Luo Yang suppressed the emotions in his heart again and again. He was very clear that he was in such low spirits precisely because of Ji Yunshu’s repeated indifference.

There was even a trace of anger welling up inside.

Facing Xiao Ba’s confusion, he truly didn’t know how to express the bittersweet feelings in his heart. He simply flopped down on the carriage seat, turned over, and tossed out a sentence: “Nothing, I’m tired and want to sleep. Don’t disturb me.”

“Oh!” Xiao Ba obediently nodded. Having gotten no answers from his inquiry, he shrank to the side.

Half an hour later, Wen Che’s carriage was repaired and they could set off.

Ji Yunshu subsequently got back in the carriage and saw that both Luo Yang and Xiao Ba had already fallen asleep. She quietly sat to the side without disturbing them.

The carriage gradually moved forward. Because of the broken wheel, they didn’t enter the city until evening.

At this time, at the city gate, the time for closing the gates had already passed, but now the gates were wide open with numerous officials waiting here. Earlier, Wen Che had sent someone ahead into the city to report that Prince Jing’an’s remains would arrive in the evening.

The matter of reburying Prince Jing’an’s remains was ordered personally by His Majesty, so the civil and military officials at court took it very seriously. They had been busy for many days, and now they had finally waited for this moment!

So these officials had been waiting here early to receive them.

In the deep of night, torches blazed red all around, lanterns held one after another, like the Qing troops entering through the pass.

But having waited until now, there was still no movement. Many people kept craning their heads one after another toward the pitch-black area outside the city gate.

Watching with eager anticipation!

These officials all held prominent positions at court, including Lord He Wei, the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Minister Zhu of the Ministry of Rites, Vice Minister Cai Changkang of the Ministry of Works, Grand Tutor Yi An…

And also General Wen, the Pacification General.

He and the Grand Tutor stood at the very front.

Grand Tutor Yi was already advanced in years, his hair grizzled. He turned his gaze to ask General Wen beside him, “Why aren’t they here yet?”

Having campaigned on battlefields for many years, General Wen somehow wore his court robes as if they were armor. His posture was upright, his expression proud and cold, a pair of eagle-like eyes firmly fixed on the area outside the city as he said, “They should be here soon.”

“It’s been four months going and coming back. I wonder if something happened on the road?”

“Grand Tutor Yi need not worry.”

“It’s not that I’m worried, but His Majesty is concerned.”

“If something truly happened, my son will enter the palace tomorrow to report to His Majesty.”

Grand Tutor Yi was rendered speechless and could only let it drop.

After all, General Wen was a military officer while Grand Tutor Yi was a civil official. No matter how high his rank or how much His Majesty valued him, he still couldn’t match General Wen’s position at court and the tens of thousands of troops under his command.

So naturally, he was at a disadvantage!

The two conversed quietly at the front. Those behind didn’t hear them—everyone was waiting eagerly.

Before long, they heard the sound of horse hooves and wheels grinding over stones.

Fire light flickered in the distance, drawing closer and closer…

Someone shouted, “They’re here!”

They saw a convoy of carriages and horses had reached the city gate. Yi Wei’an, riding at the front, was the first to dismount. Quite a few court officials recognized him, but were surprised to see him here.

Shouldn’t he be in Lingtang Prefecture?

Grand Tutor Yi murmured softly, “Why has General Yi come as well?”

General Wen heard this but didn’t respond. A pair of sharp eyes firmly fixed on Prince Jing’an’s coffin covered with a canopy at the front of the carriage.

Immediately after, the Wen brothers descended from their carriage and walked to the front.

The two walked before their father and the Grand Tutor, cupping their hands. “Grand Tutor, Father.”

General Wen said, “Good that you’re safe and sound.”

“We were delayed somewhat on the road, but we’ve finally transported Prince Jing’an’s remains here.”

“Mm, you need not concern yourselves with the rest. Go have an audience with His Majesty first thing tomorrow morning.”

“Yes!”

The two stepped aside. The elite soldiers behind then came forward and pulled Prince Jing’an’s coffin in through the city gate.

Subsequently, everyone retreated to both sides and knelt in obeisance!

Until the coffin was pulled away, those court ministers followed closely behind.

Wen Che looked back at the carriages still outside the city gate and instructed Shu Tian, “You go make arrangements for Miss Ji and the others. We’ll discuss further after we finish with Prince Jing’an’s matters.”

“Yes!”

The Wen brothers then followed the crowd and walked into the city.

At this moment, Luo Yang sat in the carriage looking at the mass of people ahead, wondering, “Who are those people? Why such a grand display? They’re even kneeling before a coffin. Just what important personage is in that coffin? So many people came to receive them!”

Xiao Ba also craned his neck to look that way, saying in surprise, “Brother, look at them—some are wearing armor, and some are wearing identical clothing.”

Ji Yunshu sat to the side and calmly stated, “Those are official robes!”

Luo Yang’s eyes widened. “Official robes?”

“What? You don’t even recognize official robes?”

“Of course I recognize them!” Luo Yang looked more carefully and indeed they were official robes. He laughed. “So you’re saying that Wen fellow is also an official? Haha, so he really is an important personage after all.”

Ji Yunshu glanced at him and said nothing more.

Luo Yang’s mind was full of schemes! Thinking about it this way, they would have backing in the capital in the future.

Rising to success and prosperity was just around the corner.

However—

Luo Yang noticed that Ji Yunshu didn’t seem surprised at all. He suddenly seemed to understand and asked, “Did you know all along? You kept it from me this whole journey.”

“I thought you knew!”

“I only knew they weren’t insignificant people. How would I know they were… important personages!”

Ji Yunshu said, “Actually, I reminded you many times, but you just didn’t notice.”

“You reminded me?”

“…” Ji Yunshu had hinted many times.

Unfortunately, Luo Yang’s wooden head simply wouldn’t turn corners.

At this moment, Xiao Ba shouted, “Brother, they’ve left.”

Left?

Luo Yang stuck his head out and saw that the Wen brothers had left with that group of people.

“They just left like that? Then what about us? He promised me so many things!”

Anxious now!

He was about to jump down from the carriage when Shu Tian walked over and said, “Luo Yang, my young master has matters to attend to.”

“What? Matters? That Wen fellow promised me that once we reached the capital, he’d give me what I want. He just left like this—what about us?”

Xiao Ba quickly chimed in, “That’s right, you’re not keeping your word!”

Shu Tian’s face darkened, truly at a loss for words. “My young master always keeps his word. Whatever he promises, he will definitely do. It’s just that he has urgent matters at hand right now and can’t attend to you, but he has instructed me to take good care of you.”

Only then did Luo Yang settle down. “That’s good then!”

The success and prosperity within his grasp couldn’t just disappear like this!

Otherwise, what a loss! Having finally caught this big fat sheep, not fleecing it would really be doing a disservice to all his hardships along this journey.