She insists on fighting

In the East Palace study, the scent of agarwood could not suppress the invisible pressure.

Crown Prince Ning Yanqing's brow furrowed. Memorials piled high on his desk; the burden of regent status was far heavier than he had imagined. The Crown Prince's Secretary, Lord Chen, stood by, whispering about the difficulties in transporting grain to the northern border.

The palace door opened slightly, and Prince Yong Ning Yanli walked in calmly with his usual warm smile on his face.

"Your Majesty, I pay my respects to you." Prince Yong bowed, his tone of concern concerned. "Seeing you toiling day and night, I am truly distressed. The grain business in the northern border is complex, and the safety of the capital depends on you. Your Majesty, please take care of yourself."

The Crown Prince raised his eyes and rubbed his brows: "Thank you for your concern, my Royal Brother. It is my duty to share the country's worries."

His eyes fell back on the table, where was placed Minnesota's report on tax cuts and new policies.

Prince Yong glanced over and sighed casually, "Sister Mingzhu really cares about the people. The tax cuts in Mingzhou have been widely praised by the people. But..."

He changed the subject slightly, with some consideration, "After all, she is young and about to get married. Isn't it a bit too much to interfere in local affairs and appoint private individuals in this way? It will inevitably attract attention and lead to criticism."

He looked at the Crown Prince and spoke earnestly, as if he had his brother's best interests at heart. "I am worried. The Emperor is recuperating, and you are new to the Regent position. Things are complicated and there are many eyes and ears. Although my sister's actions are well-intentioned, a woman interfering in government is easily exploited by those with ulterior motives. I'm afraid it will be detrimental to your brother's political life and damage your own reputation."

The Crown Prince put down his red brush and said calmly, "Mingzhu reduced the taxes on her own fiefdom. Since the emperor granted her the fiefdom, the power to govern was also included. There is nothing wrong with the regulations. As for the appointment of personnel, Shen Qingyan also had the emperor's approval."

Prince Yong nodded slightly, his tone becoming increasingly sincere. "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. I have been overthinking things. However, the current situation is delicate, and public opinion can be devastating... I simply don't want to see your Majesty distracted by such trivial matters, and I don't want my good intentions to be misunderstood."

He stopped talking at the right moment, bowed and said, "I will not disturb you any longer in your duties as an emperor. I will take my leave."

The prince watched his back as he respectfully withdrew, his eyes once again falling on the Mingzhou report. He frowned slightly, then plunged into more pressing military and national affairs.

Prince Yong left the Eastern Palace and did not return home, but went straight to the palace of Princess Changning Ning Lingli.

Ning Lingli was trying on a new pearl hairpin in front of the mirror. When she saw Prince Yong come in, she waved her hand to send his attendants away.

"How?" She had a smile on her lips, but her eyes were sharp.

"The seeds have been sown." Prince Yong smiled calmly and poured himself a cup of tea. "The Crown Prince is kind and benevolent. Although he hasn't spoken directly, how could he be calm inside? When he first became regent, he was most wary of troubles like this, seemingly minor but easily giving others leverage."

Ning Lingli chuckled softly, put down the pearl hairpin, and spoke with a cold, mocking tone, "Our sister really knows how to choose the right time to show her kindness. A princess who is about to marry far away is not content to stay in peace, but is instead eager to cultivate power in her fiefdom and win people's hearts. What will others think of her actions? Is she trying to leave some foundation in the Southern Dynasty so that she can cooperate with the outside world in the future?"

She paced to the window and looked out at the courtyard. "And that Chen Tanhua, he's so quick to get close. I wonder if he's attracted to my sister's power, or if he has other motives... This lonely man and woman, one eager to show favor, the other willing to serve as a slave, tsk, tsk, if this gets out, it'll be a true story of 'virtuous ruler and capable ministers.'"

Prince Yong took a sip of tea and said, "These words should not only be known by you and me, but should also be understood naturally by others."

"Don't worry, my royal brother." Ning Lingli turned around and smiled. "In this deep palace, curiosity and concern are the most abundant. Since my sister has done such a thing, we, as her brothers and sisters, should naturally help her to become famous."

Soon, all kinds of rumors spread, not only fermenting within the palace walls, but also quietly infiltrating into the teahouses, taverns and residences of the powerful in the capital.

Some conservative censors heard the news and took action. Although they did not dare to impeach the princess directly, the memorials they submitted were full of dissatisfaction with "women interfering in politics".

For a time, Princess Mingzhu became the subject of criticism again.

*

Thousands of miles away, Mingzhou was shrouded in endless autumn rain.

This rain was not only freezing cold, but also chilled the new policies implemented by the newly appointed acting governor, Shen Qingyan, to the core.

Although the tax reduction notice has been posted, the words have been washed away by rain and are now blurred.

In contrast, malicious rumors, like the pervasive rain and fog, grew and spread wildly in the slippery bluestone streets, the noisy dock warehouses, and the corners of teahouses filled with the aroma of cheap tea.

"Have you heard? That Shen Tanhua from the capital became the deputy governor of Mingzhou at such a young age. It wasn't based on real talent or knowledge!"

"What on earth? Tell me!"

"Hey, it's because of his looks! It's because of his service! I heard that he is the lover of our Princess Mingzhu! The two of them have long... Hehe, otherwise how could they have risen to the top in one step, jumping from a poor Hanlin to a fifth-rank official?"

"Is this true? Didn't Her Royal Highness betrothed to the Prince of Beishuo?"

"Well, noble lady of the royal family, what's wrong with having a few lovers? It's a matter of mutual consent! This Lord Shen was sent by Her Royal Highness the Princess to our Mingzhou to make some money! What do you mean by a 50% tax reduction? That's a deception! First they'll give us peasants some sweet treats to keep us stable, but who knows how they'll find ways to double the plunder later!"

"That's right! Tax reduction? That's easy to say! The treasury is empty, but they're still trying to squeeze oil out of our bones? The princess lives deep in the capital, and her expenses are huge. Does it cost money to keep a lover? Does it cost money to please the husband's family in Beishuo? In the end, we will be the ones who suffer!"

"Let alone Beishuo! Who knows whose pockets the money saved from the tax cuts will ultimately flow into? Will it fill our stomachs, or fatten Beishuo's army?"

"Resist! Don't trust them! Don't let them do whatever they want! Get rid of that gigolo Shen Qingyan!"

Public sentiment was completely ignited by malicious rumors, and anger and panic gathered and fermented in the rain. The officials sent by Shen Qingyan to various counties to promote the new policies were either coldly turned away, rudely harassed, or even surrounded and threatened by unidentified people. The new policy documents were torn up and trampled upon.

A good policy that should have benefited all people was distorted by conspiracy and prejudice and turned into a heinous slander against Princess Mingzhu.

In the back court of Mingzhou Prefecture, the oil lamp was as small as a bean, and the dim light reflected Shen Qingyan's thin and tired silhouette. Outside the window, there was continuous cold rain, hitting the tiles and also hitting his heavy heart.

The letter paper lay spread out on the table, the ink still wet. He picked up his pen, paused, and finally wrote down the details of Mingzhou one by one.

The writing is calm and clear, and the author truthfully reports the plight of the people who were obstructed by the new policies, rampant rumors, and incited by the people.

When he wrote "Rumors have tarnished your highness's reputation and are unbearable to hear. They all say that I used my beauty to serve the lord and enriched myself, and they even slandered your highness's new policies as a way to make money for Beishuo", the tip of the pen hovered and thick ink dripped, spreading a glaring black mass on the paper.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath of the damp, cold, and moldy air, suppressed the surging anger and humiliation, and when he opened his eyes again, only determination remained in them.

He knew that this was not only a battle for the success or failure of the new policy, but also a life-and-death battle for the princess's reputation and dignity.

If he retreats, his career will end because of this small matter, the princess will be disgraced, the new policy will fail, the people of Mingzhou will completely lose this rare chance to breathe, and Her Royal Highness the Princess will be completely reduced to her original state and will no longer have a place to stand.

He took a deep breath and wrote the last sentence, his power penetrating the paper: "Your Highness, Mingzhou is in danger. Only thunderous measures can deter the evildoers, and only Your Highness can come in person to rectify the situation. Rumors are rampant and directly target the royal family. I cannot handle it alone. Your Highness needs to make the final decision. Clearing my inkstone, I bow my head in tears and respectfully await Your Highness's judgment."

*

Capital city, Xuehan Palace.

The hall was burning with calming agarwood incense, but it could not dispel the oppressive feeling of impending storm.

Ning Lingyi had just sent away the old princess who had tried to persuade her to stay married and not to get involved in foreign affairs. There was an unmelted frost between her brows.

Lu Qiao hurriedly presented the letter that Shen Qingyan had sent by express horse, with a worried look on her face: "Your Highness, this is a letter from Lord Shen, sent 800 miles away."

Ning Lingyi unfolded the letter and glanced over it.

Shen Qingyan's handwriting was still clear and elegant, but it revealed an unprecedented solemnity.

The new policy was blocked, officials were insulted, and the government office was surrounded...

Especially when I saw the slanderous words such as the mistress using her beauty to please her master and enrich herself, a surge of anger surged in my heart!

"How dare you!" Ning Lingyi shouted and slammed the letter on the table, making the teacups clink.

Prince Yong, Ning Lingli.

This basin of extremely filthy water was not only thrown at Shen Qingyan's innocence, but also at Ning Lingyi!

Not only do they want to destroy the chance of life she fought for the people of Mingzhou, they also want to completely nail her to the pillar of shame for bringing disaster to the country and the people, so that she will never be able to raise her head, and she will never be able to turn over in Beishuo!

If she retreats at this moment, not only will the new policy in Mingzhou be stillborn, Shen Qingyan will be completely destroyed, and Ning Lingyi will be completely reduced to her original form, becoming a bird in a golden cage at the mercy of others, without the strength to struggle, and her mother will also fall into the abyss.

no way.

This was her fiefdom! If she couldn't even control her own territory, if she couldn't even protect her own subjects, how could she hope for a change in fate? How could she hold up the sky for her mother?

"Luqiao!" Ning Lingyi's voice was filled with a determination to burn the boats.

"I'm here!" Luqiao's heart was pounding and she responded immediately.

"Pass the order down." Ning Lingyi stood up suddenly, her crimson skirt drawing a sharp arc. The cold wind of late autumn rushed into the hall, blowing the loose hair at her temples and blowing away the last trace of hesitation.

"Prepare your luggage and carriages immediately, gather the ceremonial guards at the Princess's residence, and pass on my order. Tomorrow at 11:00 AM, the imperial carriage will depart for Mingzhou in person."

"Your Highness?" Luqiao looked up in surprise, her eyes full of worry.

"I want to go and see who is stirring up trouble in Mingzhou and who is spreading these foul rumors behind the scenes!"

"They don't let me do this, but I insist on doing it!"

"They want to silence me, but I insist on speaking loudly!"

"They want to trap me to death in the deep palace, but I insist on walking out!"