"Doing such a thing, it seems the Grand Princess of Changlin's punishment did not sober you up?"
Uncle Bai the First spoke first, his voice low.
Uncle Bai the Fourth also considered that it was inconvenient to speak outside, so he looked at her and said, "Get in the carriage, let's go home!"
No wonder she followed them out. It turned out she wasn't here to see off Xiao Er, but to see off the Young Master Wen she had been thinking about.
Yet, he didn't appreciate it, bringing shame upon herself.
Bai Sihan's eyes welled up with tears. She didn't understand why the young man she admired had turned on her so suddenly. Her two uncles were also furious with her. For a moment, she felt it would be better not to return to the Bai family, for fear of being punished again.
Upon entering the examination compound, Feng Jinlin and Yin Canwen were separated, placed in exam rooms many doors apart. However, Wen Mengsheng and Yin Canwen were closer, only three rooms separating them.
Wen Mengsheng harbored resentment towards Yin Canwen. He had not forgotten how his father had evaluated him and Yin Canwen. Thus, he spoke to Yin Canwen with a forced smile.
"Young Master Yin, you must answer well, otherwise, if you lose your future, who knows if you will still be able to call Young Master Feng Er your brother?" His words were full of mockery and provocation. Yin Canwen glanced at him indifferently, walked into his exam room with firm steps, leaving behind a truly infuriating back.
Good for you, Yin Canwen! You put on more airs than anyone else. I'll see if you can still smile when the results come out!
For the next five days, the entire examination compound was quiet, with only the faint scent of ink in the air.
While the imperial examinations were being held in the Eastern Capital, the Western Expeditionary Army had been on the move for over a month.
More than half of the journey had been completed. With only seven or eight days left to reach Liangzhou, Xiao Muqian's heart had shifted from urgency to calmness.
Along the way, they had received news from Liangzhou.
Upon learning that the Northern Di army had remained stationary, many of the Ninth Prince's soldiers began to exaggerate the honor, attributing it to him.
They claimed that upon hearing of the God of War's arrival, the enemy was too scared to move.
They said the Northern Di were nothing special, and by the time they reached Liangzhou, they wouldn't need to send a single soldier. Simply raising the Ninth Prince's banner on the city walls would send the enemy fleeing in terror.
Xiao Muqian had heard such flattering words all the way.
From initial disdain to current numbness.
General Su, on the other hand, appeared very calm, as if those flattering words had not touched him.
He, however, suspected that the Northern Di were plotting something else. Otherwise, with their nature, how could they let Liangzhou, such a prize, slip away?
The journey thus far had been swift.
He had originally thought they might not reach Liangzhou until April or May, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon.
But he was not a fool; he knew the speed of the march had nothing to do with reinforcing Liangzhou.
Because he had accidentally seen the Ninth Prince receive a secret letter. What was written on it was unclear, but he noticed that after reading it, the Ninth Prince was overjoyed and immediately ordered the army to march quickly.
Then, he summoned the so-called strategist, Tutor Du, to the main tent for a long discussion. Shortly after, the strategist seemed to disappear, and no one knew where he went.
Xiao Muqian's doubts were soon answered. The secret agents of the Ding Prince's mansion quietly contacted him.
Upon learning that the accelerated march was related to the rumors spread by the Prince, his worries almost vanished.
Now, all he wanted was to rest well. Upon reaching Liangzhou, he would have his second uncle and the other soldiers replaced so they could rest. He could imagine they had been on high alert during this time.
In the main tent, the generals were still toasting the Ninth Prince. Xiao Muqian, unable to bear the scene, excused himself, claiming to feel dizzy.
The Ninth Prince, Xiao Yunli, had little interest in this cousin of his. They had met only a handful of times since childhood.
As long as he could fight and bring him military achievements, that was all that mattered.
Everything else was secondary.
With his mind at ease, he continued drinking.
Outside the main tent, the sky was full of stars.
The closer they got to the northwest, the denser the stars in the sky became, emitting a mysterious and serene light.
Xiao Muqian stood in the cold wind for a while. Many of his pent-up frustrations drifted away with the wind. He then recalled many happy times in Liangzhou.
"Second Uncle, you must hold on. I'm coming for you."
He thought to himself.
Seven days later, the army, vast and mighty, arrived at Ganzhou.
This was the administrative center of the four northwestern prefectures. The Northwest Governor, Shan Yan, had been waiting at the city gate for a long time.
Upon seeing the Ninth Prince's banner, he led the officials and wealthy merchants of the northwest in a respectful salute, chanting, "Welcome, Ninth Prince."
The display was as if he wasn't leading an army to reinforce them, but rather a welcoming banquet for a feudal lord.
The soldiers following the Ninth Prince were quite proud, thinking they had indeed chosen the right master and would surely prosper in the future.
Xiao Muqian, however, sat on his horse, looking around for his second uncle, Xiao Ji.
The bluestone-paved ground, the axle of the Ninth Prince's carriage making a slight noise as it rolled over it. The earthy fragrance of the northwest, mixed with the aroma of wine and meat, reached everyone's nostrils.
Beyond the red city walls, a continuous expanse of majestic mountains stretched into the distance, still capped with snow. This was the only area in the four prefectures that resembled the Jiangnan region south of the Great Wall, hence there was not much wind and sand.
The Ninth Prince, behind the curtain, could not see the scene outside. Governor Shan Yan of the Northwest, seeing this, called out loudly, "Your subject, Governor Shan Yan of the Northwest, greets the Ninth Prince."
The officials behind him echoed, "We, your subjects, greet the Ninth Prince."
Their voices, neat and resonant, reached Xiao Yunli's ears, his eyes filled with excitement.
He thought that one day, if he ascended the throne, such a thunderous ovation would belong solely to him. A greedy glint appeared in his eyes, as if he were already the exalted Emperor.
"Governor, there is no need for such ceremony."
"Your Highness has traveled a long way. It is our fortune, the officials and people of the northwest, that you lead the army to relieve Liangzhou's plight. I have arranged a welcoming banquet for Your Highness in the city, and the soldiers must also rest well."
This person was truly remarkable, knowing how to please. No wonder his maternal grandfather spoke so highly of him. He was indeed very perceptive.
Thus, he said to the others, "In that case, the army will rest in Ganzhou for two days. Liangzhou has not been attacked anyway, and the march has been tiring."
"Yes."
The soldiers' voices were deafening. The Ninth Prince casually glanced over and saw a group of men around Shan Yan, but standing beside them was an incongruous little girl.
She wore a pink padded jacket and a snow-white rabbit fur vest. Two flower-bud buns were tied with ribbons of the same color, adorned with gold foil and pearls, making her look very cute.
Judging by her size, she was only seven or eight years old. Despite the grand occasion, she was not frightened. Not only was she not scared, but her expression was calm and composed, which made the Ninth Prince's eyes reveal a hint of curiosity.