Soul Adrift!

The vermilion-lacquered gates of the Upper Army Grand General's Manor were tightly shut in the night.

The plaque above the gate, inscribed by the imperial hand, glowed a warm yellow beneath the two lanterns outside the manor. Old Zhao, the gatekeeper, was dozing in the gatehouse when he suddenly heard a set of footsteps coming from the alley outside.

He abruptly opened his eyes, grabbed the long staff leaning by the door, and peered outside through the crack in the gate.

Under the moonlight, a familiar sedan chair was making its way down the alley.

"Old Master and Lady County Princess are back!"

Old Zhao hurriedly set down the wooden staff, pushed open the side gate, and went out to greet them. Bowing at the waist, he said, "Greetings, Old Master and Lady County Princess.

"Please take your time, you two. The bathwater has already been heated."

"Mm, thanks for the effort."

After Qin Dashan stepped out of the sedan chair, he nodded to him and led Qin Lan over the threshold.

There were a few grease stains from the banquet on Qin Lan's tender green short jacket, while the hem of her plain white skirt had caught on the threshold and picked up a gray smudge.

Her head was lowered, and she looked somewhat absent-minded. All the way back, her little hand had never let go of her grandfather's sleeve!

It was clear that what had happened at the banquet still left the girl with lingering fear...

As they passed the screen wall in the front courtyard, lanterns beneath the corridors of the side rooms on either side shone brightly, illuminating the blue-brick ground with perfect clarity.

Several servants and maids stood with their hands lowered beneath the corridor. When they saw the two enter, they all bowed in