Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey
Chapter 44: Field Manor (Part 2)

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Field Manor (Part 2)

Farming is extremely arduous work. After discussing business, Lin Zhuangtou excused himself and returned to the fields.

Jiang Shaohua was also busy, walking around the edge of the field with Cui Du. This walk took about an hour, and Jiang Shaohua’s palms were slightly sweaty, feeling just right. When she looked at Cui Du, his forehead was covered in sweat; he managed to hold up only by sheer will!

Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but laugh, "Why didn’t you speak up if you were tired?"

A man like him, unable to keep up with a young girl in terms of stamina, how could he admit to being tired?

Cui Du couldn’t speak, but the shame on his face was evident.

Jiang Shaohua chuckled again and looked around. Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and the others had been practicing martial arts since childhood and were top among the youth; this distance was nothing to them. Song Yuan was even more unruffled.

Even Yin Zhu and Tu Bai were much stronger than Cui Du.

"Riding in and out of the city to the field manor takes two hours," Jiang Shaohua said to Cui Du. "With your frame, I’m afraid you can’t withstand running back and forth every day. I’ll have Lin Zhuangtou prepare a place for you to stay and send two people to take care of your daily needs. How about it?"

Cui Du hesitated for a moment, then nodded, indicating the number three with his fingers.

Jiang Shaohua nodded with a smile, "Alright, you can return to the Prince Mansion every three days."

Cui Du breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. He secretly resolved that he must quickly learn to ride a horse. Once he could ride, he would be able to ride every day for an early start and a late return.

Jiang Shaohua apparently thought of this as well and said to Song Yuan, "There are docile little mares in the Prince Mansion’s stables. Commander Song, choose one for Cui Du and also teach him to ride."

Song Yuan agreed readily.

As a man, how can one not know how to ride? Not only should he learn to ride, but he should also train in martial arts. Otherwise, he wouldn’t even have the power to protect himself.

Cui Du did not know what he was about to experience, and he joyfully clasped his hands towards his uncle in thanks.

By noon, a few women pushed a wheelbarrow to the edge of the field to deliver lunch. After the loud calls, the men and women, young and old, in the fields put down their work and gathered to eat.

Cui Du counted the heads silently, estimating there were over a hundred people. With ten thousand acres, each person has to cultivate seventy to eighty acres.

Farming is extremely hard work. Every year, spring planting and autumn harvesting are significant events in the manor, and the meals are much better than usual. There are enough steaming hot buns, each person gets a bowl of braised pork, and there is also a large bowl of bone and cabbage soup.

The plain and simple aroma wafted over.

Jiang Shaohua was also hungry. She whispered an instruction, and Yin Zhu led the way over, followed by Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao, each easily carrying a large basin back.

Jiang Shaohua smiled, "Today, since we’re by the fields, let’s all have lunch together." With that, she started eating first.

Since the Commandery Princess could eat, the personal soldiers naturally had no objections. The only issue was that with over fifty people in their group, once they started eating, the food wasn’t enough.

Especially since the Commandery Princess kept eating bun after bun...

Qin Hu secretly counted in his heart, clicking his tongue in surprise, quickly winking at Meng Sanbao. The palm-sized buns, the Commandery Princess had already eaten several. How was her appetite larger than theirs?

Meng Sanbao’s eyes were also widened.

Yin Zhu didn’t care about such things, happily continuing to serve the Commandery Princess food and drink. Tu Bai reminded softly, "Commandery Princess, Mrs. Zhang has advised to please restrain a little when eating outside."

Jiang Shaohua casually laughed, "These are the people closest to me, and there’s no outsider here, no need to pretend."

Yin Zhu and Tu Bai need not say anything; the personal soldiers who follow suit are all trusted aides. Indeed, there’s no need to hide just because of a big appetite.

With the Commandery Princess being so frank, Tu Bai closed his mouth.

In fact, there was an outsider. For example, the mute boy who kept glancing at the Commandery Princess... Fortunately, the mute boy couldn’t speak; even if he saw something, he couldn’t gossip.

Start at sunrise, rest at sunset.

Near sunset, the busy adults and children walked home in threes and twos.

Lin Zhuangtou respectfully escorted Jiang Shaohua and her party out of the field manor, eagerly saying, "The new type of plow is light and easy to use, and the speed of plowing is much faster than before. Please grant more, Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and promised, "The workshop is urgently manufacturing a new batch of new-style plows. When Mr. Cui comes tomorrow, he’ll bring a few new ones."

Lin Zhuangtou was overjoyed, knelt down, and knocked his head thrice to Jiang Shaohua. Then he wanted to kowtow to Cui Du.

Cui Du was startled and immediately helped Lin Zhuangtou up, gesturing with his hands.

Lin Zhuangtou now didn’t mind that Mr. Cui was a mute, repeatedly chuckling, "This evening, I’ll prepare a place for the young master."

Cui Du grinned broadly.

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, mounted her horse, and rode away in the afterglow of the setting sun.

...

The next day, Song Yuan personally escorted Cui Du to the field manor, accompanied by two teenagers and a chestnut-colored mare.

Lin Zhuangtou specially picked the most spacious farmhouse, cleaned thoroughly. Clothes and baggage were settled by the teenagers, and Cui Du was taken by Song Yuan to the official road to practice riding.

By the end of the day, Cui Du could sit steadily and walk slowly on the horse.

Song Yuan praised him a few times before reporting back to the Commandery Princess, "Mr. Cui lacks talent and isn’t suitable for martial arts or horse riding. He can barely ride, but not become useless."

Jiang Shaohua couldn’t help but laugh, "Uncle, don’t set expectations too high for him. He’s still a child."

The Commandery Princess is also still a child.

Of course, there are very few young men in this world who can be compared to the Commandery Princess.

Song Yuan was silent for a moment, then spoke softly, "Cui Du’s background is mysterious, his identity unclear. Commandery Princess, are you really at ease using him?"

"If he has real abilities, I will dare to use him," Jiang Shaohua smiled gently. "If he harbors ill intentions or does something inappropriate, it won’t be too late to deal with it then."

That is indeed so.

A young boy who couldn’t even truss a chicken could be handled with one hand.

Song Yuan nodded. He then heard the Commandery Princess’s voice.

"As for the Cui Family, please write a letter to them on my behalf, Uncle. Have the Cui Family record Cui Du into the family genealogy."

Song Yuan was startled and couldn’t help but ask, "Record him as legitimate or illegitimate?"

Jiang Shaohua had already considered, "Just record him as a legitimate son from the collateral line."

Aunt married into the collateral branch of the Cui Family, which is a large clan in Boling, with thousands of members. The status of an illegitimate child is too low; by being recorded as a legitimate child, he will have a higher starting point if he has the chance to enter officialdom later."

Song Yuan nodded in agreement.

With the Commandery Princess’s status and influence, having the Cui Family record a young man into the genealogy was nothing more than a word.

As they were speaking, Qin Hu hurriedly reported that Chen Zhuo and Feng Wenming had come together.

There must be an important matter; otherwise, the two Chief Historians, Chen and Feng, wouldn’t visit her after dark.

Jiang Shaohua immediately said, "Invite the two Chief Historians in."

Chen Zhuo and Feng Wenming entered one after another. Usually composed and graceful, Chief Historian Chen had a livid expression, while Feng Wenming’s eyes were blazing.

Jiang Shaohua felt a sinking feeling in her heart and directly asked, "What happened?"

Chen Zhuo couldn’t suppress his anger and gritted his teeth, "Commandery Princess, a servant I sent to deliver documents was killed by bandits on the return journey."