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Zheng Chen was defeated as expected!

Not only did he lose, but he lost quite miserably. Just as Cui Du said, he didn't even last fifty moves!

Wang Jin's expression was extremely complicated. At this moment, he was even as embarrassed as Zheng Chen, whose handsome face was dark.

Cui Du didn't care what Wang Jin was thinking and clapped his hands vigorously to speak well of the princess.

This kind voice was extremely harsh to Zheng Chen's ears. He turned his head suddenly and looked over coldly: "I want to ask Master Cui for advice."

Cui Du looked innocent and waved his hands repeatedly: "Mr. Zheng, stop joking. I have never practiced martial arts. If I go up there, I will only get beaten. You should ask the princess for more advice!"

Zheng Chen sneered: "I thought Master Cui was so powerful, but it turns out he has never practiced martial arts."

Cui Du said frankly: "Not only have I never practiced martial arts, I haven't read many books either. I am not very good at either civil or military affairs, and I am not as good as Zheng Sheren and Wang Sheren."

"But I also have my strengths. I know how to farm and grow new crops. I spent three years improving wheat seeds. This year's winter wheat yield can be increased by more than 30%."

"The princess said that this is much more powerful than studying and practicing martial arts."

Zheng Chen was choked and speechless.

Jiang Shaohua thought that Cui Du was really irritating. Even without her protection, Cui Du would not suffer any loss!

Wang Jin stepped forward to smooth things over: "The princess is so skilled, this is the first time I've seen it. It's a blessing for Zheng Sheren to have the princess's guidance."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "This princess needs to take a bath and change clothes, and also summon the officials to discuss matters. I will be free in the afternoon, so Cui Du will accompany the two servants to stroll around the palace this morning."

Cui Du bowed and accepted the order.

Zheng Chen swallowed his anger and said, "The princess is discussing matters with her subordinates. Wang Sheren and I would also like to see it. Please allow us to go together."

Wang Jin was also very curious about how the Nanyang Palace discussed matters, and immediately agreed: "Please agree, Princess."

That’s okay!
Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly.

Half an hour later, King Nanyang's study was full of people.

Jiang Shaohua sat at the top, Zheng Chen and Wang Jin sat on the right side of the princess, and the two chief secretaries Chen and Feng sat on the left. As for Cui Du and the other officials, they took their seats in order of rank.

Chen Jinyu would naturally attend such occasions.

Zheng Chen glanced over calmly, thinking that it was really ridiculous. Jiang Shaohua was a princess and controlled the Nanyang Palace, so it was fine. But why did Chen Jinyu sit in this study?
Chen Jinyu was extremely sensitive to such critical and harsh looks, and immediately glared back with her bright eyes.

What's wrong with sitting here?
I have served the princess for more than three years, and everyone in the Nanyang Palace respects me. You are an outsider, what qualifications do you have to be picky?
Jiang Shaohua glanced calmly and said, "Report everything that happened in the palace today."

As per convention, Chen Changshi was the first to stand up.

Chen Changshi mainly reported on official documents from the court and matters reported by the counties of Nanyang County. Jiang Shaohua had to make decisions on all these matters.

Feng Changshi reported on the expenditure of money and grain in the palace. Feng Changshi was also a wonderful person. In front of Zheng Chen and Wang Jin, he said solemnly: "... This year's winter wheat is growing well, and we should have a good harvest. However, the court has repeatedly collected grain from Nanyang County, which is a huge burden for us in Nanyang County." "I implore the princess to write to the court and state that the grain reserves in Nanyang County have run out."

Zheng Chen was thick-skinned enough and didn't react much after hearing that.

Wang Jin was a little thin-skinned and a little hot-tempered. After all, the grain collection in Nanyang County was the idea of ​​his father, Prime Minister Wang. Everyone knew what Prime Minister Wang was really going to do under the banner of justice.

Cui Du secretly laughed in his heart. Feng Changshi was cunning enough. Nanyang County had a bumper harvest this autumn, and the stored grain was enough to last for three years! Even if the court collected grain two or three more times, it would be enough to cope with it. How could the stored grain run out? This was scolding a bald donkey in front of a monk!

Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly: "It is indeed time to submit a memorial. Today, please ask Chen Changshi to consider writing it and submit it to this princess."

Next, Yang Shen heard that Shen Gongzhengwen, the chief clerk and others had reported the matters they were responsible for one by one and asked the princess to make the decision.

Jiang Shaohua spoke briefly and gave instructions promptly and efficiently.

With outsiders present, some things cannot be reported. For example, the staff of the Tang family grain store have been withdrawn, the last batch of famine victims have been sent back by the imperial guards, and the settlement of famine victims in various counties. Therefore, the meeting of the Nanyang Palace ended in one hour today. All the officials left in a hurry to get busy.

Wang Jin looked at Jiang Shaohua with admiration: "The efficiency of the palace's meetings is really high. With so many matters, they were able to complete them in just one hour."

If it happened in the imperial court, every matter would be debated back and forth, and almost everything would involve the Prime Minister's party and the Queen Mother's party, and they would have to compete for supremacy in everything.

Jiang Shaohua said calmly: "I have the final say in the Nanyang Palace. No one dares to drag their feet, and no one pretends to obey but actually disobeys. Whatever I order, they will do it. In this way, the efficiency of work will naturally be much higher."

Wang Jin's face felt hot again.

Zheng Chen's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "Nanyang County is just a county, and the population of the fourteen counties combined is only about 100,000. There are only a few officials in the royal palace, and the princess can govern Nanyang with ease. In the Daliang court, there are as many as 300 places like Nanyang County, with more than a thousand county magistrates, and hundreds of officials in the six ministries in the capital. Civil officials, military generals, nobles, and royal family members have complicated minds. It is not easy to control the court."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at Zheng Chen and said, "Mr. Zheng is right. The emperor has been on the throne for less than a year and is not yet proficient in government affairs. The court officials are not all loyal to him. They shirk responsibility for small matters and fight over big ones. The court is full of power-hungry people. After a few years, the emperor will be proficient in government affairs and will not be manipulated by others."

The last sentence is so sharp.

The powerful officials who are fighting endlessly in the court are Prime Minister Wang and Duke Anguo. The Wang family is known as the first family in Daliang, and the Zheng family, as a foreign relative, is also ambitious.

Zheng Chen's expression did not change, and he looked at Jiang Shaohua deeply: "The princess is right."

Wang Jin suppressed his embarrassment and agreed: "Although the emperor is young, he is diligent in government affairs and wholeheartedly serves the people. He will surely be a wise ruler in the future."

Jiang Shaohua curled his lips: "This princess will fully assist and support the emperor. Anyone who dares to do evil in secret will be the enemy of this princess."

Zheng Chen's mind was as clear as a mirror. Jiang Shaohua's words today were all for him to hear. Because only the two of them knew what Emperor Taihe was about to face.

Jiang Shaohua made it clear that he would do his best to save Emperor Taihe's life and stabilize Daliang's regime.

So what about Zheng Chen? What choice will he make?

Cui Du watched this scene and sighed inwardly. Politics and the imperial court really weren't suitable for him. Aren't you tired of making every sentence full of hints and double entendres?
Forget it, he should just concentrate on farming! (End of this chapter)