Three Heads Junction, Underground City, Earth Market.
Qiao Yi finished writing a letter and called out, "Shangyou, take this letter—"
Holding the letter, he paused for a moment without making a sound.
Nian Shangyou had long since vanished. There had been no word from him since Fallen Palace Mountain (Heroes Mountain); he had most likely died in battle.
He set the letter back on the desk, sat in silence for quite a while, then called out, "General He!"
He Jiaqing, who had been standing at the door, came in.
Prince Anshun had recommended He Jiaqing for the post of Vanguard General, but Qiao Yi said He Jiaqing still needed more tempering. Prince Anshun had grown anxious and directly sent He Jiaqing to Qiao Yi, saying he should train at Qiao Yi's side.
The prince's intentions were plain as day: he wanted to promote one of his own, and he was asking whether Qiao Yi would give him that face.
The position of Vanguard General was out of the question. Qiao Yi still did not trust He Jiaqing. Since Prince Anshun had sent him over, Qiao Yi kept him on as an errand runner.
He Jiaqing could bend and stretch. He truly was willing to be an errand runner, delivering letters, passing orders, sweeping and cleaning, handling meals, serving as a guard—he did everything.
Yet he was not quite the same kind of errand runner as Nian Shangyou. Nian Shangyou could discuss important military and political matters with Qiao Yi, but He Jiaqing had no such standing. He could only stand outside the door and wait for orders to work.
In this respect, Qiao Yi rather admired He Jiaqing. Shu Wanjuan had once been exceedingly loyal to Qiao Yi, but if Shu Wanjuan had been asked to perform this duty—
Shu