Commander Jiang was, after all, a passing official.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The Prefect of Jiangzhou didn''t need toe out to wee him, but there were people specifically responsible for receiving guests.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Officials look out for each other, first and foremost in this way, through theirwork circles. When traveling to various provinces, there''s always someone to receive them.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    For those who passed the imperial examinations, they might have hosts even in small ces, either ssmates from the same year or adjacent years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang received fewer receptions because he was originally a rebel who had surrendered and been pardoned.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Such officials rarely ventured out of their circles.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Few could enter the capital again to be appointed officials or promoted.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The court didn''t encourage this, for if rebels could be officials and even get promoted, why would anyone bother studying hard and taking exams? Everyone would just rebel.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Secondly, if pardoned rebels could all be truly good officials, passing evaluations or even excelling, it would be embarrassing for those who had worked hard to be officials. How could a former rebel be an official and be good at it? Impossible.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    For these two reasons, Commander Jiang was a very special person.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Most officials actually didn''t want to be associated with former rebels.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    But Commander Jiang had managed to marry his daughter to the Meng family''s son.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    At least among former rebels, his identity had been thoroughly whitewashed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    His rank was also respectable.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The local officials of Jiangzhou City, even if they wanted to pretend not to see him, couldn''t do so. They still sent people to wee him.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    However, when they saw the scene of someone selling themselves to bury their father at the city gate, they didn''t step forward to intervene.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Some people enjoy this kind of drama - the young master gets to y the hero, the youngdy finds a good match, it''s a perfect fit. What does it matter if it''s her real father or not? As long as both parties are willing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    When the weing official got a clear look at the man the girl was clinging to, he felt a sense of familiarity.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    It seemed he had seen him before, a few years ago.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Wasn''t that Young General Meng?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    He had apanied the prefect in receiving Meng Qingshe General and his son Meng Shaoxia.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    He vaguely remembered a thin youth with a square face, but after a few years, he had turned into a round-faced, sturdy man, as fat as two people.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4


    If it weren''t for the squareness still visible in the roundness, he wouldn''t have recognized him at all.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Lord Jia reprimanded the girl selling herself to bury her father, telling her not to embarrass the people of Jiangzhou.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Then he put on a smile that was warm yet distant,ing forward to wee Commander Jiang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Lord Jia wore a crisp official uniform, with a beautiful jade pendant around his neck, a jewel-encrusted hat on his head, a pouch of jewels at his waist, and official boots on his feet, fully disying the wealth of Jiangzhou. The officials'' uniforms were all attractive, new, and crisp, asvish and mboyant as possible within the regtions of their rank.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Although Lord Jia had a long horse-like face, his elegant attire and air of authority naturally enhanced his appearance. Dressed up like this and standing on the street, he was at least a five out of ten.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang wore arge cloak with a hood. Qin Luoxia, worried that her husband would be dusty and tanned from the journey, had prepared thisrge cloak for him. At most, only his eyes were visible, and most of the time he traveled by carriage.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    When a colleague came to wee him, Commander Jiang lifted the hood of his cloak.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    For a moment, the white-d woman crying on the ground was like a pheasant caught by fate, unable to make a sound.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The crowd gathered around, curious to see which fool had been caught by a professional "selling herself to save her father" scam artist.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Instead, they saw a man in ck robes sitting on a tall horse, lifting his hood and removing his cloak to reveal a young man in white robes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">3


    Sunlight, long hair, a handsome face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Today was the Minor Cold sr term.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The Minor Cold wind was biting.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    A beautiful person arrived on horseback.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The bustling street.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Beauty can make time stop.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    At least for this moment, it paused.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Lord Jia, as a seasoned official, took a moment to find his voice again.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "C-Commander Jiang, I''ve long looked forward to meeting you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang responded with a cultured, slightly socially anxious smile.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Thank you foring to wee me personally, Lord Jia. We''ve just entered the city and encountered this situation. Fortunately, you arrived, or we wouldn''t have known what to do. Can... can we leave now?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    The Commander''s voice was also very pleasant.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    A young gentleman on the road, face like jade, voice like emerald.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Lord Jia never imagined that while the son-inw had grown fat and jowly, the father-inw would still be so refined and beautiful.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4


    No wonder it was said that Commander Jiang''s daughter was more beautiful than Daji. Young General Meng had only to see her once to stay by her side, unwilling to leave for even a moment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    If the father could look like this at his age, how bewitching must the daughter be?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Lord Jia couldn''t help but nce towards the carriage behind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Seeing is believing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    He had previously misunderstood the rumors about Commander Jiang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    How could someone who looked like this possibly be a vicious rebel? This was clearly a young master from a noble family who had been forced into difficult circumstances.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang dismounted and walked side by side with Lord Jia.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Come,e, Brother Jiang, let me take you to get settled. We''ll arrange a weing dinner for you this evening."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Jiangzhou has a famous dish, taro duck, extremely renowned, rich and delicious, a rare delicacy. We''ve arranged for the famous chef Jiangbei to prepare this dish for you tonight. You must try it."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Excellent."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang and Lord Jia strolled forward.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Jiangzhou was prosperous.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Children were running in the street.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Commander Jiang saw a child running ahead, with an adult chasing behind.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Xiao Tian, don''t run so fast, I''m worried you''ll fall."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "I know, Dad."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "Dad, taro duck is so delicious. Ask Uncle Bei to make it tonight."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z css-x61atf"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">4


    "Alright."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Jiang Changtian paused, lost in thought for a moment.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "After you, Commander Jiang."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    "After you, Lord Jia."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Jiangzhou was his hometown.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0


    Returning, he was no longer a youth.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0