassins. Why take it out on you."

"And you, it’s fine to let her be on other matters, but when it came to fighting, how could you just take the blows without fighting back?"

What Mrs. Zheng thought was similar to the Grand Empress Dowager Zheng. She never considered that Zheng Chen did not deliberately yield; instead, his martial skills were far inferior to Jiang Shaohua’s, and he was firmly beaten with no ability to retaliate.

Zheng Chen, most proud and stubborn, was too embarrassed to explain and simply remained silent.

Mrs. Zheng wiped her tears and called Peng Sihai over to take good care of her son. Peng Sihai bowed to accept the order.

After Mrs. Zheng left, the room finally quieted down.

Zheng Chen opened his eyes and looked at Peng Sihai, his voice weak as he spoke, "From now on, I need to rest quietly. I won’t see anyone."

The young master is clearly angry and embarrassed, too ashamed to be seen!

Peng Sihai sighed inwardly and bowed in acknowledgment. He could not resist asking in a low voice, "Young Master, since the assassination attempt failed, should we send someone again?"

"Not for now," Zheng Chen replied, his body riddled with injuries, especially a severe punch to his waist and abdomen, causing intense pain whenever he spoke, his face twisted in agony, "Nanyang County is on alert now. Jiang Shaohua went back especially because of this. It’s not advisable to act now."

Unwilling as he was to admit it, Jiang Shaohua’s concern and significance to Cui Du indeed exceeded his expectations.

Peng Sihai replied in a low voice.

...

With Jiang Shaohua’s departure, the court ministers suddenly felt the heavy clouds above them disperse.

No one was watching them discuss state affairs, and no one was overseeing them at work. Hundreds of officials up and down the Six Ministries felt much more relaxed.

Nevertheless, the rules established over the past two months still stood. The small court meetings experienced less useless quarreling, and efficiency improved significantly. The ministers worked more diligently, mindful of their monthly performance rankings.

Emperor Taihe, who had been resting for a long time, had mostly recovered and would occasionally make an appearance at the morning court meetings.

In short, everything was moving in a positive direction.

Jiang Shaohua and her party traveled quickly, braving wind and dew, and returned to Nanyang County in just ten days.

Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng, having received the news in advance, led their officers to welcome her outside the city gate. Among them was a young man with his left arm wrapped in thick bandages.

...