spend time

Chapter 369 Silver Mountain (Part )

After a day's rest, Cui Du was back to full energy the next day and went with the princess to inspect the silver mine.

During this inspection, Cui Du was amazed: "This silver mine is not smaller than the iron mine at all."

"Well, this mountain is full of silver mines. Only a part of it has been mined now." Jiang Shaohua chuckled and said, "If there is a lot of noise, it will attract attention. Secondly, the people who mine in this mine are all prisoners who have committed heinous crimes and have been sentenced to death. Once you enter the mountain, you can't leave. The manpower is really limited."

At the iron mine, we can recruit people to mine continuously. The silver mine is particularly hidden. We can only go in but not out. If we need to send food and supplies, we have to send the trusted people arranged by County Magistrate Chen.

"The only person in the palace who knows about the silver mine is Feng Changshi." Jiang Shaohua's voice rang in his ears: "Now, there is one more person, you."

Cui Du felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He turned around and looked at the princess: "Do you trust me so much? Aren't you afraid that I will spread this secret?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "You stay in the farm all day, and you only know a few people. Who can you pass it to? Besides, I believe you."

I believe you.

These four simple words made Cui Du's heart surge. He responded without hesitation: "I will definitely live up to the princess's trust."

Jiang Shaohua looked at him deeply and said nothing more.

After all the betrayals in her past life, she no longer believed in anyone's promises. Now, she was just willing to give him a chance to get close to her.

Don't listen to what he says, just watch what he does.

To put it another way, even if he betrayed her trust, she still had the ability and room to retreat calmly. Such a relationship was not passionate or brilliant, but it was more solid and reassuring.

Cui Du was keenly aware of something, and after a moment of silence, he whispered, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and a person's true character is revealed over time. It doesn't matter what I say now. The princess will just watch me slowly."

Jiang Shaohua pursed his lips, smiled, and hummed.

This little response made Cui Du very happy. He turned to look at her. Under the bright sunlight, her skin was as white as snow, her eyes were dark and shiny, and her curved mouth was very beautiful.

His fingers felt itchy and he moved them a little, but he didn't dare to do anything rash in public.

Jiang Shaohua seemed not to notice his little action, and said with a smile: "They are digging for silver over there, let's go and take a look."

Cui Du responded with a smile and walked forward with Jiang Shaohua.

Chen Jinyu, Chen County Magistrate, and Chen Changshi, a grandfather and grandson, all deliberately slowed down a few steps. Even the personal guards kept their distance tactfully.

Chen Jinyu whispered to Chen Changshi, "Grandfather, the princess is too good to Cui Du."

Chen Changshi glanced at his petty granddaughter and said, "Mr. Cui is a man of great talent, with an open and enthusiastic disposition. He is very important to the princess both in public and in private. Don't be petty and don't compete with him."

Chen Jinyu couldn't help but roll his eyes: "How could Grandfather say that to me? No matter how petty I am, I can't go to this extent!"

Chen Changshi smiled but said nothing.

County Magistrate Chen complained about his own daughter unceremoniously: "It has to be this way. She has been petty since she was a child. She keeps the things she likes to herself and won't let anyone else touch them. She has been working for the princess for several years and can't stand others getting close to her."

"Sheren Ma is sensible and has been giving in. Sheren Lu is old and cannot compete with you, so he took the initiative to go to the farm and work for Master Cui. Among the three sheren, you are the closest to the princess."

"Now seeing Master Cui staying by the princess' side, you feel a little jealous again, right?"

Chen Jinyu: “…” The complaints from his own father were precise and sharp.

Chen Jinyu was a little embarrassed and annoyed, and she tensed her pretty face: "I'm not going to pay attention to you anymore."

County Magistrate Chen laughed, turned to Chen Changshi and sighed, "I am a little worried now. With such a strong will and such a temper, will she really never marry in the future?"

Chen Changshi knew what was going on and smiled leisurely, "You don't have to worry about that. There are many kinds of flowers in the world, and there are always people who like them. Our Jinyu is so outstanding, why would she worry about not being able to get married?"

Chen Jinyu was not happy to hear this and snorted, "I don't want to get married. I want to serve the princess forever and become the most capable minister in Nanyang County in the future."

This made Chen Changshi and Chen County Magistrate both laugh.

"What are they laughing at?"

Cui Du couldn't help but turn his head to take a look.

Jiang Shaohua had sharp hearing, and she could hear every word of the conversation between Chen Jinyu and his grandchildren. Of course, she would not tell Cui Du, and she smiled and said, "Chen Changshi is training his granddaughter."

Cui Du lowered his voice and laughed: "Mrs. Chen is lively and eloquent. She is a powerful girl."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at him with a smile: "I am good at fighting, strong, and have a bad temper. I am also quick-witted, even better than Chen Sheren. Are you afraid of me?"

Cui Du grinned: "It's strange, the princess is so powerful, I'm not afraid at all."

As they were chatting and laughing, there was suddenly a loud noise nearby.

Cui Du was startled and turned around to look over.

Under the bright sun, two men who were mining were arguing loudly with ferocious looks on their faces. In excitement, one of them clenched his fist and punched the other hard.

The man was hit in the nose and screamed, blood pouring down his nose. He covered his nose with one hand and swung the sharp tool he was using to dig ore with the other. In just a few moments, they were in a fight.

"Don't worry, someone will take care of it." Jiang Shaohua was used to this kind of situation and didn't care at all.

Cui Du hummed and continued to stare. Sure enough, a tall and strong steward came forward and kicked the one who was fighting over, and tied the hands of the other one. Then he shouted: "Fighting is strictly prohibited in the mountains. You two broke the rules today, and you will be punished to be locked up in a dark room for three days without food."

When the two ferocious men heard the severe punishment, they were so frightened that their legs trembled and they immediately knelt down and begged for mercy.

Unfortunately, begging for mercy was useless at this time. Two stewards came over and dragged the two away like dead dogs.

The other men who were mining looked at the two men with mocking eyes, and then continued to dig ore.

"This kind of thing happens every day in the mines." Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "Being locked up in a dark room and starving is the most severe punishment for them."

They were all evil people who should have been beheaded long ago. They didn't care much about being beaten or scolded. What they cared about most was the three meals a day. Especially the meal at night. The few people who dug the most silver ore could take away a plate of meat in the envious eyes of everyone.

This is what they look forward to most after a hard day of mining. Even if they can't eat it themselves, it's good to see others eating it.

Cui Du couldn't help laughing when he heard this: "This is a good idea."

Jiang Shaohua raised his eyebrows and smiled: "I came up with this idea when I came to the mine more than three years ago. In recent years, the output of the silver mine has doubled with this trick."

Cui Du gave the princess a thumbs up.