"Xiao He left in high spirits!"
He Pingsheng went to find Ling Zhiwang again.
The two sat down.
Ling Zhiwang was beaming with satisfaction.
He had done well for himself in the Imperial Capital. He was now the grand elder of the Taixu Commerce Association, and he had married, had a child, and settled down here.
His family lived behind the Commerce Association.
His child was already seven or eight years old.
"Did anything else happen in the Imperial Capital during my dozen or so years in seclusion?" He Pingsheng had nothing particular in mind and merely asked casually.
"Of course..." Ling Zhiwang said. "There were far too many new developments. There was different news every day, though you might not be interested in those things, young master!"
"But there's one thing you're sure to be interested in!"
"What is it?" He Pingsheng asked.
"The Liang Kingdom has successfully taken possession of [Shangdang Commandery]," Ling Zhiwang said. "Shangdang Commandery belongs to our Liang Kingdom now! Hahaha! They say it's all thanks to you, young master!"
"Without you, not only would our Liang Kingdom have failed to obtain Shangdang Commandery, we would have lost Redstone Commandery into the bargain!"
He Pingsheng smiled without a word.
"Shangdang Commandery has been renamed," Ling Zhiwang said. "It's now called [Qinghe Commandery]. They say it'll be granted to Elder Princess Qinghe as her fief!"
"Qinghe Commandery?" He Pingsheng was somewhat taken aback.
Back then, he had heard Patriarch Zhenyu mention this, along with making Princess Qinghe his senior concubine.
"Princess Qinghe must have formed her nascent soul by now, right?" He Pingsheng asked Ling Zhiwang.
Ling Zhiwang nodded. "Yes... She underwent nascent soul formation shortly after returning from Tawenian Mountain, where the Nine-Nation Grand Tournament was held. Oh, and there was something strange about that!"