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Chapter 848: Extra Inspection (V)
August, the twelfth year of Zhaoping.

The city gate of Nanyang County was opened at five o'clock in the morning, and both sides of the city gate were crowded with people.

The people were all excited, and they all looked out to see, "Has the emperor arrived?"

"It's almost there, I can hear the sound of horse hooves."

Countless horses were coming towards the city gate. The sound of their hooves was like thunder and the ground was shaking, just like the excitement of the people.

"Our princess has been gone for twelve years, and now she is finally back."

"Our princess is now the emperor of Daliang, so we have to call her the emperor. When the emperor enters the city gate later, everyone should not call him the wrong name."

Amidst the heated, noisy and excited discussions, Her Majesty the Empress finally rode her horse into the city gate.

The people who had rushed to grab seats in the front row in the middle of the night waved their hands and shouted desperately: "Long live the emperor! Long live the emperor!"

Their princess is finally back!

The people who were separated in the back row stood on tiptoe to look, but they were blocked by the heads of the people in front and could not see clearly. They followed the shouting and squeezed forward with all their strength.

The crowd was surging and the emotions were high. The emperor's personal guards who were maintaining order on both sides of the street had to put on a stern face and drive the people back.

Her Majesty, who was riding on a steed, was also so excited that her eyes were wet with tears at this long-lost yet familiar scene.

Over the past year, she has inspected more than a dozen states and military camps. Her methods are fierce, and thirty or forty officials have been replaced, and more than ten have been beheaded. Wherever she goes, everyone is in awe.

Only when we arrived in Nanyang County did we see the grand scene of people spontaneously lining the streets and cheering enthusiastically.

This is her root.

Jiang Shaohua raised his hand and waved to the people: "I'm back."

The people became more and more excited, and some even started crying on the spot.

The officials accompanying the emperor, such as Chen Jinyu, Ma Yaozong, Tang Youyin, etc., had expected this kind of scene and were not surprised. However, the officials from the six ministries who accompanied the emperor were all shocked and speechless.

This... this is too passionate and crazy!

The cheers of the people were like the waves of the sea, one higher than the other, almost breaking one's eardrums. Moreover, the excitement and ecstasy on the faces of the people were definitely not fake.

Her Majesty the Empress is like a god in Nanyang County.

Jiang Shaohua rode his horse forward slowly, waving and smiling at the people along the street from time to time. This scene continued until he reached the outside of the Nanyang Palace.

The long-lost Nanyang Palace was shining in the bright sunshine.

Twelve years later, she finally came back.

Jiang Shaohua couldn't help but turn around and said to Chen Jinyu, "Let's stay a few more days before leaving."

Chen Jinyu was also born and raised in Nanyang Palace. To her, Nanyang Palace is like her ancestral home. After returning, she was full of joy and felt comfortable all over. She nodded and smiled when she heard the words, "I think so too."

Shen Mu was transferred to the capital last year and became the Minister of Works. Wen Zhubu was already over seventy years old, too old, and retired last year. The current Chief of Nanyang Palace is the eldest son of Wen Zhubu. Wen Changshi is over forty years old this year, and his talent is not outstanding, but he is honest and loyal, which is enough for him to guard Nanyang Palace.

Jiang Shaohua returned to her boudoir after more than ten years, as if she had returned to her girlhood, smiling: "I want to be alone for a while, you all leave first."

Chen Jinyu and the others all left, and even Cui Du quietly left. Jiang Shaohua stayed alone in her boudoir, doing nothing but lying lazily on the bed.

She had been gone for so many years, but her boudoir still maintained its original appearance, with someone cleaning it every day. The light fragrance between the bedding was the same as before.

Jiang Shaohua closed his eyes comfortably and fell asleep unknowingly.

She had a dream.

In the dream, I seemed to have returned to my childhood in my previous life.

Her grandfather, the Prince of Nanyang, held her in his arms when she was little, patiently taught her to read and write, and whispered in her ear, "Shaohua, you must remember this. No matter what time it is, you must protect yourself and cherish yourself. In this world, no one is more important than you."

“Don’t lose yourself because of anyone.”

grandfather.

Jiang Shaohua murmured in his dream, and when he opened his eyes, the pillow was wet.

Ever since she took the throne, she has been preoccupied with state affairs. She has been busy and toiling for the country, the court, and the people. She has endless energy, as if she never tires.

Only she herself knew that sometimes she was so tired that she could hardly hold on any longer.

She insisted on leaving the capital and inspecting Daliang. It was indeed to rectify the civil and military officials in various places and to inspect the people's livelihood. There was also an inhumane reason, which was to leave the palace, walk around, and relax for a while.

Today, I returned to Nanyang County and slept in my familiar boudoir. All my fatigue was swept away, and it seemed as if infinite power was injected into my body.

Jiang Shaohua lay down for a while, then got up from the couch and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.

As soon as I opened the door, a gentle and kind face came into view.

Jiang Shaohua shouted happily: "Mother Zhang."

Mother Zhang, who is over 50 years old, is still slim and has black hair. Except for a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes, there is almost no sign of aging.

Mother Zhang wanted to kneel down to pay her respects, but Jiang Shaohua had already held her hand. Mother Zhang did not kneel down and said, "The princess has slept for half a day, she must be hungry. I will go make a bowl of noodles for her."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "I haven't eaten it for many years. I always miss Zhang's mother's cooking skills."

Mother Zhang was so coaxed that she smiled happily and immediately went to the kitchen to busy herself. In just an incense stick of time, she brought a big bowl of hot noodles.

Under the loving gaze of Zhang's mother, Jiang Shaohua finished the bowl of noodles.

Mother Zhang picked up the handkerchief and wiped the corners of Jiang Shaohua's mouth, laughing softly, "It's like a dream. I never thought that I could see the princess again."

Jiang Shaohua became the emperor of Daliang, so he should stay in the court and the palace. Mother Zhang was left in the Nanyang Palace to take care of the chores of the inner house. She originally thought that she would never see her master again in her life. Who would have thought that Jiang Shaohua would go out of the capital for an inspection and come all the way to Nanyang County?

Jiang Shaohua winked playfully: "Since the day I planned the inspection, I have decided that I must return to Nanyang Palace. I have always been thinking about Mother Zhang."

Mother Zhang's eyes turned red when she heard this. She didn't care about the difference between master and servant and hugged her master and started crying.

Jiang Shaohua reached out and patted Mother Zhang's back, whispering, "I plan to stay in the palace for a month before leaving. When the time comes, Mother Zhang should come with me!"

Mother Zhang stopped crying, wiped her tears and said, "I am not young anymore, and I can't stand the fatigue of traveling by boat, so I won't go on tour with the princess. I will stay in the palace and guard the inner courtyard for the princess."

"No matter what time it is, this Nanyang Palace belongs to the princess."