Chapter 93: I was prepared for this decision long ago; now it's simply a matter of facing it with equanimity...
Shen Xun arrived silently and left the study without disturbing anyone. The study door opened and closed, and the room quickly fell silent, except for the bubbling water in the small clay stove.
"No wonder you didn't let them meet..."
Shen Yujiao put down the handkerchief in her hand and sat down next to Jiang Chen. She felt a little emotional. The time she spent in Daxia was far less than the time she spent with Jiang Chen in modern times, but it was in this environment that she saw more facets of Jiang Chen.
Before the news from the frontier even arrived, he had already made a prediction in his mind. He was worried that He Zhiju would panic and make a mess of things, so he arranged for the two of them to be out of the way at different times. Jiang Chen was no longer the novice crown prince who needed her to urge him to attend court and to give him pointers on his memorials.
Jiang Chen now possesses his own profound understanding. His thoughts, ambitions, and desires have long surpassed the scope of a high school student. Between the two, it seems that she has been guiding Jiang Chen, but now it appears that Jiang Chen has grown far more than she has.
There were no candles in the room, only the moonlight shining in. Shen Yujiao turned her head to look. Jiang Chen's features were the same as before, and he was still the same person, her childhood sweetheart who had grown up with her. But there was a bit more determination in his eyes. Just sitting there, he exuded the aura of a superior.
Although they have remained the same despite the passage of time, they seem to have been reborn after experiencing these events. Shen Yujiao quietly looked at her lover, marveling at his changes. Little did she know that not only Jiang Chen, but even she herself was now very different from before.
"Jiaojiao," Jiang Chen called out to her, "if... I want to volunteer to lead the expedition myself, would you... agree?"
With her fingers slightly curled towards her palm, Shen Yujiao couldn't help but shiver. The fact that Jiang Chen was going to the battlefield had become a hidden fear in Shen Yujiao's heart. Every time a battle report came from the front line, a sense of unease would rise in her heart.
Do you agree? Jiang Chen's question was quite clever. If it were a matter of her own wishes, she would naturally be unwilling, but that unwillingness was driven by her own selfishness. Whether she agreed or not required more consideration.
For the Crown Prince, the role of the Empress Dowager is a rehearsal of the role of the Empress Dowager in relation to the Emperor. When the country is in trouble, Jiang Chen, as the Crown Prince, leads the army into battle. This mission, both in symbolic and practical significance, far surpasses that of other princes.
Although the situation in the Northern Frontier has been temporarily eased, according to the news brought back by Shen Xun, the more the Northern Di remain silent, the more they are preparing a major attack. When the Northern Di army sweeps back, it is uncertain whether the Northern Frontier camp will be able to withstand it.
If Jiang Chen, as the crown prince, were to appear on the battlefield, it would undoubtedly boost the morale of the Xia army, and the strength Jiang Chen could bring to the Northern Frontier would go far beyond that.
Once he can secure the opportunity to lead the army north, with He Zhiju as the commander-in-chief, He Zhiju will definitely accompany him as the deputy commander. The muskets and the safety of the crown prince are Jiang Chen's biggest bargaining chips. He Zhiju's return to camp means that the heavy cavalry battalion will be able to exert its greatest power.
Jiang Chen himself grew up under the care of his grandfather, who was no ordinary retired soldier but a veteran general who had fought on the battlefield. He was not only well-versed in theoretical knowledge but also had rich practical experience. Both Jiang Chen and his uncle grew up listening to Sun Tzu's Art of War and Red Army battles. This exposure from a young age gave Jiang Chen a broader military perspective than ordinary children. If he were to go to the battlefield, he might very well bring a surprise force to the northern border of Great Xia.
Moreover, even disregarding these external factors, wearing military uniform and protecting the country has been Jiang Chen's greatest wish since childhood. Now that he holds the position of Crown Prince, this has become an inescapable burden for him. Loving the people like one's own children and winning the hearts of the people are not just empty words.
But... even with a hundred legitimate reasons, Shen Yujiao didn't consider herself a selfless hero. Compared to a heart full of love, she simply couldn't help but worry about Jiang Chen's safety.
Shen Yujiao lowered her eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and rehearsed her refusal a hundred times in her heart, but when she finally spoke, she said, "Okay... go if you want to."
How could she possibly refuse Jiang Chen?
Young men, their blood still hot, are driven by ambition. The man she loves has a strong sense of duty and wants to use his talents to protect his country. All she can do is stand behind him without hesitation and firmly support every choice he makes.
“If you really want to go to the northern frontier, I’ll go to the Ministry of Works first thing tomorrow morning. The musket barrels are almost fully improved now, and mass production could begin immediately if you can take them with you. He Zhiju’s marksmanship has also improved considerably. Why don’t you have him form another team specifically…”
Before she could finish speaking, Shen Yujiao was held tightly in Jiang Chen's arms. His arms were strong and his embrace was very tight. Because of his strength, Shen Yujiao unconsciously raised her head and leaned on his shoulder. Noticing that Jiang Chen was trembling slightly, she put her hands on Jiang Chen's back and gently comforted him.
"It's alright, I'll take care of everything for you. You don't need to worry about the capital. Just remember... come back safely."
Tears streamed down her cheeks, tinged with the coolness of the air, and dripped onto the back of Jiang Chen's hand. These tears, filled with worry and love, penetrated through skin and bone, deeply piercing the softest part of Jiang Chen's heart.
This is his darling.
His lover is someone he can always trust, someone who will always be recognized in adversity, someone with whom he can entrust his back without any worries.
He and Jiaojiao were not only lovers, but also comrades-in-arms.
As the sun rises and sets, the morning sun rises again, seemingly after a peaceful night, but something has already quietly changed.
Today is the day that Duke Chengguo is to enter the palace to receive his title and honors. He and Lady Cui dressed in their court robes early in the morning and are now waiting for the master of ceremonies in the main hall. Lady Cui is sitting in the armchair and can't help but look around. These past few days, she has been staying in the East Palace, and Jiaojiao would come to pay her respects to her every morning. But today, when she is to enter the palace to receive her title, she can't find her.
"Madam, the Crown Princess went out this morning, saying that she would return from the palace together after you and the Duke are conferred your titles."
Feng He, who was beside Cui, stepped forward and whispered a reminder. She was Cui's confidante and personal maid. Hearing her say this, Cui was relieved and assumed that her daughter had gone to the palace early in the morning to pay her respects to the Empress.
However, Shen Yujiao was not in Kunyi Palace at this time. Instead, she appeared in the back courtyard of the Ministry of Works dressed in men's robes. Xu Zhiyuan rushed over after receiving the news and was very surprised by the Crown Princess's early morning visit.
"Your Highness..."
Shen Yujiao stopped him and said in a low voice, "No need for formalities. I can't let anyone know I'm here. Let's get straight to the point."
Xu Zhiyuan cautiously stepped forward, initially listening intently, but the more the Crown Princess spoke, the more undisguised his surprise became: "Your Highness... are you sure you want to do this?"
The Crown Princess's words have far too many implications. It is very likely that if we are not careful, half of the officials in the Ministry of Works will have to go through fire and water with the Crown Prince. Although these people in the Ministry of Works are not cowards, if one person is willing to risk everything, what will happen to their families?
It seems the Crown Princess had considered this, which is why she met with him privately. This instruction was a secret order; if things failed, His Highness might take full responsibility to protect the Ministry of Works officials. But such actions...
If things go wrong, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess will fall into an abyss of no return.
"Doctor Xu shall obey the Crown Prince's order."
Seeing the Crown Princess's serious expression, he immediately composed himself and solemnly bowed, saying, "Yes."
The Emperor's bestowal of honors upon the Duke and his wife was undeniably grand. The Shen family held the title of Duke for generations without any reduction in rank. In terms of rank, Shen Boyi had already reached the limit of honors, and even Lady Cui had long been granted the title of First-Rank Lady. However, according to the system of rites, this couple seemed to have already received the highest level of honors bestowed through hereditary privilege among the nobility.
However, the emperor's favor towards the Shen family clearly went beyond this.
The case of Zhu Tong in Jiangnan caused a great uproar. In the end, Zhu Tong was imprisoned for life, all his property was confiscated, his clan was banned from holding official positions for three generations, and the ill-gotten gains were returned to the people at three times the amount.
In addition, officials involved in the case in Jiangnan and other places were also brought down. Half of the confiscated property and fines were returned to the people and the other half were added to the national treasury, resulting in a major reshuffle of the officialdom in Jiangnan.
It was precisely because this embezzlement case was linked to the war in the northern frontier that the emperor had a reason to bestow additional titles upon the Duke of Cheng and his wife. He appointed Shen Boyi as the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangnan and awarded him the title of Pillar of the State in recognition of his contributions to the war in the northern frontier. Lady X, the wife of the Duke of Cheng, was also granted the title of Lady of the State. She was the second Lady of the State after the wife of Zhang Yi, the founding general. The level of honor of Lady Cui as Lady of the State can be imagined.
After attending the palace banquet with Cui, Shen Boyi returned in the East Palace carriage. He held the imperial edict in his arms and felt that the appointment was as heavy as a thousand pounds.
Since their ancestor Shen Zhao resigned from his official post and returned to his hometown, the Shen family of Jiangnan has repeatedly refused the imperial court's offers of reinstatement and official appointments. They have always regarded the Shen family's rule that no one should hold an official position. As a result, for generations, most of the Shen family members have been active in the business and literary circles, but no one in the family has ever served as an official in the court. Even someone like Shen Xun is no longer considered a member of the Shen family and is no longer even a member of a collateral branch.
He was originally the same, holding a nominal title in Jiangnan, receiving a monthly salary but not having to work in the government office, and naturally had no real power. This was the imperial family's favor to the Shen family. Like his ancestors, he sat in this nominal position for thirty years.
Who could have imagined that he would now become the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, overseeing all officials in Jiangnan Prefecture, in charge of criminal investigations, reviewing criminal cases, reviewing official documents, and investigating corrupt officials? It can be said that the emperor has entrusted the lifeline of the Jiangnan officialdom to him.
This means that he violated ancestral precepts and betrayed the integrity of the Shen family, stepping from the seclusion of Jiangnan into the turbulent world of the imperial court.
From the birth of the eldest daughter of the Shen family and the marriage of the Crown Princess to the current conferment of the title of Grand Pillar of State, this series of actions has undoubtedly pushed the Jiangnan Shen family, which had long been forgotten by powerful and noble families, back to the pinnacle of glory. After hundreds of years of seclusion, the Shen family has once again ushered in new glory. However, along with this glory will come countless infamy and accusations.
Shen Boyi slowly closed his eyes. He knew in his heart that this day would come sooner or later. From the day the He family fell and the women entrusted their children to him, he knew that the Shen family would one day step back into the limelight.
The Shen family of Jiangnan was established for the sake of the Great Xia dynasty, and was also destroyed for their integrity and loyalty.
A century of glory may be lost, but unwavering loyalty must never be betrayed.
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