Lu Yuanpeng looked around but didn’t see Qin Lang, so he turned to ask Sima Ping, who was mounted beside him: “Where’s Qin Lang? Why didn’t he come?”

Sima Ping was the youngest son of Imperial Censor Sima Yan and the grand-nephew of Qin Lang’s deceased grandmother. The two were friends and cousins, having always been close.

“Qin Lang is the Bai family’s son-in-law, so naturally it’s more convenient for him to act together with the Bai family. Otherwise, what would it look like for a brother-in-law to specially come here to receive his sister-in-law?” Sima Ping leaned closer to Lu Yuanpeng and lowered his voice, “Besides, Qin Lang originally had a marriage engagement with the eldest Bai sister. Coming here alone with us behind his wife’s back—do you think that’s appropriate?”

Lu Yuanpeng nodded, completely agreeing: “You’re right!”

“Hey, hey, hey! Lu Yuanpeng, look—aren’t that people from the imperial palace coming too?” A young dandy asked Lu Yuanpeng, “Will the wine we prepared be useless?”

Lu Yuanpeng turned back to see Grand Eunuch Gao Demao, who served close to the Emperor, personally riding over with armored imperial guards following behind him—quite an impressive entourage.

The eunuchs sent by the Emperor to deliver imperial edicts would typically escort triumphant generals directly to the palace. Would they still have a chance to speak with the Bai sisters?

“Our capital is getting livelier and livelier! His Majesty’s birthday is on the twenty-eighth of this month. Not only have various countries sent envoys to the capital, but I heard this year the Emperor of Great Yan will personally bring his princes to celebrate His Majesty’s birthday!”

“Right! I heard this Great Yan Emperor is descended from Empress Ji, looks exactly like Empress Ji, and is called the most beautiful man in the world. I wonder if it’s true or false!”

Seeing more and more people gathering at the south gate of the capital, the common people who had originally been having breakfast at food stalls that vendors had opportunistically moved outside the city all stood up and crowded forward, standing on tiptoes to gaze at the magnificent, triumphant army approaching with rainbow-like momentum, speculating about what the Western Liang princess coming for a marriage alliance looked like, and guessing which one was Prince Yan of Western Liang.

Lu Yuanpeng looked around but still didn’t see Xiao Rongyan, so he asked Sima Ping beside him: “Why hasn’t Brother Xiao come yet? Yesterday, when we held a welcoming feast for Brother Xiao, didn’t he say he wanted to come welcome His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Sima Ping turned back to glance toward the city interior: “Yeah, could it be that Brother Xiao drank too much last night?”

“Impossible! With Brother Xiao’s drinking capacity, he’d be fine even if he drank all of us under the table!” Lu Yuanpeng’s words were full of admiration for Xiao Rongyan. He turned back to instruct his servant: “Go quickly to the Xiao residence and ask why Brother Xiao didn’t come.”

Just as Lu Yuanpeng finished speaking, Sima Ping hurriedly nudged him with his elbow: “He’s coming! I see Brother Xiao’s carriage!”

Hearing this, Lu Yuanpeng turned back to see guard Yue Shi helping Xiao Rongyan down from his carriage. He jumped down from his horse, tossed his riding whip to his servant, and walked toward Xiao Rongyan’s carriage, bowing: “Brother Xiao!”

Xiao Rongyan, with his refined and gentle temperament, released the hem of his long robe and gracefully returned Lu Yuanpeng’s greeting, smiling: “Yuanpeng, you came early…”

“Yes, I wanted to come early to welcome the Bai sisters!” Lu Yuanpeng grabbed Xiao Rongyan’s wrist and pulled him forward through the crowd, “They’ll be here soon! Brother Xiao, quickly come to the front with me!”

Xiao Rongyan was forcibly pulled to the front by Lu Yuanpeng. His deep, profound gaze looked toward the great army slowly approaching in the distance. At the very front were heavy armored cavalry, their horse hooves beating in unison with extremely magnificent momentum.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. If Great Yan had such heavy armored cavalry, how wonderful that would be…

Looking at the slender figure in silver armor leading the troops at the very front, Xiao Rongyan gently tightened his grip on the jade cicada in his hand. His calm, water-like eyes showed a trace of a very light smile, his pupils dark yet bright and burning with heat.

The woman riding at the very front, wearing military garb and silver armor, had her long hair bound behind her head, carried a Sun-Shooting Bow on her back, and held a red-tasseled spear in her hand, her heroic bearing magnificent.

Ten thousand zhang of morning light suddenly pierced through the clouds. The armored woman’s war horse seemed to be treading on rays of light as it approached, her silver armor gleaming with golden light. Her entire being was bathed in sacred light, like a deity descending to the mortal realm. Though slender, she possessed an awe-inspiring presence that could move mountains and rivers, with a spirit spanning the heavens.

“I see them! I see them! They’re back! They’re back!” The people shouted excitedly, “The victorious army has returned! General Bai has returned!”

This cry of “General Bai” made countless people recall the grand spectacle when Duke Zhenguo and the various Bai family generals returned victorious to the capital after great battles!

General Bai…

Which of the Bai family’s sons was not a General Bai?

Now, even the Bai family’s daughters had become General Bai, leading fifty thousand Jin troops and ten thousand Bai family troops to great victory over Western Liang and Nanyan’s so-called million-strong army, beating Western Liang so thoroughly they had no power to fight back and could only kneel and sue for peace.

“Well done, Jin army! Well done, General Bai!”

“Who says women are inferior to men! The eldest miss of Duke Zhenguo’s mansion… led fifty thousand Jin troops and thoroughly defeated Western Liang!”

“Exactly! A while ago, everyone said the eldest Bai miss was ill, but who knew that suddenly news came back from the Southern frontier saying there was a great victory… This battle wasn’t fought by the Crown Prince, but led by the eldest Bai miss!”

“This shows that the hundred-year military family Bai residence has always regarded the people as flesh and blood relatives. When frontier people suffer, the Bai residence would never sit idly by! That’s why the eldest Bai miss rushed to the Southern frontier to fight bloody battles!”

“The Bai family’s men dare to die wrapped in horse leather for Kingdom and people, and even their daughters have such an upright backbone and heroic aspirations, willing to spill their blood for Kingdom and people! With such a Bai family protecting our Great Jin, why fear Western Liang? Why fear the various nations!”

The people’s emotions were all infected. They thought of the tragic news that came back on New Year’s Eve about all the Bai family’s men perishing in the Southern frontier, the Bai family’s devastation, and when Prince Xin returned escorting the spirits, what he did to the Bai family—the Bai family had to beat the petition drum to get justice.

But even though all the Bai family’s men had died for the Kingdom, the Bai family’s daughters, though having lost their martial arts, had not lost their backbone… With lofty aspirations and broad minds no less than men’s, they rushed to the Southern frontier to shoulder heavy responsibilities, to carry the Bai family army’s banner, to protect the Kingdom and secure the people! Their righteous spirit of protecting Kingdom and people—how could this not shock people’s hearts, how could it not inspire admiration?!

It was said that the hundred-year military family, Duke Zhenguo’s Bai residence, never produced worthless people!

Thinking of the seventeen Bai sons who had already died, which one was not brilliantly talented? Which one was not outstanding in the capital?

The elderly, weak women, and children were moved to tears, choking as they called out “General Bai.”

Lu Yuanpeng was also infected by such emotions, deeply moved in his heart, his throat choked with emotion, a surging feeling stirring in his heart: “I never knew that daughters could also shine with such brilliance. So when the eldest Bai sister is in military dress… her presence is so awe-inspiring!”

The troops drew closer and closer. When they were only ten zhang from the south gate of the capital, a small eunuch beside Grand Eunuch Gao Demao hurriedly ran with small steps toward the great army.

Lu Yuanpeng saw the small eunuch run to the front of the troops, bow, and say something. Bai Qingyan, who was at the very front of the triumphant army, reined in her horse and raised high her red-tasseled silver spear. The heavy armored cavalry instantly came to a halt, standing solemnly motionless in complete silence, with only messenger soldiers turning their horses to relay orders backward.