The man in black robes chuckled softly: “I am Jiang Yuanchao, ranked thirteenth under Grand Commander Jiang. Since the General has recognized my identity, why do you still ask this question?”

Jiang Yuanchao had just returned to the capital and hadn’t yet reported to the office, but future encounters with Shao Mingyuan in the capital were inevitable. There was no need to conceal his identity any longer.

Shao Mingyuan was slightly stunned, then nodded: “Yes, this humble one asked unnecessarily. Farewell!”

After speaking, he leaped onto his horse, cupped his fists toward Jiang Yuanchao, displaying a completely indifferent attitude.

Jiang Yuanchao’s heart also stirred.

He had always thought this renowned military star of Great Liang was fierce but lacking in intelligence, but now it seemed he was wrong.

To guess his identity merely from his sword-drawing posture, and to remain unmoved by the dreaded Jinlin Guards’ surveillance – this was enough to prove this man’s wisdom and composure far exceeded ordinary people.

Such a person failed to protect his wife. Was there some hidden truth in this matter?

Thinking of that girl whose flower of life had already withered, Jiang Yuanchao felt his heart grow sour, only lamenting that the Northern Territories were a place of years-long warfare where the Jinlin Guards’ reach couldn’t extend, making it impossible to investigate the truth of her falling into enemy hands.

“The General worries too much. I’m out for a spring outing.” Seeing Shao Mingyuan about to ride away, Jiang Yuanchao said with a smile.

“Ah, the spring scenery is lovely. Lord Jiang has fine taste.” Shao Mingyuan replied indifferently.

Everyone knew that the thirteen guardians under Jinlin Guards Commander Jiang Tang all took his surname, Jiang.

Jiang Yuanchao’s eyes held a smile, making him appear gentle as jade: “The spring scenery is lovely. Is the General also going on a spring outing?”

From Shao Mingyuan’s expression, he could tell this man hadn’t been completely corrupted by power, so facing the matter of killing his wife, it was impossible for him not to feel guilt, right?

He wanted to see him looking guilty and miserable – who told him he couldn’t protect the girl who had once stirred his heart!

Shao Mingyuan’s expression indeed changed, like a small stone thrown into a lake, breaking the calm surface. The slightly rippled lake surface showed traces of tenderness and desolation: “I’m going to receive my wife’s coffin to bring home.”

“Ah, General Shao’s wife returned together with the coffins of fallen soldiers, didn’t she? The General is truly devoted and righteous.” Jiang Yuanchao’s lips always held a smile. Those who knew him understood this was Lord Shisan’s habitual mask; those who didn’t would think he spoke from the heart. Anyone who took it seriously would only bring humiliation upon themselves.

Shao Mingyuan had never dealt with Jiang Yuanchao before. Even now, with this person appearing before him, speaking these strange words, he still couldn’t understand the reason. But the four words “devoted and righteous” were like a sharp blade, stabbing straight into his heart, painful and shameful.

He, Shao Mingyuan, had saved millions of people, but from the moment that arrow was shot, his life was destined to be lived in hell.

He gently curved his lips into an extremely shallow smile, looking toward the smiling Jiang Yuanchao opposite him: “Lord Jiang jests. I take my leave.”

Shao Mingyuan spurred his horse, and the already impatient white steed shot forward like an arrow from a bow, galloping away.

The wind whistled in his ears, striking his white robes with bone-chilling cold, yet the rider seemed oblivious, urging his horse to run faster and faster.

His first meeting with Lady Qiao was when armies besieged the city with no choice left. He had no romantic feelings for her, but he had the duty of husband and wife. Yet he failed to protect her, even having to take her life with his own hands.

Shao Mingyuan closed his eyes, feeling difficulty breathing.

The fine horse stepped into a low spot on the road, jolting and aggravating his new wound below the ribs. Pain spread outward, and even countless old wounds from years of battle began to ache in sympathy.

Shao Mingyuan’s knuckles gripping the reins turned faintly white, restraining himself from showing even the slightest tremor.

He opened his eyes, looking up at the clouds in the sky rolling like mountain peaks, thinking to himself that the weather was about to change.

Whenever the weather changed, his old wounds would ache, accurate without fail.

Sometimes, Shao Mingyuan couldn’t help but think with self-mockery that being able to predict weather changes was perhaps one benefit of his injuries – at least it made it easier to seize favorable timing when facing enemies.

Soon, spring thunder awakened, and torrential rain poured down like a waterfall. Pedestrians and vehicles on the official road all sought shelter, with only a white-robed young man on a white horse merging into the curtain of rain.

An exquisite and spacious carriage stopped by the roadside, surrounded and protected by guards. A delicate jade hand lifted the carriage curtain, and a flower-like face peered out to observe the rainfall. Just then, the white horse galloped past, splashing accumulated water that flew onto her face.

The young woman cried out in alarm, looking angrily in that direction, only to see a white shadow flash and disappear.

“Princess, are you alright?” The palace maid in the carriage was startled and quickly took a soft cloth to wipe the young woman.

The young woman had a pair of sparkling eyes, an exquisitely curved chin, and faint pink on both cheeks – truly an absolutely beautiful woman. With dirty water now staining her face, not to mention men, even the palace maid wiping for her couldn’t help but want to curse the person who had just galloped past as a scoundrel.

This woman was none other than Emperor Mingkang’s ninth daughter, Princess Zhenzhen, renowned for her beauty.

“Long Ying, who was that person who just passed?” Princess Zhenzhen had never encountered such a disgusting incident in her life and was furious.

Such dirty, muddy water splashed on her face – that person truly deserved death!

Long Ying was Princess Zhenzhen’s guard with excellent martial skills. Even though that white shadow had flashed past in the rain curtain, he still managed to see the face.

The young man standing beside the carriage approached and said in a low voice: “In response to Your Highness, this subordinate observed that it seemed to be Marquis Guanjun who just returned triumphantly to the capital.”

“Marquis Guanjun?” Princess Zhenzhen frowned. Though this thunderously famous general’s name was well-known, she had no impression of him.

She straightened her posture and said, displeasedly: “When I return, I must see what kind of person this Marquis Guanjun is, to dare be so rude to me!”

The palace maid beside her chimed in: “Exactly, that person went too far!”

Such a beautiful princess got splashed with mud by him – this was intolerable!

“Let’s go.” Princess Zhenzhen said coldly.

“Your Highness, should we wait for the rain to lighten a bit—”

Princess Zhenzhen raised her chin: “No waiting. In my current state, how can I bear to wait?”

The exquisite carriage moved slowly in the rain curtain, advancing with difficulty.

Jiang Yuanchao took shelter from the rain in a roadside tea shed.

The tea shed was crude, with some places leaking rain, the water forming strings of bead curtains that fell with a tinkling sound.

Jiang Yuanchao ordered a pot of hot tea and drank it unhurriedly, gazing pensively at the increasingly heavy rain curtain.

Having already been discovered, he naturally didn’t need to follow secretly anymore.

Speaking of which, he hadn’t completely lied to that General Shao – this trip out of the city was indeed only for private matters.

He just wanted to see with his own eyes what she looked like when she returned.

Hmm, this rain came at just the right time – it would be good if it froze that fellow to death.

Jiang Yuanchao smiled silently, his gaze falling on a magnificent carriage gradually approaching, his eyes flickering.

What kind of personage was this? The guards following behind the carriage were no simple matter.

As he was pondering, that carriage suddenly stopped in front of the tea shed.