An Unexpected Encounter

The next day, in Yan Prefecture City.

A red sun hung over one corner of the city wall. Before long, it would sink out of sight altogether.

After a whole day of bustle, it was time for Yan Prefecture City to settle into quiet.

Yet today, its gates remained wide open.

A dense crowd stood both inside and outside the gates.

At the very front stood none other than Dai Sheng, the magistrate of Yan Prefecture City.

His official robes were neatly arranged, and he stood waiting alongside everyone else.

Everyone craned their necks in anticipation. No one spoke, and every gaze was fixed on the winding official road ahead.

They were waiting for someone.

They had already waited there for a full two hours.

Yet they continued to wait patiently. No one uttered a single complaint, and no one left the gates.

Silence. Nothing but silence.

Then, at some point, the gateway, so quiet it might have been deserted, suddenly seemed to come alive. A faint stir ran through the waiting crowd.

Many of them had heard the rapid clatter of hooves heading straight toward them.

They stretched their necks farther and rose higher on tiptoe.

A blurred figure came racing down the dusty mountain road, making straight for the gates.

As the figure drew nearer, they could see him more clearly: a man wearing the uniform of Yan Prefecture City's Prefectural Soldiers, riding toward them in wild excitement.

He shouted, "Everyone! Everyone! They're back! Lord Yang and the others are back!"

At the words "Lord Yang is back," the already excited crowd finally erupted into wave after wave of cheers.

When the familiar carriage slowly approached, many bowed toward it with tears brimming in their eyes.

"Congratulations on your safe return, Lord Yang!"

Yang Qing had stepped down from the carriage while he was still several dozen meters from the gates and walked slowly toward them.

Many people spontaneously gathered around him, enclosing him in a tight circle before escorting him forward.

During the battle at Yan Pass, every citizen of Yan Prefecture had felt their heart rise into their throat.

They all knew that if Yan Pass fell, neighboring Yan Prefecture would be the first to bear the devastating brunt of the Northern Liang army.

For those who had lived in Yan Prefecture for generations, it would mean being driven into wandering exile, their homes lost.

But through the bloody fighting of Yang Qing and the commanders defending Yan Pass, all those fears had vanished like smoke.

Thus, upon hearing that Yang Qing was returning from Yan Pass, the citizens of Yan Prefecture City had organized themselves and gathered at the gates, the place he would have to pass on his way home.

Yang Qing drew closer and closer to Yan Prefecture City.

Soon, he stood at the gates.

Dai Sheng was the first to lift the hem of his official robes and bow to Yang Qing. "My lord, this humble official has brought the people of Yan Prefecture to congratulate you on your victory and safe return!"

The citizens behind Dai Sheng all knelt and bowed to the ground, crying out in unison, "Welcome home, Lord Yang!"

Yang Qing stepped forward and helped Dai Sheng up from his knees. "I merely did what my duty required. How could I accept such a grand salute? Please, rise!"

After speaking to Dai Sheng, Yang Qing turned to those around him. "Everyone, as the official charged with governing this land, I must naturally work for the welfare of its people."

"The safety of Yan Pass concerns not only the survival of Yan Prefecture, but that of our Western Chu as well. I merely did what I ought to have done. To receive such treatment from you truly leaves me ill at ease."

Yang Qing looked at Dai Sheng. "Lord Dai, please ask everyone to disperse. It was not I who fought through blood at Yan Pass, but the hot-blooded sons of our Western Chu, the soldiers defending the pass. They are the ones we should always remember and thank."

"As for me, I merely did what I should. I do not deserve such lavish praise."

Dai Sheng said, "We all witnessed your heroic deeds, my lord. Such accomplishments, such courage—few could stand beside you. There is no need for modesty."

"Lord Dai is quite right. Lord Yang, please don't refuse any longer."

The people of Yan Prefecture spoke all at once as they escorted Yang Qing into the city.

Only after accompanying him all the way to the First Pavilion did they begin to disperse.

A large group was already waiting outside the First Pavilion as well.

They were all members of the great Lineages within Yan Prefecture City.

"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Lord Yang. We have prepared a welcoming feast here for you. Please do us the honor of attending."

Yang Qing smiled faintly. "Very well. Sorry for the trouble, Lineage heads!"

As he spoke, he sensed a particularly burning gaze coming from the crowd.

He looked toward it, but saw only the corner of a pale pink garment swiftly disappearing behind the people.

Silently withdrawing his gaze, he entered the First Pavilion with the others.

The welcoming banquet ended with hosts and guest alike well pleased.

Since Bu Er still had to care for the injured Jiang Zhizhou, Yang Qing walked back alone to his lodgings, the Yang Residence in Little Willow Lane.

But just as he turned into the lane, he sensed someone suddenly darting out from the side.

Yang Qing instinctively raised his hand to block them, never expecting that the person was aiming for his sleeve rather than his face.

Thus, as he raised his arm to shield himself, the person smoothly plucked something from his sleeve and held it in her hand.

"Lord Yang, this humble woman, Murong Qian, offers you her greetings."

Yang Qing had been about to step forward and retrieve what she had taken, but at the sound of her voice, he paused slightly.

A moment later, he recovered. "So it is Miss Murong. May I ask what you mean by this?"

Murong Qian raised the object she had taken from Yang Qing's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly. "There is something I do not understand, and I would like to ask you about it, Lord Yang."

"What is troubling you, miss?"

Yang Qing looked at Murong Qian calmly, but the hand hanging at his side had slowly clenched without his realizing it.

"I have admired you for a long time, Lord Yang. Might you invite me into the Yang Residence for a while?"

Yang Qing looked up at the pitch-black sky, then lowered his gaze to the small paper lantern in Murong Qian's hand, which cast a faint halo of light.

"It is already late. You should return home soon, Miss Murong."

Yang Qing said softly, "Shall I have someone escort you back?"

Holding her paper lantern, Murong Qian circled Yang Qing once to the left, then once to the right. Suddenly, she smiled. "How rare. So even Lord Yang has moments when he cannot quite compose himself."

Yang Qing froze for a moment. "Miss Murong, what makes you say that?"

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