Chapter 1457 - 1: Growth (Part 1)

In July of the 12th year of Yuanzhen, Zhao Mingming rode on horseback, protected by Zeng Yue and Fan Ying on either side, leaving Bohai County to return to the Capital City.

Shi Le led the officials and generals of Youzhou standing at the city gate to see her off. He only withdrew his gaze after the entourage had gone far away and he could no longer see the ceremonial staff representing the Crown Princess.

After the officials dispersed, Shi Le couldn’t help but express to Zhang Bin, "She truly is dragon-born and phoenix-descended; she resembles the Emperor quite a lot." The young wolf has grown up and is very fierce.

Zhang Bin smiled and said, "The Crown Princess is wise, the country’s foundation is secure, this is a hugely good thing."

Shi Le was of mixed emotions and murmured, "She lacks some of her mother’s patience and generosity. If only she resembled her father a bit more."

Zhang Bin, however, joked, "Governor, the Crown Princess is only ten years old. At this age, children are as free as horses and spirited like the wind. You should wait ten years and see. I feel she is softer inside and will be even more benevolent than Your Majesty."

"Benevolence?" Shi Le sneered, "What use is benevolence? Benevolence must be applied rightly. Misplaced softness only harms good people and benefits the bad. This battle with the Eastern Xianbei, was the Emperor benevolent? I say the army should have charged in, those tribes in the east, dozens of them, known and unknown, with a village every hundred miles, they can’t communicate, don’t understand rites, rich or poor, as soon as they have leisure, they come south to rob us. I know these types too well. Only by beating them hard enough, eliminating their race, can they learn a lesson."

So he wanted a slaughter, but the Crown Princess came as a supervisor, saw those people, softened her heart, just captured them without killing.

Zhang Bin smiled at him, knowing he was a bit unhappy but didn’t truly mind.

It was a good thing the Crown Princess spared those captives. If she had watched the army trap and kill those people, not to mention him, even Shi Le would have questioned it in his heart.

She is just ten years old.

Who could be hard-hearted enough to remain unmoved while slaughtering so many?

The next ruler being merciful is better than being cruel. Moreover, this Crown Princess at such a young age can supervise at the front, not scared by the bloody battlefield, nor overly merciful, which is already very good.

"Supervise" was just put nicely. Zhao Hanzhang sent her out to broaden her knowledge, to make her understand the world is not as peaceful and prosperous as seen in Luoyang.

Ten-year-old Zhao Mingming is very intelligent, growing faster than her peers, which also makes her overly proud and confident.

Even though Zhao Hanzhang takes her to the grassroots every year, letting her experience the hardships of the people, she remains "somewhat elevated." This "elevated" demeanor is somewhat like Zhao Shen’s youthful appearance.

She doesn’t know whether Zhao Shen truly changed or simply makes Zhao Hanzhang think he had changed, but she absolutely cannot let her daughter, the future Emperor of Hua Country, be so aloof.

Even though she pretends to respect capable men and shows compassion, she bears an air not quite human, almost like a god’s arrogance.

Not yet a person, already wanting to become a god directly, how can such a person make a good Emperor?

Even the Jade Emperor had to be human for a long time before becoming the Heavenly Emperor, to have humanity first, to then achieve divinity.

So Zhao Hanzhang, after thinking it over, straightforwardly let Zeng Yue and Fan Ying take her to Liaodong, let her see the essence of this world.

This world is not all like Luoyang, it’s not only what we see with our eyes, nor just the words and numbers seen in intelligence reports.

Just three months, when Zhao Mingming returned to the Capital City, there was much less childishness in her countenance, even though there’s still some baby fat on her face, she seemed much more grounded, her gaze more resolute than before.

She trotted her pony into the Imperial City, and the officials and guards on the main avenue seeing her slightly bowed, only straightening after she passed, exchanging glances, "The Crown Princess has returned."

Zhao Hanzhang received the news of her returning in advance, but did not send anyone to welcome her, instead letting her enter the palace to report matters like a common official returning from a business trip.

Her horse could enter the Imperial City, but not the palace city.

The party dismounted at the palace gate, Zeng Yue and Fan Ying accompanying her to meet the Holy.

Many ministers leaving the morning court saw the returning Crown Princess and couldn’t help but stop and turn their heads to look.

Quite a few people raised their heads to watch her walk into the grand hall, whispering, "The Crown Princess has changed a lot."

"The battlefield truly forces growth. Your Majesty is so trusting, that’s Liaodong, not only are weapons blind, but there could also be epidemics."

"The fledgling must grow up eventually. If there’s no opportunity to train roots and bones now, how can the wings in the future be fully developed to withstand the storm?"

"Indeed, those who achieve great things must endure hardships, endure trials and tribulations." They choose to burden the Crown Princess rather than burden the common people.

Zhao Shen walked by them, overhearing these words, casting them a glance, sneering inwardly, how they flatter the imperial family, but just three months ago, who was crying out in the grand hall opposing the Emperor sending the Crown Princess to Liaodong.

Pleading that the Emperor sending the Crown Princess was shaking the nation’s foundation and implying intentions of changing successors.

During the three months the Crown Princess was away, petitions discussing the Second Prince’s enlightenment filled the Emperor’s desk.

Now with Liaodong’s great victory, the Crown Princess’s performance was praiseworthy, they immediately changed their tune, humph, fence-sitters.

Zhao Shen sneered inwardly, yet kept a serious and upright demeanor. When noticing them looking over, he immediately looked straight ahead, passing by them as if he had heard nothing.

He had just been transferred back to Luoyang from Guangzhou at the beginning of the year. Though feeling proud of his great achievements in Guangzhou, after ten years there, he was truly fed up!

He wanted to enjoy three years in Luoyang, if he couldn’t achieve this, he decided to feign illness for a year or two, considering whether to re-enter officialdom later.

Ten years, Zhao Shen had figured out many things.

He had ambitions, but seemingly, he could have more than one ambition, why must he bind himself to one goal?

There are so many unknowns in this world, he had infinite curiosity and passion for them, why couldn’t he choose from the heart, to seek the answers to his doubts?

The Emperor often said he lacked something both as a person and as an official, hence dared not entrust him with important court duties. For ten years, he tried to understand her meaning, to fulfill her expectations.

But after ten years, he couldn’t find the path she wanted him to tread, but he had figured out another path. Was he not a good official?

As an Inspector, hadn’t he governed Guangzhou well?

Hadn’t he enlightened the people, promoted good morals?

Wasn’t he upright, cleaning up officialdom, enforcing court policies?

He had done it all, so why believe he hadn’t done well?

A thousand people have a thousand faces, he just couldn’t change; no matter what he thought, "Judge by actions, not by thoughts," as long as he acted properly, wasn’t that enough?

Zhao Shen felt he had awoken and decided not to trouble himself anymore. At this moment, he kept a solemn face while internally roasting everyone he saw, a status that had lasted for over half a year, since the day he returned to the Capital City and hadn’t ceased. Not to mention, though he hadn’t vocalized it, inside he felt quite joyful.