Before they knew it, a night had passed. After packing up, Xu Jinhuan and the others left the inn and headed towards the prefectural capital.

"Boss, we're almost there. We need to change our clothes," Xie Datou said, turning to Xu Jinhuan inside the carriage.

Xu Jinhuan pulled back the carriage curtain and said to Xie Datou, "Datou, let's find a place to stop and change back into our tattered clothes."

Before long, the exiles stopped and began to change their clothes. Some even smeared dirt on their faces to make it look more convincing.

Xu Jinhuan nodded in satisfaction and said to everyone, "To avoid revealing our special status, we will have to travel on foot for the rest of the journey. I will pack up the carriage first."

As for these horses, Ma Wencai, you're not part of the exile group, so you don't need to come into the city with us. You can stay outside the city and take care of them. We'll come find you after this is all settled.”

Ma Wencai smiled and agreed, "Boss, don't worry, I will take good care of these horses."

Xu Jinhuan smiled and nodded at him, then looked at Xie Datou and the others who had changed back into their constable uniforms.

"Let's go."

Thus, hundreds of exiles appeared on the road to the prefectural capital. Led by constables, they quickly arrived at the city gate.

Xie Datou, as the person in charge of this exile mission, handed over the imperial edict and documents he carried with him to the guards of the prefecture and explained his purpose.

"What did you say? These are all exiled?" The city guard looked at the large force behind Xie Datou in surprise.

Putting aside the fact that they are thousands of miles away from the capital, just consider these recent natural disasters, each one of them is massive. How did these exiled people manage to get through them?!

Could it be that the constable leading the group is a legendary imperial guard?

The guards quickly dismissed the idea. How could the emperor be so foolish as to send top imperial guards to protect the families of a group of disgraced officials?

"Wait here for a moment, I'll go report," the city guard said, then turned and ran off.

The plump aunt looked at Xu Jinhuan with some concern, "Jinhuan, why don't the guards let us go in directly? We haven't done anything wrong."

After a moment's thought, Xu Jinhuan understood the key point and gently comforted her.

"It's alright, Auntie. It's probably because we're all alive and well that the guard was so surprised."

The plump auntie said with a sigh, "That's true. After all, not every exile group is as lucky as us to have met Jin Huan."

As the two were talking, the guard led out a young man in armor. "Deputy General Lin, these are the people who have been exiled here."

The gaze of the man called Deputy General Lin swept over the exiled people one by one, finally settling on the group of men.

"It's barely usable, I suppose. With more training, it could be used in battle." Deputy General Lin said vaguely.

Then, he walked up to Xie Datou with a smile.

"We live in a remote border town, and the guards are all locals who have never seen anything like this before, so they are making a fuss over nothing. Please forgive us, brothers from the capital."

Xie Datou smiled and shook his head. "That young man was just doing his job, and I certainly won't blame him. I just wonder if I can take them into the city now?"

Deputy General Lin smiled and nodded, "Of course. I happen to have nothing to do right now, so I'll take you to the government office as a way of expressing my apologies."

Xie Datou naturally couldn't refuse his kindness, and led the exile team to follow behind Deputy General Lin.

In a fleeting moment as he turned his head, he exchanged a glance with Xu Jinhuan. Seeing that his boss nodded at him, Xie Datou finally felt reassured.

Before long, the group arrived at the place to change their household registration.

The minor official in charge of household registration was taking a nap with his eyes closed. Upon hearing the sound, he subconsciously began to quote prices.

"The fee for each person settling in the prefecture is six taels of silver, for each person in the surrounding county towns it is three taels of silver, for each person in the surrounding villages it is six qian of silver, and for each person in the border villages it is three qian of silver."

Deputy General Lin's face grew increasingly dark. He said coldly, "I never knew you were in charge of this prefecture if I hadn't come here before?"

Upon hearing the cold voice, the junior official instinctively opened his eyes. "Lin... Deputy General Lin?"

After a moment of surprise, a sly glint flashed in the official's eyes, and he said with a smile.

"What brings you here? I was a little drowsy just now and made a mistake with the amount of money. Please don't take offense."

Deputy General Lin snorted coldly, "If I catch you taking money illegally again, even if your sister is the general's concubine, I will deal with you myself."

Upon hearing this, the minor official smiled obsequiously, but his eyes were full of smugness. He bowed and said, "Yes, I will certainly not do it again."

Deputy General Lin pointed to the crowd behind him and said, "Help them register their residency."

The junior official looked at the huge crowd with some surprise, then felt a pang of heartache. With so many people, how much money would he lose today? It was all because of that ungrateful Deputy General Lin.

Hmph, tomorrow he'll go to his sister and complain, and have her whisper in his ear to get that Lin deputy general, whose temper is worse than a latrine, kicked out of the military camp.

Although he wished he could kill Deputy General Lin on the spot, the minor official could only smile and say to the people in line.

"It costs three taels of silver per person to settle in the prefectural capital, one tael of silver per person in the surrounding counties, and three qian of silver per person in the surrounding villages. If you choose a border village, you don't have to pay anything. Where would you like to settle?"

After hearing his revised price, Xu Jinhuan's lips twitched. Even a minor official dared to embezzle half of what was clearly priced, which showed how favored his sister was in the general's mansion.

As she thought this, she stepped forward and said, "Blackfish Village on the border."

Upon hearing this, the official gave Xu Jinhuan a disdainful look, his expression clearly suggesting he was about to utter the word "poor wretch."

"Name."

Xu Jinhuan said calmly, "Xu Jinhuan, the same as Xu Wuxu, means 'enjoy life to the fullest when you're successful.'"

After registering Xu Jinhuan's personal information, Xu Jinhuan left the group and walked to the side.

Upon hearing this, Deputy General Lin glanced at Xu Jinhuan with some curiosity and murmured, "One should enjoy life to the fullest when things are going well; this poem truly shows great magnanimity!"

Then, he looked at Xie Datou and asked in a low voice, "Could this be your talented woman who is renowned for her poetry in the capital? She truly lives up to her reputation."

Not only was she a talented poet, but she was also exceptionally beautiful. Was she ever married? Judging from her lack of a traditional married hairstyle, she probably wasn't.

Xie Datou looked at Deputy General Lin, who was asking and answering his own questions. He was a man too, so he naturally noticed the interest in the other man's eyes.

Xie Datou sighed helplessly. Why couldn't he just live a normal life? He had to fall for the boss. He had to admit that his boss was indeed very beautiful, but her fighting skills were no joke either.

He had a feeling that if Deputy General Lin really expressed his feelings for the boss, he would probably only get a beating in return.