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Chapter 849: Extra Inspection (VI)
Jiang Shaohua felt warm inside after hearing these words.

Jiang Shaohua smiled softly and said, "Mother Zhang is right. Whether I come back or not, this is my Nanyang Palace. No one can take it away!"

In her previous life, her father Lu Xuan robbed her Nanyang Palace.

In this life, before she sat on the throne, Lu Xuan died of an acute illness, quietly and peacefully, avoiding all future troubles.

Mother Zhang took the initiative to talk about Aunt Mei and her two children: "A few years ago, Miss Ruohua passed the imperial examination and was arranged by the Ministry of Personnel to be a female county magistrate. The place is quite far away, in the south, and the weather is hot and humid. Miss Ruohua wanted to take Aunt Mei with her, but Aunt Mei refused."

"Later, the Emperor asked Master Ying to take the imperial examination. Master Ying worked hard and passed the exam in one go. Master Ying was not sent out to other places, but became the county magistrate of Li County. Aunt Mei followed Master Ying to Li County. She would return to the palace for a few days at the end of each year."

Lu Ruohua had never known the truth about Lu Xuan's death. After she came of age, she actively participated in the women's examination and was sent to serve as an official far away from Nanyang County.

Lu Ying was honest and obedient, and had been staying in the Nanyang Palace. When he was sixteen, he married the daughter of the Tang family. With Lu Ying's family background, any noble lady could be a good match. However, Lu Ying did not marry into the Cui family or the Wang family, but married the girl from the fifth room of the Tang family.

So, two years later, Jiang Shaohua wrote a letter to Nanyang County, asking Lu Ying to take part in the imperial examination.

Magistrate Cai of Li County was transferred to be the prefect of Guiliang City. The post of magistrate of Li County was vacant, so Jiang Shaohua casually ordered Lu Ying to fill the position.

The official documents arrived at the Nanyang Palace along with the imperial edict. Lu Ying immediately took up the post and brought Aunt Mei and pregnant Tang to Li County.

For Lu Ying, he would be willing to take the imperial examination and become an official, even if the official position was lower.

For Aunt Mei, her son was safe and sound, not exiled, and was working in Nanyang County. It would only take two or three days for him to return to Nanyang Palace. This was a great blessing.

Both mother and son were filled with joy.

Jiang Shaohua asked casually with a smile: "The mother and son also knew the news that I returned to Nanyang County. Why didn't they come back to the palace to see me?"

Mother Zhang smiled and said, "She's back. However, the princess slept for half a day after returning to the palace. Aunt Mei and Master Ying didn't dare to disturb her, so they are waiting in the yard over there!"

Jiang Shaohua thought for a moment and said, "No need to summon me, I'll go over now."

Aunt Mei, who was waiting to be called in the yard, was feeling very nervous.

Aunt Mei has taken good care of herself. Although she is in her forties, she looks like she is in her thirties, gentle, graceful and beautiful.

Lu Ying is 23 years old this year, with handsome features, and looks a bit like Lu Xuan when he was young. However, their temperaments are quite different. Lu Ying has been the magistrate of Li County for several years. He has been running around outside every day like the magistrate of Cai County, and his skin has become a lot darker. He has lost the demeanor of a nobleman and looks smart, simple and capable.

"Mother, don't be afraid." Lu Ying gently comforted Aunt Mei: "Mother did nothing wrong back then. The emperor remembers it all."

It is not convenient to publicize the "contributions" made by Aunt Mei, and only a few people know about it.

Aunt Mei was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "I know. The emperor let Ruhua be an official, let you take the imperial examination, do a proper job, and let me leave the palace with you. He has treated us mother and son very well."

With Jiang Shaohua's current status and position, if he wanted to deal with them, he didn't have to do it himself. With a little signal, they would die silently. This was the real way to eliminate future troubles.

Jiang Shaohua did not do so. She fed them well, let Lu Ying and her brother study hard, let them take the imperial examinations and become officials, and let them enter the official career with dignity.

They will never be able to repay such kindness in their entire lifetime.

She was not afraid of death. It was just that she hadn't seen Jiang Shaohua for many years, and she felt a little scared. Lu Ying was whispering to comfort Aunt Mei when footsteps were heard outside the door.

Lu Ying frowned: "Who is outside the door?"

The door was pushed open.

A beautiful, majestic, noble and graceful woman walked in.

Aunt Mei and Lu Ying were both shocked and knelt down almost at the same time to greet: "Your Highness."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and said, "Everyone stand up. I haven't seen you for more than ten years. I came here specially to see you today. It's not necessary to be restrained when a family is talking together."

The voice was very gentle.

Lu Ying secretly breathed a sigh of relief and helped Aunt Mei stand up to express her gratitude.

Jiang Shaohua sat down, and Aunt Mei and Lu Ying and their son stood beside him. Jiang Shaohua motioned for them to sit down again, and Aunt Mei sat down tremblingly.

Lu Ying was much calmer and more forthright. After sitting down, he took the initiative to talk about the situation in Li County: "County Magistrate Cai is a first-class capable official. In the past few years, Li County has settled 30,000 refugees. Together with the original residents of the county, there are now a total of 40,000 people."

"This is one of the top three counties among the more than 1,000 counties in Daliang."

"Li County has been reclaiming wasteland in recent years. Now there is basically no idle wasteland, only fertile farmland. The mountains and forests have also been utilized, and many medicinal fields have been opened to grow medicinal herbs. Now, the medicinal herbs grown in Li County every year are supplied to the army. We sell as much as we grow, and there is no worry about sales."

"There are large tracts of pepper fields in Li County. Many merchants come every year and pay a lot of money to buy them. The court also reduced the land tax, so the people of Li County live a prosperous life. Every family has surplus food, and everyone can eat their fill."

These are good days indeed.

Jiang Shaohua was in a good mood and joked with a smile: "With the example of County Magistrate Cai, after you, County Magistrate Lu, take office, will the people be willing to recognize you as the county magistrate?"

Lu Ying smiled a little embarrassedly: "I dare not say so openly. I am the emperor's brother and a legitimate imperial examination candidate. The people in Li County dare not disobey me, and the people respect me. However, they often compare me with Magistrate Cai in private."

"I have worked diligently over the past few years and have never slacked off for a moment."

Jiang Shaohua laughed: "Compared with County Magistrate Cai, you are really at a disadvantage. I have seen your assessments in the past few years, and they are all top-notch. You have done very well."

After all, Lu Ying is still young, and her face flushed with praise, and she subconsciously straightened her chest.

Jiang Shaohua looked at Aunt Mei again and said with a smile: "Aunt Mei looks the same as before."

Aunt Mei mustered up her courage, raised her eyes and looked at Jiang Shaohua: "Princess... The emperor is very different from before. He is so majestic that no one disrespects him."

Jiang Shaohua smiled at Aunt Mei: "I am getting better and better, and I hope that everyone around me lives well. I hope Aunt Mei lives a long life."

This was done deliberately to comfort her, allowing her to let go of all her worries and live in peace and contentment.

Aunt Mei's eyes were hot and she nodded vigorously: "Yes, I will live well."