Outside the gates of the Capital, a luxurious carriage stood parked by the roadside. Two snow-white steeds were harnessed to the front. A silver lotus bloom the size of a fist was mounted on one side of the carriage box, and the curtains were made of the finest silk.
Even a cursory glance revealed that such a carriage belonged to the family of an official ranked Second Grade or higher in the Capital. Anyone familiar with the Capital could guess at a single look: this was the carriage of the Second Miss of the Luo Family, Luo Ping, whose father was the Minister of Works.
Luo Ping wore a white silk ruqun embroidered with lotus flowers, her hair styled into double buns. Aside from the priceless white jade bracelet on her wrist, the only ornaments on her were the two blue-green silk ribbons tied in her hair, their ends trailing beside her cheeks. It made her look pure, charming, and adorably delicate.
Her delicate nose wrinkled slightly as she paced anxiously in front of the carriage, muttering to herself, “Why isn’t Sister here yet? Why isn’t she here?”
“You little ancestor, your sister will be here soon. Sit inside the carriage for a while, lest you get sick from the sun,” Mother Luo said, tugging at the corner of Luo Ping’s clothes with one hand and fanning her with a round silk fan with the other.
Luo Huaimin’s expression was stern, but the doting look in his eyes softened his severity. “Get in the carriage and rest.”
“No! Sister will be here any minute. The letter said she’d arrive today!” Luo Ping pouted and refused.
The Luo couple exchanged a silent, helpless look. They had assumed Luo Xu would die during her exile. Her sudden return had caught them completely off guard. Their initial joy had long since been washed away by awkwardness.
Luo Xu’s story had been on everyone’s lips for ages. It was no secret in any street or alley of the Capital. Soldiers gossiped about it with relish, even children could recite a few lines. And someone, for reasons unknown, had spread the news of Luo Xu’s return today. Half the Capital had turned out to gawk.
They all wanted to see what a person who had fought livestock for food looked like now.
Even the gambling houses in the Capital had opened a betting pool on how many legs Luo Xu had broken, or how many eyes she had lost. Noble families valued their reputation above all else. A daughter who brought such shame made them lose face, so naturally, they felt no joy.
If their youngest daughter hadn’t been clamoring and throwing tantrums to come and meet Luo Xu, they wouldn’t have come out here to be embarrassed.
As she spoke, Luo Ping sniffled and threatened fiercely, “Father, Mother, you knocked me out and prevented me from seeing Sister off last time. If you don’t let me wait now, don’t think I won’t cry for you!”
Though it was a threat, it was like a harmless little kitten, amusing the Luo couple despite themselves. “You, oh you. We’ll listen to you, then. It’s said your sister has suffered a great deal…” Mother Luo also felt a pang of heartache for her eldest daughter, and her expression grew subtly complex. She paused. “No matter what state you see your sister in later, don’t get overly emotional.”
Just then, another carriage stopped before the city gate. Its entire body was made of Profound Iron, slightly larger than a normal carriage. It bore no decorations whatsoever, save for the exquisitely carved ruby snow lotuses hanging from its four corners.
In front were two horses, their coats so dark they were nearly black. As they moved, one could almost see the blood surging through their veins. Their four hooves were shod with pure gold horseshoes. Many onlookers recognized this breed—they were Ferghana Horses, worth a king’s ransom.
The people near the gate, who had thought the Luo Family’s carriage was a sight to behold, now understood there were greater things beyond their world. The austere, imposing nature of the Profound Iron and the majesty of the Ferghana Horses complemented each other perfectly. Just standing there, they exerted an invisible pressure. Many sighed in regret —to use such a Ferghana Horse to pull a carriage was truly a waste of heaven’s gifts.
And then there was the company of travel-worn soldiers behind the carriage. When the carriage stopped, the soldiers reined in their mounts with strict, uniform discipline. The neighing of the warhorses drew nearly everyone’s gaze.
“Who is this? Such a grand display?” Mother Luo muttered.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a young woman in her twenties jumped down. She was tall, wearing a circular gold-leaf hair clasp on her head and a dark purple, round-collared, cross-lapel long robe with gold-threaded edges. When she moved, faint dark patterns could be seen on the satin fabric.
Though her skin was not as fair as the Capital’s women, her features were exceptionally striking. Beneath neat, sharp brows were slightly upswept phoenix eyes. A straight nose and slightly pressed thin lips gave her features an unusual depth. The longsword at her waist added a touch of the Jianghu wanderer’s free spirit.
“Luoluo, give me your hand.” Tang Qi reached out to help Luo Xu down.
The name “Luoluo” made the Luo family members extremely sensitive. Then, a young woman emerged from the carriage. Her face was flawless and fair, and her skin was as smooth as congealed fat. Perhaps because it had been stuffy inside the carriage, a pink flush graced her cheeks. Her hair was styled in a simple lily bun, pinned with only a single white jade hairpin.
She wore a long, blue-green snow satin dress that shimmered beautifully as she walked. Though elegant in its simplicity, the emerald jade bracelet on her wrist and the Xiangfei Bamboo Fan in her hand were items worth a thousand gold each.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked around, captivating everyone who saw her. She was truly charming without being alluring, beautiful without being seductive. For a moment, the people around were stunned senseless.
“Sis… Sister?” Luo Ping hesitated, not daring to believe her eyes. The onlookers who had come for a spectacle looked at Luo Xu, their hearts filled with both admiration for her beauty and utter shock.
Hadn’t they said Luo Xu was disfigured, with broken legs, as good as a cripple? This… they had all placed their bets!
The soldier behind them spoke up: “Two Young Misses, this general’s task is complete, and we shall return shortly. Our general had a message for me to deliver.” He looked at Luo Xu. “Our Marquis said that a person of great talent like Miss Luo would never commit an act of poisoning. It must have been someone plotting against you from the shadows. I hope the Young Miss will be careful in all things.”
The crowd at the gate looked at each other in astonishment!
These were the subordinates of the Marquis of Zhenbei, the famous general, the Marquis of Zhenbei! His assessment of Luo Xu was this high?
“Sister!” Luo Ping rushed forward like the wind, grabbing Luo Xu’s hands and looking her over with unconcealed joy. “Sister, I missed you so much! I’m so relieved to see you safe and sound.”
Luo Xu felt a degree of affection for this younger sister. She reached out and took her hand, studying her carefully. “You’ve grown taller, a young lady now.”
Luo Ping blushed slightly. The Luo couple also walked over. Luo Xu’s expression was calm as she offered a polite greeting. Seeing the crowd’s gaze flitting towards them, intentionally or not, the Luo couple’s surprise quickly turned to impatience. “Let’s return to the mansion first.”
Tang Qi smiled slightly. “I’m afraid that’s not possible!”
Mother Luo was already feeling an inexplicable irritation. Having been in a high position for so long, she rarely encountered such defiance. Her brows furrowed, and anger crept into her voice. “And who are you?”
Seeing that Mother Luo showed no joy at seeing Luo Xu, Tang Qi saw no need for courtesy. She smiled calmly and spoke evenly. “I am Tang Qi, from the Western Barren Mountains.”
Mother Luo looked down on Tang Qi even more. “A wild person from the wilderness, probably doesn’t even know the meaning of ‘filial piety’. Luo Xu is my daughter. Why can’t she return home with me?” Unwilling to spar with Tang Qi further, she turned to Luo Xu, her tone stiff. “Come with me.”
Luo Xu didn’t move. Luo Huaimin’s expression darkened. Lowering his voice, he said, “Do you want to be a laughingstock here? Come on, haven’t you caused enough shame?”
The System bared its teeth in their mind. “Host, don’t stop me, I’m going to tear them apart. Luoluo suffered so much, and they haven’t even asked a single question before heaping blame on her. What kind of parents are these?”
“I’m afraid she won’t be able to leave with you today.” A female voice interjected. Mother Luo followed the voice. “Why not? Let’s just see about that… cough.”
Her words stuck in her throat. It was unbearable. She quickly knelt to salute. The others, densely packed, also knelt. Tang Qi and Luo Xu were no exception.
The speaker was a beautiful, elegant middle-aged woman. For a brief moment, she seemed stunned upon seeing Tang Qi, but she quickly recovered. Beckoning for everyone to rise, she walked forward and said gently, “This Palace has come to receive you.” The newcomer was none other than Zhao Zhen, the Marquis of Zhenbei’s wife and the Grand Princess, the Emperor’s sister.
Zhao Zhen’s gaze fell upon Mother Luo, turning slightly cold. “My husband entrusted me to receive these guests. There are some matters requiring Miss Luo’s assistance, so she will stay at my mansion for a while. You don’t mind, do you?”
Luo Huaimin hurriedly cupped his hands and saluted. Zhao Zhen nodded slightly, then her expression softened considerably as she turned to the two girls. “Come with this Palace.”
Luo Xu and Tang Qi followed behind the Grand Princess. Tang Qi looked back to see the Luo couple’s gloomy gazes and also noticed the complicated, unreadable expression on the female lead of this world line, Luo Ping. The System asked, confused, “Host, Luoluo is their child too. Why aren’t they happy?”
“If the game account you painstakingly built with time and money couldn’t even compare to an account someone played casually without effort, would you be happy?” Tang Qi turned back calmly. The Luo couple might have loved Luo Xu, but they needed to love Luo Ping more to justify the value of their investment.
It was only as they moved that everyone realized the company of soldiers had over ten wagons following behind them. The Grand Princess looked surprised. Tang Qi saluted and explained, “My apologies, Your Highness. These are just some everyday items belonging to Luoluo and myself.”
Even the Grand Princess’s party had to undergo inspection upon entering the city. When the city guards opened the wagons at the back, everyone was stunned. Various treasures, antiques, silks, and satins—even the people of the Capital, accustomed to grand displays, were dazzled beyond words.
Hadn’t they said she was crippled? Hadn’t they said she suffered? This was suffering?
Many people followed Tang Qi and Luo Xu’s carriage. They watched them enter the city, board the carriage, and travel all the way to the Princess’s Mansion.
In truth, they had ridden fast and reached a nearby county ten days earlier. Tang Qi had bought many things along the way and also sent people to the Capital to gather information. The conflict between the Prime Minister and Zhao Chengfeng had reached its final stage. Nalan Xue had also seen clearly how Zhao Chengfeng was using her.
Yet, she still hated Luo Xu. Knowing Luo Xu was returning, she had sent people to spread rumors in the Capital and even bribed the gambling houses to open a betting pool, all just to humiliate her.
Their grand return to the city naturally slapped those rumors in the face. Furthermore, having gotten along well with the soldiers during the journey, the soldiers certainly wouldn’t speak ill of them. They had even publicly mentioned the private advice given by the Marquis of Zhenbei, which had boosted their reputation and leverage even more.
“You two shall stay in this Palace’s mansion for some time,” Zhao Zhen said, her gaze floating towards Tang Qi with an unreadable intent. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Tang Qi and Luo Xu expressed their thanks, and Zhao Zhen departed hastily.
Once the Grand Princess had left, the two finally relaxed. Waving away the mansion’s servants, Luo Xu leaned against Tang Qi’s chest. “You actually managed to convince that stubborn old mule, the Marquis of Zhenbei.”
Tang Qi reached out to play with her hair, narrowing her eyes slightly. “Gave him a military strategy book.”
Luo Xu fell silent. Though it had seemed calm at the city gate earlier, her heart had been deeply afraid. Fortunately, this most difficult hurdle had been crossed.
Sensing Luo Xu’s tension, Tang Qi teased her. “Tomorrow, I’ll buy off every beggar in the Capital to spread rumors about Zhao Chengfeng everywhere.”
“What kind of rumors?”
“He eats shit!” Tang Qi said with a perfectly straight face. Luo Xu paused for a second, then burst out laughing, tears welling in her eyes. She couldn’t help but hammer Tang Qi a few times. “What are you doing this for?”
“To give the citizens of the Capital a little after-dinner entertainment.” Since rumors about Luo Xu were flying everywhere, she might as well add some spicier material to the mix.
Luo Xu was still laughing so hard her stomach hurt. Tang Qi reached over to rub her belly. Wiping away tears, Luo Xu asked, “Then can we add one more?” Before Tang Qi could ask, she was shaking with laughter. “Say that, ha! Say that he likes to use the toilet in his bedchamber and can’t even find the chamberpot.”
Tang Qi couldn’t help but laugh. “Fine, we can add ten more. But…” She pinched Luo Xu’s chin, tilting her face up to look at her. Luo Xu’s eyes were clear and bright, like freshly washed grapes.
Tang Qi had been abstinent during the days of their journey. Her voice hoarse, she said, “Time for some payment…”
