Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi waited at the foot of the mountain with the Bai family guard army. When the morning sun leaped from the mountaintop, illuminating the mountainous terrain, cheers came from the mountain.

Bai Jinzhi’s features showed a smile: “Elder Sister, it seems we can report back to the Crown Prince and Emperor.”

“Such great news naturally must be reported to the Crown Prince…”

After reporting to the Crown Prince, they would probably need to have Ji Tingyu’s group stage another raid to demonstrate to the Crown Prince that the bandit troubles weren’t completely cleared and Shouyang still needed to intensify military training.

In Shouyang City, the people heard early this morning that Princess Zhenguo had led troops up the mountain to suppress bandits. Some had seen from afar Princess Zhenguo leading new soldiers from the north of Shouyang City, and they ran about shouting the news.

“Princess Zhenguo has returned! Princess Zhenguo has returned from suppressing bandits!”

People near the North Gate put down their work and gathered at the gate to look out, indeed seeing a distant group of people slowly walking toward Shouyang City.

The people spread the word to each other.

“Look! Princess Zhenguo has returned from suppressing bandits!”

For a moment, the people of Shouyang City all came to the main street, crowding at the North Gate and craning their necks to look out.

Seeing Bai Qingyan and Bai Jinzhi in neat attire riding tall horses at the front, someone shouted: “It is Princess Zhenguo! Princess Zhenguo and Princess Gaoyi must be returning victorious from suppressing bandits!”

The new soldiers returning with Bai Qingyan, Bai Jinzhi, and Shen Yancong saw from afar the people of Shouyang City cheering at the North Gate, and suddenly felt a sense of pride and joy in their hearts.

A wounded new soldier being helped back lifted his head toward the gate and asked in a low voice: “Are they welcoming us?”

“Naturally, they’re welcoming you! You’ve suppressed bandits for the people and returned in glory!” Shen Yancong turned his head and said with a smile.

Most of the new soldiers were originally farmers from home. Hearing Shen Yancong say this, their faces flushed red, and they couldn’t help but straighten their backs, maintaining their best bearing as they walked toward the gate.

Watching the bandit-suppressing new soldiers enter the city, the people lined the streets in welcome, talking among themselves, their faces full of smiles and reverence.

This was the new soldiers’ first return from real combat, and being welcomed by crowds of people greatly satisfied their sense of pride.

In the teahouse above, Yue Shi heard the shouting below, pushed open the partition, and came out to look. The city wall blocked his view until he saw Bai Qingyan entering the city. Yue Shi quickly turned to Xiao Rongyan: “Master, Miss Bai has returned.”

Early this morning, learning that Miss Bai had led troops out of the city, their master had come to the teahouse.

Though dealing with a few petty thieves couldn’t possibly trouble Miss Bai, their master was still concerned.

Xiao Rongyan set down his teacup, rose, and stood at the second-floor railing to look toward Bai Qingyan, who was about to pass below the teahouse.

The morning light grew stronger, dazzling golden light reflecting the upright, slender figure riding the tall horse – brilliant and startling as a swan, composed and resilient, with the majesty of autumn frost and summer thunder, her entire bearing penetrating to the bone marrow, impossible to conceal, making people dare not look directly at her.

Xiao Rongyan couldn’t help but think of the Bai family’s Seventh Young Master Bai Qingjue, his eyes containing a smile. The Bai family descendants were each proudly aloof with refined character.

Perhaps sensing the gaze from the teahouse above, Bai Qingyan raised her eyes and met Xiao Rongyan’s deep gaze directly.

The white-robed young master was noble and gentle, nodding slightly toward Bai Qingyan, his passion hidden beneath extremely calm and restrained dark eyes, faintly revealing a heart-stopping feeling.

Bai Qingyan tightened her grip on the reins, withdrew her gaze, the corners of her lips curving almost imperceptibly into a faint arc.

A little girl saw the blood stains on Bai Qingyan and asked loudly: “Is the Princess injured?”

“No! This is the bandits’ blood!” Bai Jinzhi said to the little girl with a smile.

The little girl hadn’t expected to receive a response from the Princess. Her face turned completely red, and she nodded shyly, opening her mouth but too nervous to say a single word.

Bai Qingyan looked down at the blood stains on herself, smiled at the little girl, then suddenly turned back and called: “Shen Yancong…”

Shen Yancong quickly spurred his horse forward to Bai Qingyan’s side: “Princess Zhenguo, your orders.”

“I won’t return to the training ground covered in blood. Take the new soldiers back to the training ground. Those who distinguished themselves this time, besides the ten gold reward, can be promoted to squad leaders and given two days’ leave to go home and visit!” Bai Qingyan said.

Shen Yancong nodded: “Princess Zhenguo, rest assured, this humble one will handle it properly!”

“Let’s go.” Bai Qingyan spoke to Bai Jinzhi, spurred her horse, and headed toward the Bai mansion first.

Bai Jinzhi and the Bai family guards followed closely behind, galloping away.

“Princess Zhenguo is so beautiful…” the little girl from before said dreamily.

“Indeed! They say Princess Zhenguo is a killing god, but this killing god protects the people of Jin, protects the people of Shouyang! Princess Zhenguo is the most beautiful killing god in history!” a Shouyang citizen who had previously been wronged by the Bai clan and only received justice thanks to Bai Qingyan shouted.

Among the people standing on both sides of the main street, an elder spotted a familiar young man in the new army and shouted with a laugh: “Er’wa! You’ve made something of yourself! Even fighting can make you famous – winning battles means you can bring glory to your ancestors!”

“That’s right! We won! I severed a bandit’s head and earned ten gold pieces to go back and build a house, marry a wife, and support my parents in their old age!” The young man’s minor wounds had been treated, his features full of joy.

“Promising! I’ll have my Shangen sign up too – you must look after him!” the elder shouted.

“Don’t worry, Uncle De! Just send Shangen over! In the new army camp, we eat meat every meal, and those who place in the top three in daily training can earn meat for their families! Now there are even some teachers in the new army camp teaching us to read and write – those with good minds who learn characters well and write well can also earn meat for their families if they place in the top three!” The young new soldier Er’wa turned and shouted back to the elder, “Shangen has a good mind – he’s no good at fighting, but he’ll be good at reading! When he comes, I’ll look after him! We two grew up wearing the same pants!”

Previously, when people heard that the new army camp served meat every meal, some Shouyang people were quite skeptical.

Now that this new soldier spoke of it in front of people on both sides of the main street, many people were greatly moved, especially since going to the army camp also allowed one to learn reading… this was simply a tremendous benefit.

Why didn’t ordinary families know how to read? Because they couldn’t afford private tutoring.

Some were already eager to move, wanting to send their children too, even if not for the meat… at least learning a few characters would prevent the whole family from being blind when they saw writing.

The quick-witted had already picked up their carrying poles and hurried toward home, planning to go back and discuss with their wives about sending their sons to be new soldiers too.

·

When Bai Qingyan reached the Bai mansion gate, she encountered Dong Changlan leading Cui Shi and their group departing for Dengzhou.

Seeing Bai Qingyan return covered in blood, Dong Shi, who was at the Bai mansion gate, seeing off Dong Changlan, was so frightened that all color instantly drained from her face.

“Cousin Sister, what is this…” Dong Tingzhen stared wide-eyed at the blood stains on Bai Qingyan.