Do you go to pay respects to the Commandery Princess every day?
For the past few years, haven’t they been kept out of sight to avoid offending the Commandery Princess? Why the sudden change of heart?
Aunt Mei almost thought she heard wrong and instinctively looked up, meeting Lu Xuan’s cold gaze.
Aunt Mei immediately lowered her head and responded, "Yes."
Lu Ying mustered the courage to ask his father, "Father, what if eldest sister doesn’t want to see us?"
Lu Xuan, in a foul mood, lost his usual patience with his son and said coldly, "If she doesn’t want to see you, wait outside. Wait until she’s willing to see you."
He just wanted to see how Jiang Shaohua would deal with a weak woman and her two young siblings.
If she shows no face to him as a father, he would return the favor and make her uncomfortable.
Lu Ying was a little uneasy and whispered, "Father, will eldest sister be upset?"
Lu Xuan’s expression instantly darkened, "Do as I say."
Lu Ying, taught from a young age to be obedient and filial, didn’t dare to speak more and silently nodded.
Lu Ruohua, unable to read the mood, innocently asked, "Can I play with eldest sister?"
Aunt Mei quickly covered her daughter’s mouth, "The Commandery Princess is very busy every day and has no time to play with you."
Commandery Princess Jiang Shaohua was indeed busy managing state affairs, governing the Prince Mansion, and summoning officials for discussions. Her father, the Junior Commandery Prince, though, spent his days leisurely reading books and admiring flowers with nothing to do.
Lu Xuan’s gaze turned even colder. After Aunt Mei and her children left, he called over a long-term follower, "Go to the Prince Mansion’s gatehouse, if there is any news from Fang Quan, report to me immediately."
The officials left the study in great strides. Even the elderly and frail Chief Clerk Wen walked with unusual briskness.
With so much work to do, they didn’t even have time to chat idly, so they hurried.
Jiang Shaohua turned to Song Yuan and said, "I want to visit the Personal Guard Camp."
Commander Song received the order, turned, and instructed the personal guards to arrange the carriage and accompanying details. He also ordered Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao to ride ahead to the Personal Guard Camp to deliver the message.
On the surface, the Nanyang Garrison obeyed the commands of the Prince Mansion, but in reality, they were already under the court’s control.
The real military force of the Nanyang Prince Mansion was the Personal Guard Camp.
Initially numbering five hundred, the personnel in the Personal Guard Camp had grown to two thousand. Two hundred elite guards were stationed permanently at the Prince Mansion, while the rest were divided into three camps of six hundred each.
This number might not sound large at first, but it was indeed a formidable force not to be underestimated.
The Nanyang Garrison claimed to have eight thousand soldiers, but at least two to three-tenths were phantom troops. Excluding the old, weak, sick, and injured, those able to fight numbered only about four thousand.
The Personal Guard Camp was composed of strong and robust soldiers and were truly elite troops. If a confrontation were to occur, the outcome was uncertain.
Jiang Shaohua changed into riding attire, mounted a red horse, and galloped straight towards the Personal Guard Camp, surrounded by personal guards.
The Personal Guard Camp was located twenty miles outside the gates of Nanyang County. The camp, built four years ago, covered over three thousand acres. Its defenses were stringent; within ten miles, one had to slow down. Wooden towers were placed every mile in four directions: southeast, northwest, and upon reaching five miles from the camp, one must dismount.
Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao galloped all the way, delivering the message: "The Commandery Princess is coming to inspect the camp, everyone prepare to welcome her."
The personal guards, upon hearing the news, were invigorated.
When Prince Nanyang was alive, he frequently brought the Commandery Princess to the camp. In the past year, the Commandery Princess had been in mourning at the Prince Mansion and hardly showed her face. Today, she was finally coming.
"Lads, get spirited and start training." Qin Zhan, Commander of the First Guard Camp, tall and strong, shouted in a voice like a bell, making ears buzz: "Let the Commandery Princess see your vigor and skills."
The first camp’s personal soldiers responded with a resounding agreement.
Qin Hu couldn’t help but rub his ears, complaining softly, "Dad, your voice is too loud."
Qin Zhan unceremoniously swatted his son on the back of his head, "Get out of the way."
Qin Hu nearly fell, grimacing and clutching the back of his head as he moved to a corner. Before he could steady himself, he saw his close brother Meng Sanbao limping over.
No need to ask, he was certainly kicked by his father Meng Dashan.
A bunch of distressed brothers grouped together, empathizing: "Your dad’s bad temper kicked you again, didn’t he?"
"And your dad smacked you on the back of the head! Next time, after delivering the message, move away quickly."
Qin Zhan was the First Camp Commander, Meng Dashan the Second Camp Commander. The older generation grew up together, sharing life-and-death friendships. Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao had been together from a young age, as close as brothers.
The two were among the best in this generation of young personal guards and were selected early on to serve at the Prince Mansion. They were indeed promising and successful.
Unfortunately, their fathers were martial artists who believed in forging talents under the rod.
The Martial Arts Training Ground in the military camp was several times larger than that of the Prince Mansion, hardly seeing its end. After the beat of three war drums, all the personal guards from the Three Elite Guard Camps donned armor, wielded weapons, and lined up neatly.
"The Commandery Princess is here!"
Qin Hu quickly lowered his hand, and Meng Sanbao dared not play any tricks or pretend to limp, and both quickly moved forward to stand at their usual positions, with heads held high and eyes defiant.
Indeed, it was right behind Commander Song, the closest position to the Commandery Princess.
"We greet the Commandery Princess!" The three commanders of the Three Elite Guard Camps were the first to salute with cupped fists.
The personal guards behind them all bowed in unison, their voices thundering: "Greetings to the Commandery Princess!"
Despite having ridden for dozens of miles, Jiang Shaohua showed no fatigue, her spirit exuberant. Her gaze swept over, and a warm feeling filled her heart.
They were her grandfather’s legacy to her. The loyalty of Song Yuan was beyond doubt, Qin Zhan, and Meng Dashan were second-generation guards, unwaveringly loyal.
Her gaze fell on the last person.
This middle-aged man was Liu Hengchang, the Third Camp Commander of the personal guards, recruited by Prince Nanyang into the Personal Guard Camp four years ago. Among the robust men, his stature was ordinary, and his martial arts weren’t extraordinary. However, he was born into a military family, well-read in military strategies, excelled in training soldiers, and was adept in siege warfare, a rare talent.
In her past life, shortly after Chen Zhuo’s death, Liu Hengchang led the Third Guard Camp, fully siding with Lu Xuan.
This couldn’t completely be blamed on Liu Hengchang. As the Nanyang County Princess, she lived in the palace for six years and was married into the Wang Family in the Capital City.
She was the one who abandoned them first.
They chose another promising leader; there was nothing wrong with that.
"All three of you, please rise," Jiang Shaohua softly said.
"Thank you, Commandery Princess," Qin Zhan’s voice so loud it drowned out others.
Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly, her gaze sweeping over, "Everyone, rise!"
Without visible effort, her pleasant and gentle voice reached everyone’s ears.
Qin Zhan and Meng Dashan, both seasoned experts, showed astonishment in their eyes. Liu Hengchang couldn’t help but look up at the young Commandery Princess.
The Prince was an outstanding hero amongst men. It was just a pity he had passed too soon.
The Commandery Princess was exceptionally wise, peerlessly beautiful, dignified, and gracious, showing a remarkable calm and poise at a young age.
It’s just a pity she was female. Eventually, she would have to marry. No matter how intelligent and capable, she would be confined to the inner chambers, managing the household and raising children.