Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey
Chapter 21: Taking In

Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Taking In

"Let’s just assume what you’re saying is true."

A short sentence, but to the young boy’s ears, it was like the sound of heaven. He was so excited that tears almost burst out of his eyes.

Jiang Shaohua asked, "How old were you before?"

The young boy held up two fingers with his left hand and five with his right.

"Twenty-five," Jiang Shaohua nodded slightly, indicating this question had passed: "Where were you born and where did you grow up?"

The young boy paused for a moment, then began to draw with a charcoal pen, burying his head in concentration for a long time.

When Jiang Shaohua finally saw the drawing, she too fell silent.

The items in the drawing were all unfamiliar and strange.

This young boy might be from a foreign land, or perhaps even from beyond the heavens. In any case, he was definitely not a Da Liang person.

"You’re not from Da Liang." Jiang Shaohua looked into the young boy’s eyes.

The young boy’s eyes shimmered with a watery glow, and he nodded slightly.

"You were dressed strangely before, and your hair was exceptionally short. That’s your original appearance." Jiang Shaohua spoke slowly, "Do you want to go back very much?"

The young boy first nodded, then gave a bitter smile, pointed at his much smaller body, and looked helpless.

Looking like this now, he feared that if he left the Nanyang Prince Mansion, he would be kidnapped.

Even if no one abducted him, he couldn’t speak, knew nothing about Da Liang, and had no money. Where could he go?

It was best to stay in the mansion for now, at least he’d have food, drink, and shelter.

The Commandery Princess in front of him, though young, was unexpectedly calm and steady. From the moment they met until now, despite the absurd chain of events, she had not been shocked or out of control.

"Do you want to stay in the mansion?"

The young boy quickly came to his senses, bowing respectfully to the Commandery Princess.

This was the etiquette he had just learned.

Jiang Shaohua curled her lips into a slight smile: "I don’t keep idle people around. What skills do you have? Tell me."

The young boy thought for a moment, then quickly started drawing with the charcoal pen on paper.

Jiang Shaohua looked closely.

A stalk of grain, heavy with ears. A stalk of rice, the ears almost bending the stalk. Sorghum, beans, millet—all with exaggeratedly large fruits.

Jiang Shaohua’s eyes suddenly shone: "You’re good at farming?"

The young boy finally grinned, then drew a plot of land, two large grain storages, and proudly straightened his chest, indicating he was not boasting.

Food is the primary need of the people. Among the fourteen counties of Nanyang, every household had fields, with four of them being major grain-producing counties.

This young boy’s confident expression suggested he might truly have some ability.

Jiang Shaohua was particularly patient with those with real skills, and immediately said, "In that case, stay in the mansion for now."

"I will have someone care for your daily needs for ten days, just in time for spring planting. Then, you’ll be given a piece of land and some manpower. I’ll give you a year to see if you truly have some skills."

The young boy again bowed.

Quickly learned, though his posture was not quite right.

Jiang Shaohua did not pick at his flaws. She took up a fire lighter and ignited all the drawings, and the fire greedily devoured them, turning the sheets into ash in no time.

"Do not mention your origins to anyone else." Jiang Shaohua fixed her gaze on the young boy: "If you’re taken for a demon, I won’t protect you."

The young boy understood the seriousness and nodded.

"What’s your name?"

The young boy mouthed it slowly, fearing Jiang Shaohua wouldn’t see his lip movements clearly, he repeated it twice.

Jiang Shaohua guessed from his lip movements: "Cui Du?"

Hearing the familiar name, the young boy felt a pang in his nose and his eyes suddenly grew red.

Jiang Shaohua did not offer comfort.

All the hardship and pain in the world must be borne by oneself.

The young boy turned his head aside, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and after a moment, turned back with a much calmer expression.

Jiang Shaohua then called Meng Sanbao in, giving brief instructions: "From today, he will stay in the mansion. Find an empty room for him to settle, and have Sun Guangbai take a look at his throat and prescribe some medicine."

What kind of rice soup did this little mute feed the Commandery Princess to make her willing to keep him?

Meng Sanbao wondered in his mind while quickly accepting the order, taking the little mute to settle in.

...

There was no shortage of accommodations in the mansion. Chen Zhuo and Feng Wenming lived in second-entry courtyards, and the other officials had their arrangements. Song Yuan also had his own independent courtyard.

Meng Sanbao and Qin Hu, as trusted aides, lived in the last few rows of houses in the mansion, with two aides sharing a room.

In handing the young boy over to Meng Sanbao to settle in, Jiang Shaohua had an additional intent to keep a close watch on the young boy’s every move.

The young boy was reluctant to be held up all the time and struggled hard.

Meng Sanbao rolled his eyes and let go: "You’re not happy about it, but I was already tired. Walk on your own! If you walk too slowly, I’ll kick you!"

Under someone else’s roof, one must bow one’s head. The young boy glanced at the stout figure of Meng Sanbao and silently endured.

By this time, the sky was already dark, with a few stars twinkling above. The front courtyard of the Prince Mansion was brightly lit, but heading towards the trusted aides’ quarters, the lighting grew dimmer. Along the way, there was a wind lantern every dozen meters.

As the young boy walked, he secretly took note of his surroundings, amazed in his heart.

This Nanyang Prince Mansion was simply too large!

He was so engrossed that he nearly tripped over a branch on the ground without realizing it.

Meng Sanbao impatiently reached out and grabbed his collar, striding quickly like a shooting star.

The wind howled past his ears, doubling their speed. The young boy silently shut his mouth.

Upon reaching the trusted aides’ quarters, a taller, darker young aide approached: "Wasn’t the Commandery Princess going to interrogate him? Why have you brought him back again?"

Meng Sanbao puckered his lips: "This little mute has some luck. The Commandery Princess has a kind heart and kept him. She’s instructed me to settle him in."

Qin Hu exchanged a glance with Meng Sanbao: "There’s an empty room right next to ours."

Just perfect for keeping an eye on the little mute.

Meng Sanbao grunted: "Watch him for a while. I’ll go fetch Mr. Sun to check on him."

No need to ask; this was another command from the Commandery Princess.

Keeping a mute of unknown origin in the mansion would only waste food. The Commandery Princess was too kind-hearted. Qin Hu pushed the door with a bang and said to the young boy, "From now on, you’ll live here."

The young boy silently entered the room, quickly surveying it. Inside were two beds, a cabinet, two chests, and a table with two chairs, enough for two adults to live in; now, it was his place of refuge.

"Oi, little mute," Qin Hu called out teasingly: "Are you afraid to live alone? If you are, you can come to our room and sleep on a straw mat."

He’s not a mute; his name is Cui Du.

The young boy ignored Qin Hu.

After waiting for a stick of incense, Sun Guangbai arrived.

During daily drills, bumps and bruises were inevitable, and Sun Guangbai was the one who treated their injuries. Both Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao were very polite to Sun Guangbai.

Glad to take a break from his father’s grasp and enjoy a breath of fresh air outside, Sun Guangbai was in a good mood and smiled at the young boy: "Lie on the bed, and I’ll examine you."