Upon hearing this, You Jiang's eyes flickered slightly. She looked deeply at Rong Ning, her face showing determination, and slowly said, "Princess, I understand your intentions. Please rest assured that no matter when or where, I will always remember my identity and responsibilities, and I will never treat myself poorly, nor will I disappoint you, Princess."
"That's good!"
Upon hearing this, Rong Ning smiled with relief, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
You Jiang is a wise and courageous woman who can take care of herself and lend a helping hand in crucial moments.
Having said everything that needed to be said, Rong Ning stood up, lightly patted the dust off her clothes, and walked towards the door.
She turned to Youjiang and said, "Let's go, I'll take you to see Lord Chu."
"Yes, Your Highness!" You Jiang quickly replied, following behind Rong Ning as they walked out of the room together.
Chu Pingfeng and the Crown Prince were discussing state affairs in the front courtyard. They stood in an open space, surrounded by shady trees, with a gentle breeze blowing, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and solemnity.
The North, once a peaceful and tranquil place, has become devastated and in dire need of reconstruction after countless wars and traumas.
Now, it urgently needs to rest and recuperate to restore its vitality. And all of this burden falls on the shoulders of Chu Pingfeng and others.
The conversation between Chu Pingfeng and the Crown Prince was unusually serious and earnest. They discussed the situation in the north, the lives of the people, the deployment of the army, and future plans.
Every topic concerns the future and fate of the North.
"The people of the north have suffered greatly from the war, and restoring their livelihoods is the most urgent task."
Chu Pingfeng said in a deep voice. His gaze was profound and firm, as if it could see through the difficulties before him and reveal the hope for the future.
The crown prince nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
He frowned slightly, as if pondering more details and potential problems. "Father has already issued an edict to allocate silver and grain, but how can we ensure that these supplies are delivered to the people accurately? How can we prevent embezzlement and corruption? These are all questions you need to think about carefully."
Chu Pingfeng nodded in agreement.
He said, “Indeed. Your Majesty will dispatch capable officials to various regions to oversee the reconstruction work and reassure the people. At the same time, we will strengthen border defenses to prevent foreign enemies from invading again. Only in this way can we ensure long-term peace and stability in the north.”
The Crown Prince nodded slightly after hearing this, indicating that he highly approved of Chu Pingfeng's suggestion.
As the two were discussing, someone came to report that Rong Ning and You Jiang had arrived.
Chu Pingfeng and several officials inside quickly stood up and respectfully greeted Rong Ning.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" the crowd said in unison.
Rong Ning smiled and waved her hand: "Gentlemen, there's no need for such formalities. Please have a seat."
Chu Pingfeng and the others sat back down, but their eyes remained fixed on You Jiang, who was standing next to Rong Ning.
Rong Ning disregarded the Crown Prince's feelings and pointed to You Jiang beside her, introducing her to Chu Pingfeng, "This is You Jiang, whom I told you about yesterday. She is a good friend of mine. If you need any help in the future, Lord Chu, you can ask her."
Upon hearing this, Chu Pingfeng immediately stood up, and the other officials followed suit, expressing their great honor at You Jiang's arrival.
When Chu Pingfeng first saw You Jiang, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I have long admired Miss You Jiang's name, and it is truly an honor to meet you today."
He returned the greeting with a steady and powerful voice, "Lord Chu, you are too kind. I am but a commoner, and it is thanks to His Highness's kindness that I have been able to stay in the North. It is fate that I have the honor of meeting Lord Chu today."
Rong Ning smiled as she watched the two exchange pleasantries, nodding inwardly.
Based on these observations, although Chu Pingfeng was a civil official, he did not have the arrogance typical of civil officials.
This introduction was not only to introduce the two people, but also to pave the way for possible future collaborations.
In a sense, Youjiang was the means by which she ostensibly remained in the North to keep them in check.
Although she was not in the North, she still needed to have her own informants, both openly and secretly.
That was all she wanted to say today. She looked at the Crown Prince and asked, "Brother, may we set off now?"
“That’s fine,” the Crown Prince nodded. “I already had my men prepare it earlier.”
"good!"
The two returned to the prefectural government office to pack their things, and at Chenshi (7-9 AM), they were ready to set off.
With their organized account books and photo albums, they prepared to return to Nanyang City at top speed.
Important officials from the north came to see him off. Before leaving, Rong Ning once again instructed Chu Pingfeng to guard the north well and await further instructions from the court.
Chu Pingfeng bowed and accepted the order, watching them leave with admiration and anticipation in his heart.
He knew that these two young members of the royal family might bring a different picture to the Southern Dynasty.
Rong Ning and the Crown Prince rode in the same carriage. Originally, two carriages were prepared, but the Crown Prince found it troublesome and climbed directly into Rong Ning's carriage.
Given their status and position, the carriage prepared was of a very high standard, easily accommodating both of them.
Rong Ning disliked him, but she couldn't really kick him out, after all, it was in front of so many people, and she still had to consider the Crown Prince's dignity.
It was a bit chilly this morning, but it became quite pleasant after the sun came out. The prince took off his cloak, stretched his limbs, and then lay down comfortably.
"A-Ning... I'm going to sleep for a while. If there's nothing else, don't disturb me!"
Rong Ning didn't even glance at him. "If you're worried about disturbing others, go back to your own carriage. This is my own place. I can do whatever I want. Do I need to consider your feelings?"
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