When Chang Suining first entered the city, the roads were relatively smooth, but as the news of her return spread, more and more people came to greet her, and the roads began to become congested and difficult to travel.
When the news reached a teahouse, the guests who were having morning tea were overjoyed and left the teahouse one after another.
The waiter's heart also flew, and he said to the shopkeeper who was dozing off at the counter: "... Shopkeeper, I'm going to collect the bill!"
As soon as the voice fell, he rushed out.
The shopkeeper hadn't reacted yet: "...What's going on? Are you going to let people do business?"
A slow-moving guest reminded him, "Didn't you hear, shopkeeper? The governor is back!"
The teahouse owner shuddered suddenly, his eyes widened, his beard trembled in surprise, and then he ran out.
——Why are you still doing business? Why are you chasing debts? Today’s tea money will be waived!
Outside the teahouse, there was a bustling atmosphere.
The old flower seller carrying a basket of flowers had not even reached the flower market when all the flowers in the basket were sold out.
The old man was holding the flower basket in his hand. He looked at the basket in front of him, which was still shaking after being robbed of all the flowers. He suddenly came to his senses and said, "...please leave one for me too!"
As he said this, he picked up the basket and hurriedly joined the crowd rushing in the same direction.
Chang Suining entered the city at first light and did not announce it beforehand, but she did not expect that she would still "disturb the people" so much. The current scene made her realize that she had underestimated the diligence and enthusiasm of the people of Jiangdu.
Soon after entering the city, Chang Suining realized this, so she ordered to slow down temporarily. She asked He Wuhu to lead the people to evacuate as much as possible, and asked Hao Huan to go back to the governor's mansion to pass on the message, asking the governor's mansion to send officials to maintain order in the city to avoid crowding and trampling.
Halfway through the journey, the situation ahead was under control, with officials coming along and dispersing the crowd to both sides.
Amid the commotion, a slender woman in a dark green literary gown with her hair tied up with a jade hairpin came towards them on horseback, followed by a group of officials.
The woman dismounted and, along with the official, raised her hand to salute Chang Suining: "I am here to welcome the governor back to the palace!"
Chang Suining sat on the back of a white horse and nodded and smiled at the visitor.
After not seeing her for more than half a year, Ms. Ran in her mansion seemed to be more capable and independent, and her every move and gesture exuded the aura of an official.
Yao Ran raised her head, revealing a face full of smiles - she was not a person who loved to laugh, and was usually calm, but at this moment her eyes were full of joy, even so happy that the corners of her eyes unconsciously turned red.
At Chang Suining's signal, Yao Ran mounted his horse again, turned his horse's head, came to Chang Suining's side, and followed him slowly two steps behind.
Soon, Chang Ren and Deputy General Jin also came to greet them, and they all followed Chang Suining and slowly walked towards the Governor's Mansion.
He Wuhu was bathed in the cheers and the rain of flowers, his face almost breaking with laughter - this time, he didn't steal it, so he didn't have to feel guilty anymore! But this guilty feeling did not disappear, but was transferred to another person.
Looking at everything around her, Kang Zhi sat on the horse with her back straight. Her big eyes with deep eyes and thick eyelashes did not dare to blink, as if she had become a puppet.
This was her first time in Jiangnan, and she couldn't take her eyes off everything she saw.
The spring in the south of the Yangtze River was enchanting, with its elegant buildings, flourishing streets, and enthusiastic folk spirit... She felt as if she had come into a fairy's painting, watching the fairy's colorful ink, which was shining brightly, splashing towards her.
At the same time, there were also goose yellow flowers that she couldn't name falling on her.
Kang Zhi subconsciously took it in her arms. When she looked up, she saw a group of ladies pointing at her and saying proudly, "... Look, those are all the female heroes under our Governor Chang's command!"
Kang Zhi said almost guiltily: "I, I'm not..."
"It will be!" Shepherd's Purse turned her head and smiled at her.
Kang Zhi's eyes were flashing, and her dark cheeks were rosy under the golden sunlight.
She was originally a wild and brave person, but today when she came to this warm mountain and soft water, she felt a little embarrassed when she saw this scene. At this moment, she spoke and asked Shepherd's Purse: "Commander, what do those ladies do?"
She saw women of different ages, most of whom were wearing braids of various colors. Some even had their sleeves rolled up, revealing half of their forearms. Their hair was also neatly tied up, and they looked very neat.
Their dresses were very ordinary, some were patched with coarse cloth, but they were all clean. Even if some had painted hands and faces, it couldn't hide the spirit in their eyes - those eyes gave people a sense of vitality.
"There are all kinds of jobs!" Shepherd's Purse said, "In our Jiangdu city, women can go out to work!"
Kang Zhi was a little surprised. She had never heard of such a thing in Kanto, where the people were tough. Moreover, this was the Central Plains and Jiangnan, where Confucianism was prevalent... This was different from anything she had heard before.
But she soon understood and subconsciously looked up at the girl in green robe in front of her.
Soon, her attention was attracted by the group of people in front of her. Those people were wearing the same blue and white long gowns, and there were both men and women, some were older and calm, and some were young men and women with energetic faces.
Kang Zhi couldn't help but ask again: "Commander, what do those people do?"
Shepherd's Purse was also a little uncertain. Yao Ran in front turned around and replied with a smile: "They are the students from Wuer Academy."
Kang Zhi looked at Yao Ran who turned back.
The young woman had a pretty face, with a long scar on her cheek that was somewhat eye-catching, but what was even more eye-catching was her calm and composed demeanor.
"Wueryuan... I've heard of it!" Kang Zhi came back to her senses and nodded quickly.
At this time, they happened to pass by the group of people in blue and white. Kang Zhi looked at the long gowns on those people and exclaimed: "Their clothes are really beautiful!"
It was a material she had never seen before in Kanto. It was as light as a fairy, as soft as heavenly clothes, and elegant and graceful.
"These are new materials from the silk weaving workshop last month. They are just right for making spring clothes for the students." Yao Ran said with a smile, "There are still a lot left in the mansion. I will give them to Commander Hao to make clothes for you."
Yao Ran didn't know Kang Zhi, but to her, as long as they were female soldiers under the command of the adults, they were worthy of her friendly treatment.
Kang Zhi smiled shyly and whispered, "I don't need it..."
She didn't do anything, but she had received a lot, so much that it made her feel ashamed... Since she was born, she had never received so much goodness and been treated with kindness by so many people.
Yao Ran had already turned his head back, quickened his horse's pace, and caught up with Chang Suining: "Sir..."
Chang Suining looked at the scene ahead and nodded slightly: "Very good."
"It's better than I thought." Chang Suining turned around and smiled at Yao Ran: "In the past six months, what you have done has been more attentive than what was written in the letter."
She saw a lot along the way, but all these new scenes can be summed up in two words: progress.
The special current situation and government policies, with the hard work of a group of dedicated people, have created an astonishing spirit of enterprising in this already fertile land.
Chang Suining breathed in the vibrant atmosphere in the air, feeling infinite hope in his heart and his eyes became more determined.
If Jiangdu could be reborn after the war, she believed that Dasheng could do the same.
"Why haven't you arrived yet?"
Outside the gate of the governor's mansion where everyone was waiting, Chang Kuo walked back and forth with his crutches, his neck stretched even longer: "It's already noon!"
What's wrong with these people? It's fine if they don't go home for lunch, but they don't even care whether the governor wants to eat lunch or not? Chang Kuo said, and while standing still, he tapped the cane in his hand anxiously, and then leaned the cane in front of him, as if he was leaning on a knife.
Wang Yue advised: "My Lord, please be patient, this is what the people want..."
Luo Ze also gave a few gentle words of advice and held Chang Kuo's arm attentively - this was his grandmother's instruction, asking him to be more tactful and not let Wang Wangshan steal all the limelight...
There was no way. In the eyes of my grandmother, my father was not very ambitious to begin with, and in such an occasion, it was inconvenient for her father to even show up, so my grandmother could only place her hopes on him.
If you ask why grandma doesn't come to greet me in person?
When my grandmother got the news, she was planning to go to the silk weaving workshop. The news that the governor was coming back did not interrupt my grandmother's steps to the silk weaving workshop. In my grandmother's words: "Doing your job well as usual is the best way to welcome him!"
After saying this, the grandmother gave him a look that said "Young man, go and figure it out," and then went to work diligently.
As for his elder sister Luo Xi...she now lives and eats in the shipyard. She is obsessed with the construction drawings every day and can hardly be seen at all.
At this moment, Chang Kuo, who was supported by Luo Ze, suddenly brightened up with joy: "...I'm back!"
Everyone looked over when they heard what was happening, but still saw no movement.
Chang Kuo, who vaguely heard the sound of horse hooves, was very confident and walked forward with his crutches.
Not long after, an official came to report that the governor was about to arrive.
The surroundings suddenly became bustling, and a group of officials who had been waiting for a long time hurried forward to greet them.
Most of them were officials from the Inspectorate and bureaucrats from Jiangdu, and the rest were imperial envoys from the court.
These imperial envoys were the same ones who had come with Yu Zeng in late autumn last year. They had come originally to supervise the army, but soon after their arrival, news of victory came back from the sea, so they could only stay in the governor's mansion and watch in vain.
Afterwards, the war was over, and an imperial edict came from the capital, asking them to hand over the war details to Chang Suining before returning to the capital. However, who would have thought that Chang Suining was unable to return to Jiangdu due to ice on the sea.
All the war details had been handed over long ago. The names of the soldiers who died in battle and those who had made contributions had all been submitted to the capital after being verified by Chang Kuo. Even the rewards had been given one after another.
After such a delay, they stayed in Jiangdu for four or five months in total.
Jiangdu was stable, and life was certainly not difficult, but it was really hard to feel comfortable. However, without the sage's permission, they could not return to the capital without permission, and they dared not express their dissatisfaction in the governor's mansion. They could only be patient and grit their teeth and continue to wait.
Half a month ago, another group of imperial eunuchs arrived from the court. This time it was Eunuch Pan, who had secretly vowed in his heart that he would never come to Jiangdu again, and he brought the imperial edict to reward Chang Suining.
The peace talks between Japan and Dasheng have come to an end. The court is extremely satisfied with the results of this battle, and the issue of rewarding the greatest contributor to this battle cannot be delayed any further.
This imperial decree of reward had been handed over to Yu Zeng by Eunuch Pan, and at this moment, Yu Zeng was waiting in the front hall of the governor's mansion.
Chang Suining dismounted outside the governor's mansion, and all the officials came forward to pay their respects.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting." While speaking, Chang Suining first looked at Chang Kuo. Seeing that he looked well, he felt relieved.
Chang Kuo was about to speak when he saw a dark blue figure rushing forward and trying to kneel down to pay respect, but Chang Suining quickly supported him: "Mr. Wang..."
"...I have been looking forward to your return day and night, and finally you have come back!" Wang Yue cried with joy, tears streaming down his face.
Luo Ze was stunned for a moment. He wanted to kneel down, but the governor only had two hands, which were already occupied by Mr. Wangshan...
He wanted to cry too, but he couldn't...
Forget it, he might as well wait for his grandmother to poke his nose and scold him.
Luo Ze, who was introverted by nature, accepted his fate and gave up, followed his heart, raised his hand and bowed deeply to Chang Suining.
Chang Suining smiled and nodded at him, then looked at the other people. Some of the faces were familiar, some were unfamiliar. She had been away for too long, and with the increase in officials everywhere, she only knew the origins of most of the names from the letters sent by Yao Ran, and had never seen them in person.
In the next few days, she will have to match these faces with those names as quickly as possible.
The imperial envoys also stepped forward with smiles on their faces: "Your Excellency the Governor has traveled a long way, it must be very tiring..."
After hearing the reminder from Wang Changshi, Chang Suining, who knew their status as imperial envoys, smiled and said, "You all have waited so long in Jiangdu, and it must be hard work."
"Okay, let's go in and talk!" Chang Kuo urged with a smile, "Attendant Yu and the eunuch who delivered the imperial edict are still waiting!"
"An imperial decree?" Chang Suining showed a look of consideration for a moment.
Seeing her reaction, the imperial envoys felt a mouthful of blood choking in their throats - with such a great contribution, who wouldn't be thinking about the reward all the time? She still had to think about her reaction! Chang Suining quickly walked into the governor's mansion with the crowd and went straight to the front hall.
Hearing the noise, Yu Zeng subconsciously looked up.
During the past few months in Jiangdu, he thought about a lot.
As the voices and footsteps got closer, he soon saw the girl returning from afar.
She walked in from the sunlight outside the hall, tall and straight, wearing a green robe and a sword at her waist. She walked through the hall door accompanied by Chang Kuo, Chu Xing and others.
For a moment, Yu Zeng was unable to see the girl's face clearly. What he saw first was her sword and her aura. Then, he suddenly fell into a daze, and his head was buzzing.
The hall was already noisy, but Yu Zeng still sat there without moving.
He was known for his cold and harsh attitude towards others and was used to being self-reliant. Eunuch Pan, who had already exchanged pleasantries with Chang Suining, did not notice much unusual. He just smiled and reminded, "Empress Yu, Governor Chang is here. It's time to pass on the imperial edict..."
Yu Zeng just stood up slowly and took the imperial edict held by the eunuch beside him.
Chang Suining took off his sword and handed it to She Cai. He dropped his robe and knelt down. He lowered his eyes and raised his hand in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Your Highness, I respectfully listen to your Majesty's will."
(It’s the end of the year, Ningning should get promoted~ Good night (づ￣3￣)づ
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com