The darkness gradually dispersed as a troop of seventeen or eighteen horsemen galloped through, as if tearing through the final layer of a curtain. The blue light illuminated the land.

The leader extinguished the torch in his hand.

He announced loudly, “There’s a teahouse ahead that serves not only tea but also food. Inside, there’s a tea beauty whose steamed buns are delicious. Let’s rest and regroup there.”

The soldiers behind him responded with a collective shout. Hearing this, they began to shed their weariness, and the atmosphere became lively.

“Commander Zhong, you haven’t been to the capital for over a decade, right? Is that place still there?” someone called out. “Don’t get our hopes up for nothing.”

Zhong Changrong looked back at the young man and laughed heartily, “The world changes greatly, yet often remains the same. Even if the teahouse is gone, none of you will die of thirst! Don’t worry, just keep moving forward.”

“But you’ve given us hope!” “Commander Zhong, you’ll have to treat us when we get there.” The soldiers clamored.

These were all soldiers he had personally trained, familiar enough with him to be casual. Zhong Changrong didn’t mind.

He flicked his whip, “Come on, if any of you can overtake me, I’ll treat you all to the best restaurant in the capital for a feast.”

As his words fell, strange calls erupted behind him, hooves flew, and the previously exhausted soldiers scattered like sheep just released from their pen.

Zhong Changrong laughed loudly, shouting “You little brats!” as he urged his horse forward to catch up.

The morning light illuminated the land, and steam rising from boiling water in large pots filled the tea pavilion like a celestial realm.

“Soldier sirs, your tea.” An elderly woman came over carrying two teapots, calling out in a hoarse voice.

Seeing the old woman’s trembling appearance, the soldiers quickly stood up, rushing to help her. “Grandmother, let us do that.”

The old woman smiled as she handed the teapots to them, “Wait a moment, I’ll go make noodles for you.”

As the old woman tottered away, the soldiers all looked at Zhong Changrong.

“Commander, is this the beauty you mentioned?”

“Commander, your taste is truly unique.”

“Don’t say that, everyone. Even Xishi will grow old someday.”

The soldiers snickered quietly, and Zhong Changrong glared at them, “Don’t talk nonsense. The owner has changed.”

He looked around. The teahouse remained the same, but the proprietors had changed. He wondered where the young couple had gone. This was probably what they meant by “things remain but people change.”

The teahouse was located along the main road and had many customers. Before long, it was full, filled with accents from all over the country.

Several soldiers couldn’t help but look around curiously until Zhong Changrong quietly stopped them.

“We’re approaching the capital, where there are many people and eyes. Everyone should be cautious,” he said. “This isn’t like the border prefecture where we can act freely, especially since we are the General’s men.”

The soldiers promptly sat properly and withdrew their gaze.

One soldier couldn’t help but lower his voice and say, “Chief, I heard the General was quite prominent in the capital back then—”

Zhong Changrong’s expression darkened momentarily, “That’s all in the past. It’s been over a decade. No one remembers the General anymore—”

As his words fell, the voice from the table behind them suddenly grew louder.

“—So she won, and the Third Prince even invited her to attend the literary gathering—”

This comment triggered more uproar around them, with guests at other tables asking, “Really? She won?” “How is that possible for a young girl?”

With so many inquiries, the person who had spoken earlier became even more pleased with himself, “Of course she won. The Zhongshan Prince’s heir personally delivered the invitation on behalf of the Third Prince.”

The surrounding commotion grew louder. “Impressive!” “These young girls.” “This literary gathering will be quite a spectacle.”

Amid the bustling noise, Zhong Changrong’s table remained silent. The soldiers quietly drank their tea, their eyes darting around, ears perked to hear about these people and events rarely discussed in the border prefecture—the Third Prince, the Zhongshan Prince’s heir, literary gatherings—

The Third Prince was indeed a prince, yet everyone could freely discuss him. The capital was truly different from the border prefecture, where the most talked-about person was merely the prefect’s eldest son.

And listen to what they were doing—literary gatherings! The border prefecture had nothing like this, only the raucous parties of the prefect’s eldest son and the nephews of the great generals—eating, drinking, and making merry, ending in fights.

And the young ladies—

How impressive, how lively! This was truly the land beneath the Emperor’s feet.

The soldiers excitedly listened to these unfamiliar topics until a name caught their ears.

“—Chu Wei, you know.”

Chu Wei? This name sounded familiar. The soldiers hesitated, but there were many people with the same name in the world, and with so many people in the capital, it wasn’t surprising.

Their commander had just said that after more than a decade, things had changed. Surely no one in the capital remembered the General anymore.

They saw their commander eating his noodles unconcernedly, slurping down half a bowl in one go.

So they all continued listening attentively, some drinking tea, others eating noodles.

“—Certainly extraordinary. That’s Defense General Chu Wei. Back in the day, he caused a much bigger stir than these young girls—”

With a splutter, Zhong Changrong, who had been slurping half a bowl of noodles, choked. Unable to cough properly, soup and noodles sprayed from his mouth and nose. The quick-reacting soldiers at the table grabbed their bowls and dodged.

This commotion drew attention from around them. Seeing a middle-aged man with a scarred face covered in food, some laughed, some looked disgusted, and some, afraid of the scar, averted their eyes—clearly border soldiers unused to refinement, so excited over a simple bowl of noodles with an egg.

Everyone turned away and continued their conversations.

Zhong Changrong grabbed a soldier’s sleeve to wipe his face, “You little brats were quick to dodge.”

The soldiers were both amused and surprised. They gathered close again and asked in low voices, “Chief, are they talking about our General?”

There were many people named Chu Wei, but could there coincidentally be another Defense General named Chu Wei in the world?

Zhong Changrong held his chopsticks, no longer shoveling noodles into his mouth, his eyes filled with uncertainty.

The surrounding voices answered for him.

“—Defense General Chu Wei, haven’t you heard of him? Have you all forgotten? When he first met His Majesty, he startled the Emperor off his horse.”

“Hahaha, he was truly reckless, so it’s no surprise his daughter is acting this way now.”

“But Chu Wei’s bravery won His Majesty’s favor, and at such a young age, he led troops as a general.”

“Chu Wei truly had the ability, with glorious military accomplishments. If not for him, would the Western Liang King have submitted and sent tribute every year?”

Hearing “Chu Wei” mentioned again and again, and listening to the events described, there was no doubt—they were indeed talking about their General, his elder brother, Defense General Chu Wei.

Zhong Changrong bit his chopsticks, the scar on his face twitching, his eyes wide. Hadn’t things changed? Even the teahouse owners had been replaced, so how was it that the capital still talked about Chu Wei everywhere?

He almost felt as if time had reversed, and he had returned to more than a decade ago!

This was truly strange!

…

…

Not just in the roadside tea pavilion outside the capital, but in many places far from the capital, people were discussing the fresh news from the imperial city.

Entering the Central Plains, even a small town was more prosperous and lively than the border prefecture, with numerous exquisite restaurants and teahouses.

In the most magnificent restaurant in this town, customers came and went. At one table sat the largest group, with both elderly and young, resembling a complete family with grandmothers, grandfathers, sons, and grandsons. Yet something seemed off.

This large family was dressed in extremely luxurious attire, wearing the most fashionable styles in town, with excellent fabrics, adorned with gold hairpins, silver bracelets, and pearls. Even a seven or eight-year-old boy wore a heavy gold ring—

The servants standing behind them were also dressed splendidly.

These were wealthy people, very wealthy indeed.

“Some nouveau riche from the countryside,” a waiter chatted quietly with a regular customer, nodding toward them. “As soon as they entered town, they asked for the best tailor and goldsmith, then the whole family rushed in and bought several chests of goods, immediately adorning themselves with everything.”

“What are they doing, pretending to be rich on the road?” the regular customer asked, puzzled. “With so many old and young people, aren’t they afraid of being robbed if they flaunt their wealth?”

The waiter shook his head with a smile, “Who knows? Perhaps they’re accustomed to security in the countryside and fear nothing.”

As they spoke, they saw a young girl at that table wave her hand.

The waiter quickly left the regular customer, responding loudly, “Coming, esteemed guest!” and hurried over.

These country folk were generous with their money. Serving them well could earn considerable tips.