Yan Qinghe frowned deeply, his eyes flashing with a stormy atmosphere.

"What did Qi Yuan say?"

The messenger told him everything he had found out: "Lord Qi and the Grand Preceptor fought desperately to protect him, but the giant serpent was personally slain by His Majesty."

"This humble servant has examined the corpse of the giant snake at the Imperial Hospital and the Ministry of Works; it was several feet long."

A giant snake?

Yan Qinghe looked at the two curved objects on the table; these were the fangs of the giant snake!

What does Your Majesty mean by this?

Yan Qinghe's heart suddenly pounded.

His Majesty gave her spoils of war to himself, didn't he?

Yan Qinghe waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave.

Put the two large snake fangs back into the envelope and tuck them under the pillow.

He casually took out the scroll, carefully unfurled it, and fell into deep thought as he gazed at the person in the painting.

Will he be able to return to the capital and see His Majesty again in his lifetime?

...However, with the current severe drought, the surrounding countries are sure to be eager to take advantage of the situation in Qing Kingdom. What he needs to do is to guard the border.

These thoughts had to be suppressed for the time being.

Today is March 3rd.

The Shangsi Festival.

Murong Yue had already heard about it.

The human base operates on a yearly basis, and there are many festivals throughout the year.

The Lantern Festival, the Shangsi Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Qixi Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Double Ninth Festival, the Winter Solstice, and the Lunar New Year.

Moreover, during holidays, people go out to play and don't have to work!

Oh, right, everyone also has their own birthday.

She used to think it was nice not to be human, but after learning about so many holidays, she realized that being human isn't so bad either.

"Do I have a birthday too?"

Murong Yue rubbed her eyes, her vision blurred by a calendar hanging on the wall.

The good news is that, thanks to the calendar, she can now count to thirty.

Ah Hao replied with a smile, "Of course His Majesty also has a birthday, the tenth day of the fifth month, a day of celebration for all under heaven."

Oh, oh, oh.

Murong Yue leaned closer to the calendar and began searching for her birth date.

That means there are still two months left!

It will be soon.

I hope to see my mother on my birthday.

"Okay, let's take the pill."

It's a holiday, why is she still studying?

He rushed to Qi Yuan's duty station with Ah Hao, shouting, "Lord Qi, let's go!"

As the chief examiner for this imperial examination, Qi Yuan would normally be required to stay in the palace and avoid going out.

But since he still had cases on his hands, an exception was made.

Lately, we've been busy arresting Yun people in the capital. Those who are doing business or living normally are fine; the main concern is those who seem suspicious.

The Grand Preceptor said that the giant snakes from the last spring hunt were only found in the Yun Kingdom.

Moreover, a snake that big couldn't possibly have reached the capital region silently.

Because Yan Huan Mountain is outside the capital, the giant snake didn't need to enter the city, which is why it wasn't discovered.

But even a wild goose leaves a trace, and there will always be some clues left behind.

He is meticulously sorting through the clues, peeling back layers to find all these people.

Furthermore, they have made connections with the people who framed Zhang Yuqing last time.

However, the trail went cold near the capital.

Upon seeing His Majesty, he stepped forward to pay his respects, and then looked at Ah Hao.

Ah Hao rolled her eyes at him twice.

Why are you looking at me when His Majesty calls you?

"Lord Qi, His Majesty is leaving the city. I would be grateful if you could take some men and accompany him."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Don't worry, Miss Hao, I will definitely protect His Majesty and you."

Qi Yuan's expression was serious and solemn. Although A Hao felt that something was off about what he said, she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

After changing into casual clothes, Murong Yue headed straight for Chang Le Street, familiar with the area.

Pushing through the crowd, I skillfully found an old man's butcher shop.

"Boss, two jin, donkey meat."

"Two...five...no, ten baked buns, extra spicy!"

Murong Yue can now order her own food.

She loved this donkey meat sandwich; when she got tired of the food in the palace, she would miss Ma's donkey meat sandwich.

Ah Hao got one, Qi Yuan got one, and the five guards accompanying them each got one.

Then I'll eat three myself.

There shouldn't be any miscounting.

Next came the time to watch the excitement, but her kind of excitement was different from others.

Everyone else was watching the acrobatic performances at the temple fair.

Those were no challenge for her at all.

She loves watching two kinds of excitement: fighting and haggling.

Unfortunately, fighting is all about luck, and with Qi Yuan in plain clothes by his side, a single glance from the Imperial Guards was enough to resolve the battle.

She didn't have the chance to take a few more glances.

That's bargaining.

She doesn't go to beautifully decorated shops, because the customers there never haggle.

She liked to go to shops that sold items to ordinary people.

For example, right now.

She and Ah Hao squatted in front of a fabric store, completely unrefined. The store was wide open, and rows of fabrics were displayed inside the counter.

Qi Yuan glanced at it.

They were all made of coarse linen, and the colors were the colors that ordinary people loved.

Inside the hall was a plump middle-aged woman and a shopkeeper, but no waiters.

After confirming there was no danger, Qi Yuan stood behind Murong Yue and A Hao to protect them.

The plump aunt said, "This is too expensive. Two qian of silver for five feet, while other families charge six feet."

Shopkeeper: "Our fabrics are all high-quality goods from the east. They'll stay in good condition no matter how many times you wash them, so please don't try to bargain."

"I'm not selling it if you try to lower the price any further."

The plump auntie said, "Tsk, you can't do business like this."

"In this way, half a tael of silver for fifteen feet, you won't lose out."

The shop owner scratched his head, looking impatient, while deftly cutting fabric. "Sell, sell, sell! Don't come again next time, I really can't make money with you like this."

"Look closely, it's fifteen feet, not a bit less."

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!