"No, no, it’s not a big deal, really.
Besides, this is for dealing with Xingzi. It’s for the public good—a great service!"
With that, Song Chi glanced at his sister’s expression.
Seeing Song iqin’s face soften a little, Song Chi finally let out a sigh of relief.
Hearing Song Chi’s words, Lu Yuan grinned and said,
"Well, if that’s the case, then that’s great."
That was just how so things were.
Whether sothing was a cri or a great service...
...really just depended on the whims of powerful people.
After that little squall, the atmosphere turned a bit somber.
Finally, Song iqin was the first to break, glaring at Song Chi, who was sitting across from her.
"Alright, that’s enough out of you!
Go out for a ride. You’re making everyone uncomfortable!
You’re a pain in the neck wherever you go!"
Song Chi gave a sheepish smile, not daring to say more. He stood up, looked at Lu Yuan, and added,
"That was just a gut reaction earlier. I really didn’t an anything by it."
Lu Yuan just smiled and waved a dismissive hand.
"I understand."
Song Chi smiled, offered a cupped-fist salute, and turned to leave.
Before he left, however, he couldn’t help but glance back at his sister’s and Lu Yuan’s clasped hands.
’Heh...’
’Sothing feels strange about my sister’s relationship with this Lu Yuan guy...’
...
「The next afternoon.」
The group could already see the silhouette of the Provincial City.
Their first impression of the Provincial City was that it truly lived up to its na.
It was simply magnificent.
A county seat like Taiping City simply couldn’t compare.
Taiping City had a permanent population of just a few hundred thousand.
Even including the surrounding towns, the total was barely over a million.
The Provincial City, on the other hand, had a permanent population of nearly three million within its walls alone.
In modern tis, this wouldn’t be a particularly large number.
A decent-sized modern city could easily have seven or eight million people.
ga-cities would be even more staggering, with populations of twenty to thirty million.
But that was the modern era.
In ancient tis, however—for the Divine Ling Empire, which had a total population of only thirty to forty million—a city of three million in the war-torn Northern region was a tropolis of the highest order.
As they were about to enter the city,
Song Chi suddenly ca into the carriage and looked at Song iqin.
"Sis, I can’t go back with you. I just got new orders. The bandits are acting up again near Liangshan.
I have to lead my n to Liangshan."
Hearing this, Song iqin’s body tensed. She frowned slightly.
"Will you be able to co back for the New Year, then?"
Song Chi shook his head with a helpless look.
"I’m afraid I can’t spend the New Year with you this year, Sis. This has to be dealt with quickly.
Next year, a high-ranking official from the Imperial City is coming to inspect our region.
If this isn’t handled properly and he reports back, I’m afraid none of my future New Years will be happy ones."
Song iqin understood the gravity of the situation and nodded.
"Alright, you go on. I’ll just spend the holiday by myself this year."
Seeing his sister’s expression, Song Chi felt a pang in his heart.
After a mont of silence, Song Chi suddenly looked up.
"Sis, just endure for two more years.
Once my superior retires and I beco the General, you won’t have to put up with the Liu Family’s abuse anymore!"
Song iqin offered a gentle smile and said softly,
"Don’t you worry about . I’ll be fine. Go on, now. Don’t let your official duties wait."
Song Chi said no more and left the carriage.
The news that Song Chi couldn’t spend the New Year with her left Song iqin in low spirits.
The others could only offer words of comfort.
Coupled with the exhaustion from a full day and night of travel, everyone was weary.
So no one suggested going sightseeing or grabbing a bite to eat upon entering the city.
They would first go to Song iqin’s ho to get a good night’s rest. Everything else could wait until morning.
At about three in the afternoon, the group arrived at the Liu Family residence.
The Inspectorate Mansion, ho to the province’s second-highest-ranking Civil Servant, was naturally an imposing sight.
It was far more impressive than the Zhao Family’s estate.
However, while it looked grand from the outside, the interior was a far cry from the Zhao Family’s ho.
’After all, what official would dare to furnish their ho too lavishly these days?’
As ntioned before, they didn’t even dare to burn Spirit Stones this winter and had switched from Gilded Bowls to Plain Bowls.
The group entered through a side gate, heading directly to the courtyard where Song iqin resided.
Song iqin bustled about, excitedly directing people to move luggage and assigning rooms to Lu Yuan and his party.
She also sent people to prepare dinner.
As the lady of this courtyard, Song iqin was naturally eager to be a good hostess.
But just as everything was proceeding in an orderly fashion, a grating voice cut through the air.
"So, you finally decided to co back?
Anyone who didn’t know better would think you’d already remarried!"
A sharp-featured, sour-looking woman of about fifty walked in, supported by two Maids.
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