She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

If he's tempted, how could he not achieve remarkable political success in the next three years?

Jiang Ruining smiled with satisfaction: "Prefect Bai, take care of the people under your jurisdiction. I want to see a corrupt official with personality, and the people you protect will be your get-out-of-jail-free card!"

If you're so capable, be a corrupt official who loves the people like his own children. What kind of corrupt official are you if you only exploit the poor?

If you're looking for something, go find a family that sucks blood and extracts oil!

Having received the hint, Prefect Bai bowed deeply and said, "This humble official understands!"

Jiang Ruining then instructed, "Keep the Chamber of Commerce members under control and prevent them from disrupting the market. Can you do that?"

Prefect Bai smiled confidently: "Your Highness, rest assured, I certainly have the ability!"

Jiang Ruining waved his hand: "Go! I'll have my trusted aides accompany you to the Chamber of Commerce meeting. If anyone disobeys, arrest them and I'll speak with them personally!"

Prefect Bai, leading his men, respectfully invited Ba Xi to leave and departed quickly.

"Who is that!"

"Dressed so elegantly, and so handsome too? You must be from out of town! I've never seen you before."

……

The patrolling young men stepped forward and questioned them warily: "What are you doing here? Where are you from?"

As Xiao Che was being questioned, his gaze swept past the crowd and fixed intently on Jiang Ruining. He removed his elaborate jewelry, simply curling his black hair with a hairband, looking elegant and neat.

He's lost weight, become more composed, and exudes more authority, but he's still as cheerful and approachable as ever.

The autumn wind blew gently over her, her colorful hair ribbons fluttered like dragons, and the floating stray hairs spread out in a golden halo. She looked like a goddess, sacred and inviolable!

"I'm looking for Jiang Ruining."

The young man shook his head: "Never heard of it! Where do you live? I'll ask around for you."

The little girl by the roadside guessed, "The princess's surname is Jiang, and the girl next to her, Sister Chu, is called Princess Ningning, so are you here to see the princess?"

Xiao Che nodded: "Yes! The person who saved you is named Jiang Ruining!"

Most of the people were illiterate, but they diligently memorized the names of the gods and took pride in knowing the name of the queen.

"So the princess's maiden name was Jiang Ruining! That's a beautiful name!"

"Peace and tranquility throughout the land—what a magnanimous heart!"

……

Xiao Che's smile was like the moon shining on a cold river!

After entering Qing Province, Shi'an saw a completely orderly scene after the natural disaster and heard people praising the princess. It was completely different from the disaster-stricken areas they had seen before!

It is full of hope!

Knowing that the princess was beloved, the further you went in, the more you realized the weight of that name.

They are from the gods!

"The princess is truly remarkable!"

The young girl looked up at the handsome and noble man before her and asked, "What's your name? What do you want with our Lady? I'm warning you, if you're up to any wicked schemes, the people of Qing Province will not let you off the hook!"

The others also looked on with warning.

Xiao Che didn't feel offended or offended; he only felt that these people knew how to be grateful, which was very good.

"I am an admirer of your queen, and I have come to worship her!"

The young girl, hands on her hips, said, "No matter how much you admire her, it's useless! Our Empress is the Regent's Consort, the most noble woman in the world. Don't think that just because you're pretty, you can get close to her!"

Xiao Che: "..."

Shi An grinned wickedly: "What if the Regent isn't a good person?"

The little girl puffed out her cheeks and glared at him angrily: "You're not allowed to slander the Regent! How could the husband chosen by our Queen not be a good person!"

"Her Majesty said that we were able to pull through entirely thanks to His Highness the Regent's efforts in transporting supplies and medicines to Qing Province. He is the best man in the world! Just as good as our Her Majesty, they are the most perfect match in the world!"

Shi An exclaimed in surprise, "The Princess Consort is so good to the Prince! She's making the Prince's reputation among the people worse, and taking this opportunity to change their opinion!"

Xiao Che's aloof and noble face was filled with pride: "She personally chose me, of course she's satisfied!"

Shi An covered his face, his tooth aching: "..." Oh dear! He used to like her a lot, but now he's completely obsessed! The world has gained another stalker!

Xiao Che glanced at him, and then at the others: "You're just an unwanted guy, what do you know!"

Shi An: "..." I've been personally attacked!

Jiu Jing and the others: "..." Heh! We don't want to be perverts!

Shi'an didn't want to hear another word of attack. She cupped her hands around her mouth, shouted towards the inner part of the crowd, "Your Highness, someone from the capital is looking for you!"

Jiang Ruining, who was listening intently to the people, was taken aback.

That voice sounds so familiar!

I turned my head to look over there.

Standing on higher ground, she could see over the crowd and spot where the sound was coming from.

I made eye contact with the man standing at the very front!

The steady heartbeat suddenly lurched, like a massive tremor deep within the Earth's core, unleashing a towering tsunami.

Xiao Che...

It's Xiao Che!

He came to pick her up!

Jiang Ruining was taken aback.

It feels like a lifetime has passed since we last met, almost a year later!

She wanted to run to him, but somehow, she couldn't move her feet.

She thought, it must be what the book calls "feeling apprehensive as one gets closer to home"!

"Xiao...Che..."

Xiao Che didn't dare to blink.

Knowing she was alright, he approached with extremely light and slow steps, as if afraid of startling her and scaring her away.

Then, at her hoarse, low call that he couldn't hear, he rushed toward her!

At Chu Jin's and the others' urging, the crowd tacitly made way for them.

Xiao Che arrived quickly and with great force, causing her slender body to stumble from the impact of his embrace.

After a moment of stunned silence, Jiang Ruining suddenly laughed.

She had only ever seen such a shocking scene in various TV shows and novels, where the female lead would run like that and the male lead would be knocked off balance. But when it was her turn, she was the one who was knocked off balance and staggered.

But he held her so tightly that she didn't fall or collapse. She landed safely in his arms, and the familiar scent rushed into her nose, into her heart, and into every part of her body, like the sweet dew that a withered, sprawling lake had been waiting for, finally beginning to revive!

Jiang Ruining slowly raised her arms, hugged him tightly, pressed her ear against his chest, and listened to his rapid heartbeat: "Xiao Che... I... missed you so much!"

Her affection was always contained in her smooth talk. This delicate, intense, and choked-up longing and emotion was something Xiao Che felt for the first time. His heart seemed to stop for a moment, then began to pound wildly, almost bursting out of his chest.

His long, strong arms wrapped around her tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very bones: "You bad guy, you're so mean! You left without a word, leaving me all alone!"

Jiang Ruining's nose stung, her eyes swelled, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She buried her face in his neck, wiping her tears against the crook of his neck: "Don't rush to accuse me! Don't you have anything else to say to me?"

Xiao Che's strong arms tightened, locking her in place: "Jiang Ruining, if you dare to do it again, I'll tie you up."

Jiang Ruining chuckled and hummed in agreement: "Let's go in first, the people are watching!"

When Xiao Che saw her, he lost control and his composure. Realizing that he was being watched by layers of people, he felt a little embarrassed!

"Have you become more reserved?"

Jiang Ruining gently nudged him: "You're the one who's shameless!"

Xiao Che listened with a sense of comfort and pleasure: "It's been so long since I've heard anyone dare to curse me. I miss it!"

Jiang Ruining was speechless and couldn't help but laugh!

Offer him your hand.

Xiao Che took her hand and followed her through the prescription pharmacy to the backyard, where their figures disappeared behind a rolled-up curtain.

The people were a little confused.

"No! Who is he?!"

Chu Jin smiled and introduced to everyone: "This is His Highness the Regent."

Zheng Lingyi added, "The supplies from Qing Province are continuous, all thanks to the Prince's support from the rear."

The people exclaimed in surprise!

"The Regent? Is the Regent that young?"

"I thought the Regent was at least in his thirties!" exclaimed a member of the public.

The commoner rolled his eyes at him: "The princess is only a few years old, how could she possibly marry such an old geezer!"

A commoner scratched his head: "Hey! That's true! They're a perfect match, both handsome and beautiful, intelligent and kind to the people!"

……

The little girl at the back of the crowd looked confused: "I just cursed at him, will I get beaten up?"

Her mother nearly fainted: "No, it can't be that bad!"