Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

As she was lost in thought, Xu Zhijie asked her again: "Why do you like Shen Zheng?"

Cui Jinyin retracted her hands and looked around, "Who, who, who likes Shen Zheng!"

Xu Zhijie put down the ointment and sighed, "Jinyin, in the past, when your uncle talked to you about the affairs of the court, you always said that those were not things a girl should listen to, but today your uncle still wants to talk about it."

Cui Jinyin stared at him blankly.

Why are you so serious all of a sudden...

Her thoughts were suddenly pulled back to many years ago.

After her mother left, her uncle often wanted to take her to stay at the Xu Mansion for a while, but her grandfather did not allow it, so her uncle could only visit her in person.

But every time her uncle came to Cui's house, he would secretly tell her about the court affairs and let her read those obscure books.

She was unwilling, cried, threw books, and even hit her uncle.

Every time, her uncle would not fight back, until one day, she said, "It's not me who wanted my mother to die, it's me who lost my mother! My mother died of illness because she had too many worries, why did you want me to become like that! Don't you think I can be a lady for the rest of my life and enjoy happiness for the rest of my life! You are not good to me at all, don't come to Cui's house to find me anymore, I don't want to see you either!"

After that, my uncle came to Cui's house several times, but she turned him down every time.

If you say you won’t see me, then you won’t see me.

Later, for some reason, her grandfather invited her uncle to visit and asked her to go and meet him.

Her uncle also brought his daughter, Xu Simi, who is now her best friend.

She and Xu Simi hit it off immediately, and after a few visits, she gradually forgot those unpleasant experiences and would occasionally stay at Xu's house.

And her uncle never talked to her about the court affairs again, nor did he force her to do things she didn't like. He just liked to talk to her about reason occasionally.

A tablet for his mother was placed in Xu's house.

She knew this shouldn't be the case. Her mother was Cui Xu, and even if she died, she wouldn't be able to go back to her mother's home.

But my uncle was very stubborn.

Once, she was playing hide-and-seek with Xu Simi. Time was running out, so she could only hide under the altar. The large tablecloth blocked her small figure.

Someone pushed the door open, lit incense and started talking to himself in front of the tablet.

"Sister, Jinyin doesn't want to be like you. She said she wants to be a leisurely young lady. I will do my best to ensure that she doesn't have to suffer any hardship in her life. Don't worry."

Time flies, and my uncle seems to have kept his promise, but now... he starts to change his mind again?

"Your grandfather doesn't like Shen Zheng." Xu Zhijie said.

"I know..." Cui Jinyin said in a muffled voice, "But I don't really like her. I just think she's interesting and I just took a look at her."

"But if you often come into contact with Shen Zheng, your grandfather will reprimand you at best, or even confine you to your home at worst. What will you do then?"

"I..." Cui Jinyin always felt uncomfortable in her heart. She rolled her eyes for a long time before settling down. "Don't I still have you, my uncle? You will protect me!"

Xu Zhijie followed her and said, "Are you willing to live in the Xu Mansion forever? Your uncle will not restrict you from looking for Shen Zheng."

Cui Jinyin frowned, "Uncle, what are you talking about? The Cui Mansion is also my home."

Xu Zhijie sighed secretly.

Can a home full of exploitation and deception be called a home?

But if she knew the truth, could she bear it?

She has lived in Cui's mansion for more than ten years. Has she really never doubted Cui's love for her?

Xu Zhijie was silent, his thoughts in disarray.

Have you never doubted it, or do you dare not doubt it?

In the court, he acted decisively.

But every time he faced his sister's daughter, he could not tell right from wrong, and acted cautiously and indecisively.

......

Outside the Suzaku Gate.

Shen Zheng brought Nanny Gu into the palace.

Nanny Gu is an elder in the palace. Her entry into the palace today can be considered as a trip back to her parents' home.

Eunuch Hong craned his neck and looked for a long time. When he saw the Shen family's carriage, he immediately called the palace servants to bring the sedan chair.

"The sun is shining brightly, Lord Shen, please get on the sedan chair quickly!"

Looking at the human-powered sedan chair, Shen Zheng moved slightly to the side and said, "I've been sitting a lot these past few days, and my back feels a little uncomfortable. I want to walk in. Is that possible?"

Eunuch Hong was slightly stunned. "Yes, yes, of course it is possible! Lord Shen, please follow me."

The group walked towards the palace. Eunuch Hong led the way and said, "Master Shen, you haven't had your meal yet, right? The Emperor and His Majesty have set up a banquet in Jingren Palace. There are dishes from all over the world, and there are also several dishes from Liuyang Mansion."

Shen Zheng paused slightly, subconsciously thinking that recently Nanny Gu and Jiang Sheng had been looking for a chef from Liuyang Mansion, wanting to make some dishes with the flavor of that place for her.

She smiled and said, "I listened to Eunuch Hong and came here on an empty stomach."

Eunuch Hong uttered an "Ouch", thinking about the emperor's order, and changed the subject abruptly: "This morning, as soon as I returned to the palace from the adults' residence, Prime Minister Cui came to the palace and asked to see His Majesty, but His Majesty just fell asleep..."

Shen Zheng's eyes turned and she asked, "Does the Prime Minister have any urgent business? But His Majesty's health is more important."

Eunuch Hong said, "Oh, that's what I said. Even if the Prime Minister has something urgent to do, His Majesty has already fallen asleep. I can't wake him up, can I? That would be like risking your head. The eunuch who went to deliver the message was scolded by the Prime Minister, who also said... that matter has something to do with you, Lord Shen, but I think you have been in the suburbs of Beijing recently, so how could you have any contact with the Prime Minister..."

He finished a long speech without even taking a breath, and Shen Zheng understood the meaning of his words.

These words must have been said by the Emperor to Eunuch Hong, in order to remind her that Prime Minister Cui might have set his sights on the Huihe Dam.

"Thank you, Eunuch Hong, for your advice." Shen Zheng gathered her thoughts and said with a smile, "I noticed that Eunuch Hong is a little farsighted before, so he can get a pair of farsighted glasses to improve his vision. Next time I go to the palace, I'll ask Nanny Gu to examine him."

Grandma Gu smiled and nodded.

Eunuch Hong declined, "Oh, those glasses are treasures worn by adults, we eunuchs don't need them..."

"As long as you use your eyes, you can use it." Shen Zheng smiled and said, "Eunuch Hong, don't refuse."

"How can this be so embarrassing..." Eunuch Hong suppressed the smile on his face and walked more briskly.

......

This was Shen Zheng's second visit to the Queen's Jingren Palace.

Last time I came at night and couldn’t see it clearly. This time I entered the palace during the day and finally understood the “Mother of the Country” of Jingren Palace.

Jingren Palace is located on the east side of the emperor's sleeping palace, forming a "sun and moon shining together" momentum with the emperor's sleeping palace. Its layout implies the way of heaven and earth.

The walls of Jingren Palace are several meters high, and the top of the wall is covered with "Phoenix Wearing Peony Tiles". The entire palace is magnificent and rigorous, and everything reveals the solemnity of the ritual displays, which is awe-inspiring.

"Master Shen, please come this way."

Eunuch Hong led her into the main hall, and the palace maid went ahead of them to convey the message.

As soon as he entered, Shen Zheng saw the queen sitting inside and bowed, "Your servant Shen Zheng greets the queen."

"No need to be polite." The queen's gentle voice came, "Just treat it as an ordinary family dinner, Lord Shen, there is no need to be polite."

Shen Zheng slowly stood up and quietly glanced around the hall.

The emperor hasn't come yet.