Chapter 7 Finding a Position for the Prince

Jiang Fenghua said slowly, "Since I was a child, I have heard my father praise the Prince for his talent in both literature and martial arts. He has been intelligent and capable since childhood. He once entered the Imperial Academy and fought against many students, becoming famous in one battle. Later, the Hu tribe gathered an army of 300,000 to attack the Great Zhou. The enemy army was unstoppable, and the cities of the Great Zhou were breached one by one. The Prince Heng, who was only fifteen years old, led a dozen people to infiltrate the enemy camp and capture the enemy leader alive. The Hu tribe retreated. At that time, the Prince won a beautiful battle for the Great Zhou Dynasty. The Prince's bravery and extraordinary skills are also due to the Empress Dowager's careful teaching."

When Xie Shang's past achievements were mentioned, a look of pride flashed in Empress Cheng's eyes. However, when she thought that her son's outstanding talent was not valued by the Emperor, her brows furrowed. She felt that Shang'er was not favored by the Emperor because of her.

A hint of confusion flashed across Jiang Fenghua's youthful face. "What's wrong with Mother?"

“Shang’er is completely focused on that woman right now, and it’s giving me a headache.” She glanced at Jiang Fenghua and took her hand directly. “So you should focus more on Shang’er.”

"I believe Your Highness will understand Mother's good intentions. There is a saying among the common people: 'Settle down before you start a career.' Before Your Highness was married, his mind was naturally scattered, and it was understandable that Father Emperor was hesitant to entrust him with important responsibilities. Now it's different. Once Consort Su enters the mansion, Your Highness will surely become more diligent and ambitious."

Upon hearing this, the Empress felt enlightened, and her eyes brightened. "This is a good idea. Let Shang'er find a job before the Emperor. In the past, the Emperor was unwilling to entrust him with important responsibilities, but now it's different. Shang'er is married, so he is an official and cannot be idle all day long. The Emperor has no reason to refuse."

“There’s really no need for any major tasks right now,” Jiang Fenghua said.

The Empress frowned. "What do you mean by that?" Now that the Crown Prince has not yet been established, all the princes are vying for merit and showing their worth. Naturally, Shang'er must make great contributions.

"Now that the world is at peace, Your Highness only needs to stay by His Majesty's side and share His Majesty's burdens. There are countless matters, big and small, in Shengjing. With Your Highness's intelligence and talent, I believe he will be able to handle them with ease. If Your Highness handles his official duties properly, His Majesty will naturally be pleased."

The Empress's pupils dilated. As expected of the daughter of the Junior Tutor, she was insightful. It was better to keep him under the Emperor's nose than to let him go far away. She said gently, "Ruan Ruan thinks Shang'er is suitable for which position?"

"I've heard there's a vacancy in Shengjing right now, for the position of Prefect of the Capital. I think Your Highness is perfectly suited for it, and it would be a good opportunity for you to gain experience before His Majesty gives you a chance." Jiang Fenghua's eyes brightened slightly, giving him something to do so he wouldn't be spending all his time cuddling with Su Tingwan.

Upon hearing this, the Empress suddenly stood up from her seat. "When His Majesty was still the Crown Prince, he also served as the Prefect of the Capital. This is a good position. I will go to the Imperial Study immediately to request permission. Ruan Ruan, you can play in the palace for a while."

Empress Cheng was afraid that this lucrative post would fall into the hands of another prince and she would lose the opportunity, so she had Xi Mama redo her makeup and ordered Xi Mama to scoop a bowl of soup from the small kitchen and put it in the food box before she went to find the emperor.

Jiang Fenghua quickly got up to see her off, and only after the Empress had gone far away did she stand up straight and gracefully leave the main hall.

She remembered that Xie Shang was made crown prince because he would don his armor again a year later to repel the attack of the barbarian Hu tribes. Xie Shang fought a brilliant battle and later made great contributions to flood control, demonstrating extraordinary abilities. The emperor was delighted and thus he was made crown prince.

But that year, after he married Su Tingwan, the two became very affectionate, and their relationship deepened...

Meanwhile, Xie Shang went straight to the horse farm after leaving Kunning Palace. At this time, he was unaware that his wife had found him a troublesome and demanding job. Even if he didn't have any official duties, Jiang Fenghua would create them for him so that he could perform well in front of the Emperor.

A chestnut horse gallops across the riding arena, with a dashing woman in red skillfully maneuvering the reins.

Xie Shang glanced over and wanted to call out to her, but she couldn't hear him because they were too far apart, so he rode a fine horse and chased after her.

Xie Shang was an excellent horseman. When he caught up with Su Tingwan, he tightened the reins and explained, "Wan'er, don't be angry. Jiang Fenghua and I are completely innocent..."

Su Tingwan's eyes were slightly red, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears fall. "I'm not angry. Your Highness has married the Princess, so you should live a good life with her. I'm going home, back to the General's Mansion on the frontier."

Xie Shang panicked and abandoned his horse, galloping to Su Tingwan's horse: "You said you weren't angry, but what am I going to do if you go back? My father issued an imperial decree for our marriage, and I can't disobey it. Marrying her is just a temporary measure. The only person I love is Wanwan."

Su Tingwan dropped her pretense, her face lighting up with joy, and snuggled into Xie Shang's arms. "Ah Shang, are you really not seeing her?"

"I swear..."

Su Tingwan quickly covered his mouth, "I don't want you to swear, I just want you to love me wholeheartedly and have only me in your heart."

"Alright, I promise you will be the only one in my heart." He agreed with tender eyes.

“It’s a pity your mother doesn’t like me, otherwise she wouldn’t have been so eager to marry you off to a princess.” Su Tingwan’s eyes were full of disappointment. “A Shang, I have really given up a lot for you. Originally, I could have chosen not to marry you as a concubine. There were many men in our area who proposed to me. I could have been their principal wife, but I only have you in my heart. I can’t bear to be separated from you.”

Xie Shang felt increasingly satisfied. He assured her that the Su family would never marry their daughter off as a concubine, and that if he ever reached the top, he would give her the best.

The Su family also knew that among the many princes, Prince Heng had the best chance. If it weren't for the bad relationship between the Empress and the Emperor, with Prince Heng's talent, the Emperor would probably have made him the Crown Prince long ago.

Furthermore, since Consort Su had no sons, she was no longer related to the Empress Dowager. If the Su family wanted to survive, they had to find another way. Unexpectedly, the Empress intervened and forced another woman to take the position of Princess Consort of Heng.

Su Tingwan feigned anger, "But why are you still hugging her!"

"I did not hold her."

"I saw it all, you hugged her," Su Tingwan said coquettishly. "Is she pretty?"

Xie Shang's mind flashed with Jiang Fenghua's stunningly beautiful face, and his body stiffened. After a moment of stunned silence, he said, "Is she alright?"

Is she prettier than me?

Xie Shang couldn't answer. In his heart, Su Tingwan was the best, not just because she was pretty. When he liked someone, he didn't care whether she was pretty or not; he just wanted to like her simply.

Seeing that he didn't answer, Su Tingwan felt as if something was stuck in her heart. She raised her face confidently and said, "I am the most beautiful girl on our grassland. You must remember that you have married the most beautiful girl on the grassland. It is your good fortune that I was able to marry you."

Her words were utterly arrogant; no wonder the Empress disliked her. No matter how proud a person is, who in the world can be more arrogant than a prince?

Xie Shang didn't mind, only thinking that she had a cheerful and straightforward personality and no scheming. He liked such a confident girl. He said, "Yes, that's why I look forward to the day when Wanwan marries me."

She kissed his lips first, "Ah Shang, you have to promise me that no matter how beautiful she is, you are not allowed to like her."

“I don’t like her,” he answered definitively.

“She’s not allowed to like you either,” Su Tingwan said smugly. “But my A Shang is so handsome, there’s no way she wouldn’t like you.”

A strange feeling flashed through Xie Shang's mind. Jiang Fenghua really didn't like him; she even took the initiative to arrange their marriage.

He thought to himself: Jiang Fenghua was right. His relationship with Su Tingwan was an unlawful affair, and he was afraid that his father would be even more disappointed in him.

After riding for a while, he suddenly said, "Let's go back!"

Su Tingwan paused, "Going back so soon?" A Shang wasn't like this before. Could it be because of Jiang Fenghua? Does he care about her?

"I still need to pay my respects to my father." His voice turned cold and deep, giving off an undeniable sense of authority.