Chapter 249: Chapter 249: Ruin of the Nation (Part 2)
Jiang Shaohua appeared composed before the officials, but as soon as they left, his face sank abruptly.
The feeling of wanting to do something while knowing the way forward is hindered by countless restraints is truly awful.
Seeing the Commandery Princess in a gloomy mood, Song Yuan quietly suggested, "If the Commandery Princess is feeling down, why not go for a horse ride to relieve some stress?"
Jiang Shaohua acknowledged with a nod.
She now regularly rides a piebald fine steed. This horse was gifted by Ma during a patrol of Biyang Racecourse last year. Though its appearance is ordinary, its stamina and endurance are top-notch, rivaling any prized horse.
Just as she mounted Hua Ma, a striped little tiger suddenly leaped out with a roar.
"Little Flower," seeing her beloved pet, Jiang Shaohua’s eyebrows relaxed instantly, a smile appearing in her eyes, "Come here."
Little Flower’s size is now comparable to that of an adult dog, with sleek fur and a striking "king" pattern on its forehead.
Over the past year, Jiang Shaohua has fed Little Flower personally every day, occasionally assisted by Chen Jinyu when occupied.
Little Flower darted around the Nanyang Prince Mansion.
Upon hearing its master’s familiar call, Little Flower joyfully rushed over.
Hua Ma, accustomed to the little tiger cub flitting around, neighed and stomped the ground firmly.
Little Flower, used to playing with Hua Ma, rolled over and shook its fur with pleasure before excitedly rubbing against Jiang Shaohua’s leg.
Jiang Shaohua smiled gracefully, bending down to stroke Little Flower’s head, "Let’s go, accompany me for a walk."
Little Flower, quite responsive, raised its head and let out a few playful calls.
Jiang Shaohua mounted the horse and trotted forward leisurely. Little Flower ran along energetically.
Behind them, the trusted aide observed the scene and chuckled openly.
Seeing that Little Flower gradually adapted to running, Jiang Shaohua began to increase the pace. After an hour of running, Little Flower was tiring, its calls revealing a hint of weariness.
Amused, Jiang Shaohua dismounted, bent down, and scooped up Little Flower. Little Flower promptly nuzzled into Jiang Shaohua’s embrace.
Jiang Shaohua remounted, and Little Flower lay sprawled across the broad horse’s back, lifting its head in comfort.
Song Yuan, riding alongside, looked at the Commandery Princess’s direction and with a subtle shift in thoughts, murmured, "Is the Commandery Princess heading to the field manor?"
Jiang Shaohua simply acknowledged, "I’m idle, going to take a look at the field manor."
Song Yuan quickly glanced at the Commandery Princess without further comment.
The Commandery Princess perhaps hasn’t realized yet that in the past year, her visits to the field manor have been increasing.
This large field manor has completely become Cui Du’s territory. Last year, farmers were sent here from various counties to learn, and two batches have arrived this year. According to Cui Du, this is the new grain cultivation training. Every time, Li County sends the most people.
For the promotion of new grains, Li County has done the best. Most other counties divided their land, planting old grains on one half and new grains on the other. In essence, they lacked confidence in the new grains, halfbelieving but skeptical due to the Commandery Princess’s orders to plant the new grains.
Only Li County planted all their fields with new grains, with County Magistrate Cai actively leading the populace to clear land for cultivation. Corn and sweet potatoes, drought-resistant and easy to thrive, led to the clearing of over ten thousand acres for spring plowing this year.
At autumn’s harvest, Li County experienced a bumper crop, making all other counties envious.
County Magistrate Cai modestly expressed that he never intended to stand out; he simply firmly supports and executes the Commandery Princess’s orders.
...
"The Commandery Princess is here!"
In the fields, explaining meticulously to the farmers, Cui Du’s eyes suddenly lit up upon hearing the announcement, swiftly turning around to look.
Horse hooves approached from afar, and the maiden on horseback dismounted gracefully, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. The Little Flower nestled in her embrace jumped to the ground and exuberantly growled.
The new batch of farmers was startled, their legs turning weak upon seeing Little Flower, "This... this is a tiger!"
One bold enough laughed, "This is a young tiger cub, kept by the Commandery Princess for amusement!"
"Don’t be afraid, not only does the Commandery Princess have personal soldiers, but she herself could subdue a tiger singlehandedly." said a farmer from Li County, who had witnessed the Commandery Princess’s tiger slaying firsthand last year while collecting herbs with County Magistrate Cai, greatly admiring her.
Only then did the farmers slightly ease, each kneeling to salute the Commandery Princess.
Cui Du chuckled, offering a cupped-hand salute.
Jiang Shaohua casually replied with a smile, "All rise." Then, smiling, she said to Cui Du, "I’m idle and came by the field manor for a look. Continue with your work, don’t mind me."
Understanding the Commandery Princess’s temperament, Cui Du didn’t bother with formalities, returning to the field to continue explaining the farming and fertilizing of corn.
Jiang Shaohua listened for a while more, leisurely strolling around the field manor.
In the past two years, amidst cultivating corn and sweet potatoes, Cui Du has been selecting excellent varieties of wheat, millet, and beans for cultivation. The yields of corn and sweet potatoes are remarkable, with increased yields in other grains as well.
In years of famine, having one’s granary filled with food is such a blessing.
The unity among the people of Nanyang County has reached an unprecedented height.
At some point, Cui Du quietly approached.
"Is today’s lesson finished?" Jiang Shaohua asked with a smile, "It’s not dark yet."
Cui Du rubbed his slightly messy hair and replied with a smile, "The Commandery Princess rarely visits the field manor, so I thought I’d keep you company and chat; today, they’ll finish early."
Jiang Shaohua smiled, glancing at Cui Du, "Your hair has grown quite a bit."
When Cui Du first arrived, his hair was short, only about an inch long, making him appear somewhat odd and out of place among the others.
Now, after spending over two years in Nanyang County, his hair reaches his shoulders. Unfond of tying his hair, Cui Du uses a black silk ribbon to fasten it.
Jiang Shaohua playfully teased him, and Cui Du grinned, "Back then, if I wore a ponytail outside, I’d surely be ridiculed. Here, where everyone keeps their hair long, I just go along with it."
Jiang Shaohua smiled and nodded.
Looking at Jiang Shaohua, Cui Du suddenly commented, "The Commandery Princess seems upset today, is there trouble in Nanyang County?"
Jiang Shaohua’s smile faded, "Is it so obvious?"
"Not very," Cui Du responded, "Others might not notice at all."
’Why can you see it then?’
Jiang Shaohua looked at Cui Du silently for a moment before softly revealing the court’s official document content.
Cui Du was also incensed, "This is outrageous. The new grains laboriously cultivated over a year in Nanyang County were offered for court promotion as seed grains, yet they pick faults maliciously!"
"Shameless bunch of politicians!"
Jiang Shaohua remarked calmly, "I am still not powerful enough; Prime Minister Wang doesn’t take me seriously, merely seeing me as a pawn against the Empress Dowager."