"Oh?"
At Tang Ningshuang's words, curiosity immediately crossed Jiang Xiaobai's face. "What connection does he have with our Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate?"
"Lu Chenshan's father once served in your Northern Guardian Army."
Tang Ningshuang looked in the direction Lu Chenshan had left and said, "During the battle on the Northern Frontier back then, his father died at the border, holding the rear to protect the provisions."
"Your father personally sent men to deliver compensation to the Lu family. He even... pulled some strings to get Lu Chenshan into the Dragon-Tiger Sect."
"Huh?"
Surprise flashed across Jiang Xiaobai's face.
He truly hadn't known about that.
"However..."
Tang Ningshuang paused before continuing, "Lu Chenshan didn't use that connection to join the Northern Guardian Army. Instead, he entered the Military Examination himself. So he... has a great deal of backbone."
"He certainly does!"
Jiang Xiaobai nodded lightly.
If Lu Chenshan had wanted to rely on the Northern Guardian Marquis's Estate, that connection through his father alone would have been enough for Jiang Xiaobai's old man to arrange everything.
Yet Lu Chenshan had chosen the Military Examination, fighting his way up on his own. He certainly had ambition!
But...
Jiang Xiaobai looked back at Tang Ningshuang. "Miss Tang, how do you know all this in such detail?"
"Oh."
Tang Ningshuang remained composed. "During the Military Examination, I investigated every opponent who had made a name for themselves."
"Huh, I always thought you'd charged your way up on sheer brute force!"
Jiang Xiaobai looked at Tang Ningshuang, surprise flickering in his eyes. "I never imagined you used your brains too!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Jiang Xiaobai realized something sounded wrong.
Yes, he'd meant to compliment Tang Ningshuang, but what he'd said had clearly come out wrong.
Sure enough, Tang Ningshuang glared at