A warhorse let out a long neigh atop the ridge.
Beneath the morning sun, clad in vibrant red, Meng Yao sat astride her steed, gazing back at the distant curls of kitchen smoke rising from Changshan Military Camp.
Seven years in her past life, five years in this one—she had spent twelve full years in the military camp.
Now, she was finally leaving.
Dust swirled into the air.
When it settled, four silhouettes had already galloped off toward the distant horizon.
For her return to the capital, besides her maidservant Qingluan, Meng Yao had brought only Deputy General Liu Chuang and his younger brother, Centurion Liu Nian.
She had entered Changshan Military Camp at the age of ten, and the one who had taught her horse riding and archery was Liu Chuang.
Back then, as a young girl with no playmates, she had often sat in silence within the dull, austere military camp.
The Liu family had been the very first to follow Meng Liangping when he relocated to the frontier.
As such, they were accustomed to treating Meng Liangping as the old master of their household, just like loyal domestic servants willing to lay down their lives to protect him.
Liu Chuang’s father had fallen in battle precisely while protecting the old master.
Liu Chuang had then inherited his father’s post, becoming a Deputy General.
And like his father, he took the Meng family as his masters. Seeing the Eldest Miss bored in the camp, he had brought over his younger brother, Liu Nian—who was the same age as her—to keep her company and study martial arts prowess and horsemanship together.
Yet Meng Yao was simply too brilliant.
She trained with Liu Chuang for only two years in various weapons.
After that, Liu Chuang was no longer her match. Instead, he began following her, learning the Art of War and Battle Array.
Now, Liu Nian had also risen to become a Centurion.
Aside from Qingluan, the Liu brothers had become the people she trusted most.
Since the Emperor had bestowed a Hundred-man Guard upon her, she naturally needed trustworthy men to command them.
The Liu brothers were the perfect fit.
…
Changshan Military Camp was thousands of li away from the capital.
Riding at breakneck speed, the journey normally took twelve days.
Meng Yao’s party of four arrived a day early.
“We’re finally back!” After being away from the capital for five years, Qingluan could hardly conceal the excitement on her face.
Reining in her mount, she looked at her mistress. “Arriving ahead of schedule, the manor is bound to be thoroughly shocked.”
“I’m afraid it will be more than just shock.” Meng Yao chuckled and dismounted before the city gates. “However, we aren’t heading back to the manor just yet.”
She led the three along the main thoroughfare for over half an hour before settling down at a quiet tea stall.
After the stall keeper served the tea, Meng Yao asked him about the locations of several neighborhoods.
The keeper answered them all, one by one.
Once he withdrew, Qingluan lowered her voice. “Miss… do you have other plans?”
Meng Yao nodded.
The tea was somewhat bitter and astringent, but she did not mind it.
Setting down the empty tea bowl, Meng Yao made a beckoning gesture.
Three heads leaned in close together.
“Did you all remember the locations the stall keeper just mentioned?” she asked.
The three nodded repeatedly.
“Good.” Meng Yao began issuing instructions.
“Deputy General Liu, head to Tongli Lane. My maternal grandfather’s family lives there. Rent a Two-courtyard residence nearby, and you brothers can settle in for now under the guise of an Escort.” Meng Yao took out ten golden leaves and handed them over.
These had been rewarded by the Emperor; they would serve as their settlement fund.
“Understood!” Liu Chuang received them with both hands.
“Liu Nian, go to Shengping Street. Sit in the taverns and teahouses, and listen for any gossip or discussions in the capital regarding my conferment.” With that, she took out another pouch of loose silver.
“Yes!” Liu Nian acknowledged the order, but did not reach for the silver in Meng Yao’s hand. “Subordinate has silver on him.”
Hearing this, Meng Yao did not insist further.
It was merely a trivial matter; there was no need to dispute it.
The Liu brothers each took their orders and departed.
Qingluan poured another bowl of tea for her mistress. “Miss, what is the meaning of this? Why have Deputy General Liu and his brother stay outside? And why inquire about your affairs?”
“Don’t you find His Majesty’s rewards a bit strange?” Meng Yao asked in return.
“Miss saved the Eldest Imperial Prince. Shouldn’t His Majesty reward you?”
Meng Yao smiled faintly. “If it were merely some gold, silver, the status of a Commandery Princess, and a posthumous Imperial Title for my mother, that would be normal. But what about the title and the Hundred-man Guard?”
Her fingertips tapped lightly against the tabletop. “‘Changning’ carries the meaning of ‘constantly safeguarding peace and tranquility.’ Historically, it has always been reserved for princesses of our dynasty or military generals of the second rank and above. Now that it has been given to me, isn’t that peculiar? The old master is currently only a fourth-rank Zhechong Zhonglangjiang, and my father is merely a fifth-rank Fengche Xiaowei. Bestowing such an honorific title upon the Meng family—isn’t it far too extravagant?”
Qingluan’s confidence wavered as well. “Perhaps… His Majesty is commending Miss for taking on ten foes single-handedly and utterly routing the Wei Army.”
“Then there is the Hundred-man Guard,” Meng Yao continued. “Although His Majesty bestowed them, the decree-bearer never gave me the roster for the hundred men. What is the meaning behind that?”
Naturally, Qingluan did not understand either. “Miss, are you worried His Majesty harbors other intentions?”
Meng Yao gave a noncommittal response. “That is precisely why we must scout the capital’s news in advance… In our dynasty, men enter officialdom and command armies. Yet I, a mere woman, disguised myself as the Commander-in-Chief to lead troops into battle. Though I thoroughly crushed the enemy forces, it borders on Deceiving the Emperor. I fear our Emperor is not entirely pleased.”
“Miss, don’t worry. We’ll be back at the manor soon, and the master will handle everything,” Qingluan said with a smile. “Besides, once we return, Miss won’t have to toil like you did in the military camp, putting on an act in front of the old master day in and day out.”
Looking at Qingluan’s innocent demeanor, Meng Yao’s eyes flickered slightly. “The act after returning to the manor will be far more exhausting.”
Qingluan’s eyes widened.
Meng Yao tapped her on the forehead. “Never mind the acting for now. First, go handle another matter for me.”
Qingluan straightened her posture.
“Go inquire outside the Eldest Imperial Prince’s estate and see where that fool is today.”
Qingluan was a natural-born Scout; she could always pry out the information she wanted from others with effortless ease.
“Yes.”
With that, Qingluan left the tea stall.
Meng Yao stood up and narrowed her eyes at the sun-drenched street—bustling, lively, and bathed in flourishing prosperity.
How many years had it been since she had last seen the midday sun of this prosperous capital?
…
A street vendor passed by, carrying a shoulder pole laden with fresh farm produce.
Meng Yao waved him over and bought a packet of peanuts, tossing it into the saddlebag draped over her horse.
She then bought some red dates and leaned against the roadside, chewing on them.
Passersby came and went, casting glances at this young maiden in bright red robes. She was breathtakingly beautiful, to be sure, but far too uninhibited and crude in her manners.
Meng Yao ignored their stares, thoroughly enjoying her snack.
An hour later, Qingluan returned.
Wiping the sweat from her brow, she reported, “The Eldest Imperial Prince left his estate two hours ago. Word has it he went to the Octagonal Pavilion.”
The Octagonal Pavilion. Meng Yao narrowed her eyes.
In her past life, when she was confined to the Meng family’s inner quarters, she had heard Meng Rou mention that the Octagonal Pavilion was a property Chu Moyuan had seized from a wealthy merchant of Jiangnan after being named Crown Prince.
After Meng Rou married him, she had repeatedly begged him for it under the pretext of wanting to do business. Yet Chu Moyuan—who, by Meng Rou’s own account, granted her almost every wish—had flatly refused.
Meng Yao tapped her riding crop against her hand. Has that fool already set his sights on the Octagonal Pavilion this early? No wonder he stopped at nothing to seize it in the future.
“Come, let’s go take a look,” Meng Yao said with a smile. “While we’re at it, let’s test that fool and see if he’s forgotten all about me!”