spend time

When Cui Du arrived, the young men in the main hall suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

In terms of age, they were all the same age. But they all followed their elders and were very respectful in front of the princess, occasionally secretly looking up at the princess. They rarely spoke.

Cui Du was different. He was the Earl of Changning, an official of the Nanyang Palace, and grew up with the princess, so they were familiar with each other. His respect for the princess was also intimate and casual. After bowing, he said, "In another month, spring ploughing will begin. I have to go to the farm to prepare grain seeds, so I came to say goodbye to the princess."

Preparing grain seeds is the top priority. Jiang Shaohua immediately said, "The mission is urgent, you go to the farm first. In a few days, this princess will go out of the mansion for inspection and will go to the farm first."

It has long been a routine for Jiang Shaohua to inspect various counties and military camps every year, and visiting farms is even more common.

Cui Du agreed with a smile and reported something: "Nanyang County is no longer short of food. I have been growing pepper on my farm for several years and plan to promote it this year. Last year, County Magistrate Cai tried to grow several hundred acres of pepper and tasted the sweetness. Li County will promote pepper cultivation on a large scale this year."

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "County Magistrate Cai is well-informed and acts the fastest."

So, how could County Magistrate Cai become the first county magistrate in Nanyang County! He always put people's livelihood in mind and racked his brains for the people to live a good life. As long as there are new grains or new varieties of vegetables, fruits, etc., Li County is the first to promote cultivation.

County Magistrate Cui, who was sitting nearby, could not help but smile and said, "We in Ye County have also allocated 1,000 acres of good farmland for trial planting. When I return, I will send people to learn how to grow pepper."

Learning from County Magistrate Cai in everything has long become County Magistrate Cui's motto.

Cui Du had a good impression of the young and promising County Magistrate Cui, who had the same surname as him, and responded with a smile.

After finishing his business, Cui Du bowed again and said goodbye.

Jiang Shaohua personally stood up and escorted Cui Du out of the main hall before returning.

Madam Xue, who had been left aside, coughed and laughed, "I have long heard that Earl Changning is very talented, and today I have seen it with my own eyes."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "Everyone in Nanyang County can eat enough, every family has surplus food, and the Nanyang Palace can continuously offer grain to the court, all thanks to Cui Du. The title of Changning Earl conferred by the court is actually far from enough. However, Cui Du is still young, so there must be some room for promotion."

All the things like imperial examinations, good looks, and good family background pale in comparison to Cui Du, and the difference between them is immediately apparent.

Cui Jiulang, Qiao Sanlang and Xue Lin all lowered their heads at the same time.

The princess never said a bad word about them from beginning to end, but they still felt ashamed.

The radiant princess should be accompanied by an equally radiant young man. How dare they approach the princess?
……

Two days later, Magistrate Cui and his wife left, and the Qinghe Cui family members also said goodbye and left.

Lu Xuan took Qiao Sanlang to hang around Jiang Shaohua twice. Seeing Jiang Shaohua's indifferent attitude, Lu Xuan had no choice but to say to Lu Qi in private: "There is no rush to recruit a son-in-law. Take Sanlang back first."

Lu Qi sighed, "Compared to the Earl of Changning, Sanlang is indeed not as good as him. The princess is not the kind of person who only values ​​beauty... Well, I will take Sanlang back to Fanyang first. In the future, you can whisper more in the princess's ear. Maybe the princess will change her mind."

This possibility is really small.

No one knows Jiang Shaohua's temper better than Lu Xuan. He is strong and opinionated, and never lets anyone influence him. Not to mention his father, even Chen Changshi and Feng Changshi, who have worked hard and made great contributions, can only bow their heads and obey orders in front of Jiang Shaohua. Lu Xuan didn't want to lose his temper in front of his clansmen, so he smiled and agreed without changing his expression.

Lu Qi whispered again: "Lu Cong is working in Pingzhou, don't forget to write to him on weekdays."

Lu Cong's comeback was inseparable from Jiang Shaohua's promotion and support. Lu Cong himself did have real ability and talent. Pingzhou was occupied by the rebel army. There was a plague and many people died. Lu Cong risked his life to go to Pingzhou to appease the people and govern the civil affairs. This is how the current situation came about.

Undoubtedly, Lu Cong is still the most outstanding and dazzling mainstay of the Fanyang Lu family, and good relations must be maintained.

Lu Xuan nodded: "Don't worry, cousin, I have been keeping in touch with Pingzhou through letters. Dalang has also been studying with Ying'er."

Lu Qi glanced at Lu Xuan and said, "The court has pardoned Lu Cong's status as a criminal. Dalang was not allowed to take the imperial examination before, but he can take the exam this year."

With Lu Dalang's talent for reading, he will soon shine in the imperial examination. Don't treat Lu Dalang as a book boy anymore.

Lu Xuan heard the implication of Lu Qi's words and felt a little uncomfortable. He said, "When Lu Cong came to seek refuge, Dalang was also brought to the palace. It was the princess's idea to let Dalang be Ying'er's companion. In the past few years, Dalang has been studying hard despite his reputation as a companion. Ying'er went to Jingzhou Prefecture School, and Dalang followed her. There, he has made great progress under the guidance of great scholars. It is no problem for him to pass the examination and become a scholar this year."

Lu Qi smiled happily: "Fortunately, Dalang has not proposed marriage yet. It won't be difficult to find a good marriage after he passes the examination."

Lu Xuan thought, do you need to tell me this? Both Lu Cong and his son are now in the Nanyang Palace. Even if the princess is too busy to ask, there is still the princess. It is not the turn of the Fanyang Lu family to make the decision.

Lu Qi was silent for a moment and said, "I will bid farewell to the princess tomorrow."

……

After Lu Qi and others left, the only "distinguished guests" left in the palace were Madam Xue and her three generations of grandparents and grandchildren.

Old Madam Xue wanted to stay for a while, but Governor Xue wrote a letter every day to urge her, so she finally said goodbye to the princess. Before leaving, she did not forget to mention Xue Lin again: "...The princess wants to guard the Nanyang Palace and wants to marry a son-in-law. In my opinion, the son-in-law should be honest and obedient. He will live with the princess and stay in the Nanyang Palace. Just like Lu Junma, who has been obedient all these years."

"A young man who is too capable will never be willing to be under the princess forever. Who knows, he might become ambitious and take over the princess's position. By then, it will be too late for the princess to regret."

"The princess said yes or no?"

Xue Liuniang wished she could cover her grandmother's mouth.

Jiang Shaohua's smile faded and he glanced at Xue Lin indifferently.

Xue Lin's face quickly turned red when the princess glanced at her. Then, the princess's calm voice rang in her ears: "I have already made up my mind about the matter of marrying a son-in-law, so Madam Xue, please don't worry about it."

Mrs. Xue: "..."

The princess has been so gentle and polite recently that people can't help but think that she has a soft temper. This hard nail made Mrs. Xue's forehead almost swollen. (End of this chapter)