Spring in Yunzhong Commandery also had brilliant scenery. Several hundred riders galloped along the main road. Climbing up a slope, they saw apricot blossoms blooming across the land ahead.

Liang Qiang couldn’t help but rein in his horse. Following his movement, the soldiers behind him also stopped.

“Military Marquis, what is it?” a soldier asked.

Liang Qiang smiled. “Nothing.” He looked at the apricot blossoms ahead. “I just wanted to appreciate the flowers.”

The soldiers behind him remained silent—no agreement, no puzzled questions. They didn’t care, weren’t interested, had no concern. Liang Qiang had been about to say a few more words, but looking back, he swallowed them.

“Let’s go,” he said, spurring his horse forward.

The soldiers behind followed, surrounding him in their midst.

Crossing the Wild Apricot Valley, they arrived at a city. Liang Qiang had the soldiers return to camp, but a dozen soldiers still followed him through the streets—these were his personal guards, never leaving his side.

Although the war hadn’t ended, Xi Liang hadn’t been able to enter Yunzhong Commandery either. The border residents had grown accustomed to it. The spring marketplace was prosperous and bustling, with merchants bringing goods from all over.

Liang Qiang’s hands were soon full of things—several packages of pastries, lifelike sugar figurines. Passing through streets and turning into small alleys, as soon as he entered the alley he saw several six or seven-year-old children playing.

“Big brother’s back!” One of the girls spotted him first, shouting happily and rushing over.

Liang Qiang scooped up the girl with one hand, calling her Little Sister.

The other children all looked at this young man in military robes with both fear and envy, especially at the dozen soldiers standing solemnly behind him.

“My big brother is amazing!” Little Sister Liang boasted proudly. “My big brother is a great general!”

Liang Qiang smiled and set his little sister down, handing her a package of pastries. “Go share these with your friends.”

Little Sister Liang was immediately surrounded by the children. The alley became even livelier than before.

“I’m the young mistress!” Little Sister Liang shouted among them. “I told you I’m the young mistress. I wasn’t lying!”

About to step through the family gate, Liang Qiang’s footsteps paused. When the Liang clan was convicted, Little Sister had been five years old. The Liang clan’s children were born into silk and jade, raised in luxury. She retained memories of being a noble young lady, but the past two years of life had left her confused—

To get a share of the pastries, the children surrounding Little Sister Liang happily shouted, “Young Mistress! Young Mistress!”

A young mistress was worth a piece of pastry.

Liang Qiang pressed his lips together and stepped through the family gate. The soldiers behind him didn’t follow in, dispersing around to stand guard.

Since the Liang clan father and son had received merit rewards and promotions, their family had already moved out of the labor camp. However, even in the border commandery, housing was very expensive. Their father and son’s salary and rewards could only afford a small house.

“Ah Qiang is back.” Mother Liang was in the courtyard washing and starching clothes with two other women.

These two women weren’t servants either. When Second Master Liang left the labor camp, he’d brought the others out as well. They all lodged here together.

Seeing Liang Qiang enter, the two women smiled and greeted him. Though they were elders, their smiles were full of humility and ingratiation.

“Your father is already back,” Mother Liang said. “You two go talk. After I finish washing these clothes, I’ll make dinner for you.”

Liang Qiang nodded, seeing the cracks and chilblains on his mother’s hands. Although they’d left the labor camp, although the weather had warmed, hands that constantly washed and scrubbed would never again be like those of the pampered noble lady she once was.

The noble lady who hadn’t known how to wash and starch at first—after one year in the labor camp, she could do everything.

Should he say something? Take care of yourself? Being able to live with dignity was enough. At least now she only washed the clothes of one family, not an entire labor camp. Liang Qiang withdrew his gaze and turned to go inside.

Father Liang sat under a tree in the back courtyard drinking wine, with several small dishes laid out before him.

“Ah Qiang is back,” he greeted, then asked, “Are things in the army all arranged?”

After all, Liang Qiang was a military marquis of the Left Wing Army. Going to the capital—even traveling at top speed would take over a month round trip. With so many troops, naturally he had to make arrangements.

Liang Qiang knew what his father meant, but actually he had nothing to arrange. Those many troops—they had nothing to do with him really. If he had to speak of arrangements, he was always the one being given arrangements.

“This trip to the capital, you must be careful in all things—” Second Master Liang said. He wanted to say more, but stopped.

Although he suspected this trip to the capital was arranged by the person behind the scenes, his son had truly fought with real weapons, risking his life in battle. Entering the capital was an honor he’d earned through struggle.

If he let his son know this honor was a conspiracy—

The young man’s spirit would be shattered.

Second Master Liang swallowed his other words and looked at Liang Qiang. “After all, our Liang clan is still a convicted house. In the border army, we rely on merit rewards to gain a foothold, but in the capital we’re nothing. Moreover, rising too quickly will attract attention and suppression. You must be cautious and more cautious. The Liang clan didn’t get to today easily. Whether we live or die, we’ve also reached a critical moment.”

That he, Liang Qiang, could go to the capital this time—it was indeed a critical moment, but not the Liang clan’s critical moment. Rather, it was the critical moment for the person behind the scenes, Liang Qiang thought.

“Father,” he said. But seeing his father’s concerned, expectant, yet grave expression, the words that had reached his lips stopped.

No matter what the person behind the scenes wanted to accomplish by pushing him forward this time, he had to go. By now, there was no turning back. Otherwise, the Liang clan would truly be finished for certain.

Liang Qiang still swallowed his words, saying in a low voice, “Since the Grand Tutor is having us enter the capital, it shows that our military merit is the court’s dignity. As long as I’m cautious in word and deed, I’ll certainly be safe and sound. Don’t be too nervous.”

Moreover, he was very curious—was the person behind the scenes the Grand Tutor?

Second Master Liang was also very curious about the Grand Tutor. Unfortunately, Deng Yi came from humble origins. By the time he rose to prominence and power, the Liang clan had already left the capital. They knew nothing about him at all.

However, Grand Tutor Deng Yi and the Xie clan certainly wouldn’t be on harmonious terms. Back then, the Liang clan had been able to obtain their first merit reward with the Grand Tutor’s assistance.

It was quite normal for Deng Yi to support and draw in the Liang clan.

“Take advantage of this opportunity,” he said. “When you go, you can also make contact with the Grand Tutor.”

Liang Qiang acknowledged this, raising his wine cup. “I’ll trouble Father with matters at home and in the army. Father must be careful and cautious. Don’t be greedy for merit. Being able to be like this now is already very good.”

His son was still worried that he would strive energetically and charge ahead recklessly. Second Master Liang smiled bitterly inwardly. Whether being careful and cautious or being greedy and rash, neither was something he could control.

“Good, I understand,” he raised his wine cup.

Father and son drained their cups in one gulp.

“The capital—” Father Liang wanted to give more admonishments, but in the end just smiled. “You’re also very familiar with it. I won’t say much more.”

Saying more was useless anyway. The Liang clan was no longer in control of their own fate now.

Liang Qiang acknowledged this. He also had nothing to say. He took his leave and returned to his own room. There were no maidservants in the house, and he had no manservant either. This narrow room was now the only place where he could be free and at ease.

There wasn’t much luggage to pack. Liang Qiang lay on the bed, not bothering with the opened bundle. Going to the capital.

No, he should say—returning to the capital.

He, Liang Qiang, was returning to the capital. After leaving the capital in wretched disgrace, he, Liang Qiang, would enter the capital wearing armor, as a military marquis personally designated by the Grand Tutor!

Who cared who the person behind the scenes was? As long as they allowed him, Liang Qiang, to be glorious and limitless, to return to the world of men, they would be the deity he, Liang Qiang, worshipped!

When that time came, he could see her in the court.

She would sit high in the court, and he would also stand in the court—not as a relative of a convicted official, not as a frivolous young master, but as a brave new talent of the border army.

Liang Qiang leapt up from the bed like a fish and casually wrapped up the bundle—

To the capital!