Su Xun and Cheng set out on their journey back to Shu.
Verdant Green Maiden did not see them off. She tidied up the courtyard and prepared to head for the Hexi Corridor.
At the city gate.
Verdant Green Maiden's Old Yellow Ox bumped into a carriage.
"Oh-ho!"
Verdant Green Maiden raised an eyebrow.
She lowered her head and patted Old Yellow Ox on his head. "Brother Ox, don't you watch where you're going? If you bump into some high-ranking dignitary, we'll be in trouble! I'll have to leave you here as compensation for their carriage, you know! Honestly..."
"Moo?"
Old Yellow Ox swished his tail and glanced at Verdant Green Maiden.
"What are you looking at me for?" she asked.
"Moo."
Old Yellow Ox thrust his nose forward.
Verdant Green Maiden looked up and saw someone stepping down from the carriage-someone she knew.
Though he had aged a little, she would never forget that face.
"Xi Ren?"
"Master?!"
Upon seeing Verdant Green Maiden, Bao Zheng could not help crying out in surprise.
Verdant Green Maiden smiled and sighed. "It's been years. You've grown old."
"Yes, I'm nearly forty now."
Bao Zheng smiled, and his gaze soon fell on the small crack Old Yellow Ox had knocked into the carriage.
"...After all these years, this ox still has such a peculiar way of greeting people."
"Moo!"
Old Yellow Ox shook his head.
Verdant Green Maiden nodded too. "Indeed, this old ox has a keen nose. I didn't even realize this was your carriage, but he sniffed it out."
As she spoke, her gaze settled on Bao Zheng. "Didn't you write to me earlier saying you were being posted elsewhere as a county magistrate? Why are you only setting out today?"
"There were some unforeseen developments."
"It was... because of the