At the beginning of the day, the Sixth Princess's carriage arrived at the Xihe Gate, the central gate in the north.
As Qin Zhaoyue got out of the car, she was greeted by a familiar face.
It was none other than Pei Xueqiao.
I thought that the Ministry of Ceremonies would be able to handle the meeting with the nobles from the border regions, but I never expected that the Crown Prince would also be involved.
Upon approaching, Pei Xueqiao was immediately dazzled by the makeup and attire...
A moment of astonishment flashed by, his heart pounded wildly, but he composed himself and bowed respectfully.
"Sixth Prince."
Pei Xueqiao had seen the Sixth Princess in full regalia before, but this time it was different; she was dignified yet lively.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a tightness in his chest, as if he had something to say.
"Young Master Pei, I heard you got promoted, but I haven't had a chance to congratulate you yet."
Qin Zhaoyue had heard it from Sui Mo; she had moved from the Hanlin Academy to the Department of Ceremonial Affairs, and her official rank had been promoted by half a grade.
The fact that father and son, both holding the fifth rank, were ranked in the same court was probably considered a remarkable story.
"It is all thanks to His Highness the First Prince and His Highness the Sixth Prince; Xueqiao dares not take credit for it."
He made almost no contribution during the first half of the disaster relief efforts.
It was only after Qin Zhaoqiong took charge of Bailu County that she began to handle government affairs alongside him.
Therefore, it is entirely reasonable for His Highness to promote him.
As for the Sixth Prince... without her, I would have been drowned by the flood.
Pei Xueqiao was not alone; he had colleagues and subordinates, but he was the highest-ranking among them.
Originally, she was just the daughter of a border noble with no official rank or grade; a fifth-rank official position would have been more than enough for her.
As for Qin Zhaoyue, she holds no official position, and given her reputation, she's probably just an extra who joins in the fun.
Xiao Pei's colleagues and subordinates all came up to greet him, but there was no intention of exchanging pleasantries.
The Sixth Princess was a participant in the disaster relief efforts and received some gold, jade, and silk as a reward.
He wasn't even granted a princely title, let alone a nominal official position. He didn't participate in court affairs, which shows he was useless.
Anyway, with the superiors busy with social engagements, I'm happy to have some free time.
They were unaware that Pei Xueqiao's words were not merely polite gestures.
The First Prince has shown me kindness, but the Sixth Prince has saved my life.
He was very restrained, and his colleagues felt that he was not familiar with the Sixth Prince.
"Your Highness, the Helian clan from the border arrived near Fengjing last night, so we shouldn't have to wait too long."
Qin Zhaoyue gave a soft "hmm" in response.
Besides her and the Ceremonial Office, there were also Imperial Guards present, who were responsible for the safety of the Helian clan in Fengjing for the foreseeable future.
The leading captain strode forward and gave a proper military salute, "Your Highness."
Qin Zhaoyue glanced at them and recognized them; they must be Imperial Guards who had accompanied the disaster relief team.
After nodding slightly, he asked, "Has your deputy commander reached the fourth rank in cultivation yet?"
"Uh..." The captain was stunned, not expecting the Sixth Prince to ask this question as his first question.
However, it seems they recognized him, otherwise they wouldn't have asked that question.
"Not yet."
Qin Zhaoyue curled her lip, "Tsk, good-for-nothing."
Captain: ...
Qin Zhaoyue was still thinking about making a big deal.
Those at the fifth rank are far from needing that precious herb; only those at the fourth rank have an urgent need and can sell it for a high price.
She didn't know anyone else, so she couldn't very well sell it to Xuanji Guard.
Given Yin Zhe's cunning, he'll probably be heavily pressured to lower the price.
Or should we leave it for the broken ink?
Tsk... that brat is getting bolder and bolder lately, she's practically defying the heavens.
Leave it to her? Tui!
We'll see. Anyway, that thing can save lives and improve cultivation, so it won't expire.
Pei Xueqiao's gaze darkened.
The fact that the Sixth Prince would take the initiative to inquire about Meng Jian's cultivation level made me feel a little bitter.
According to her attendants, Miss Suimo thought he was still working at the Hanlin Academy, a lowly and insignificant department, which is why she waited so long when she came to visit.
Could it be that the Sixth Prince has really taken a liking to that commander?
Impossible! He comes from the Meng family, absolutely impossible!
The captain retreated, and his colleague nudged him, leaning closer to whisper, "Why are you getting involved?"
Their Imperial Guards only need to be loyal to His Majesty; they don't need to worry about anything else, nor will they participate in factional struggles.
Besides, she's just a good-for-nothing sixth princess; there's absolutely no need for her to put on a show.
The captain glared at him warningly, "You don't know anything."
The Sixth Prince is not at all like the rumors circulating in Fengjing City.
If one is ignorant, incompetent, absurd, and immoral, how could one risk treating the sick and suffering people from disasters?
She managed to save two or three tenths of a life that even the imperial physicians were unwilling to intervene in.
Furthermore, when the dike in Longmen County breached, it was this same person who, clad in the armor of a prince, presided over the disaster relief efforts.
It's just a mask covering its face, but its voice doesn't lie.
He still can't forget the kneeling ceremony performed by the senior doctor in the critically ill patient ward, and the figure of him personally wading through the water to move timber on the high slope after the dam broke.
Although they didn't achieve much in the second half, their contributions shouldn't be ignored.
Upon returning to the capital, the Sixth Prince did not bestow any respectable reward upon him.
To be honest, he was resentful.
He didn't take the Azure Phoenix Guards he was given as a reward seriously, since even the Crown Prince didn't have any of them.
It is estimated that they were previously assassinated and are temporarily housed in the Sixth Princess's residence.
With the Sixth Prince's merits, he doesn't deserve to be a Prince; at the very least, he should be given a nominal position.
I had previously probed the deputy commander, but he remained tight-lipped.
Other colleagues who witnessed it were also silenced, so the story did not spread.
If the Sixth Prince is truly as rumored, he will probably make a big fuss about it so that the entire court knows.
But this matter was never mentioned again, and it just passed by uneventfully.
The captain couldn't understand it, and being of low status, he didn't want to delve into it further.
When I stepped forward to pay my respects, it wasn't out of respect for the Sixth Princess's status, but simply because of what she had done in the disaster area.
Before long, more than a hundred riders escorted the two carriages straight to the north gate.
Cavalrymen are nothing unusual; they are often seen during troop rotations or on official business.
However, the carriage in the middle was clearly not of the Central Plains style; its frame was much larger than that of an ordinary carriage.
The frame is made of black rosewood, and the octagonal gilded roof is covered with yak hide.
The head of the chariot shaft is cast in the shape of a wolf devouring a crescent moon, and the lamp hanging in front of the chariot is not an ordinary glass lamp, but a bronze-cast antelope head with spiral horns.
Each of the six corners of the eaves is adorned with a whistling arrow, which sounds like a lone goose crying in the night when the wind blows, giving the whole piece an undisguised ferocious and menacing feel.
"They're here."
Anyone could tell that this was a convoy from the northwestern frontier.
They were not moving fast, with cavalrymen ahead to warn the surrounding civilians to make way.
Upon approaching, the leading soldier dismounted.
"This humble servant is Cui Jiu, the brigade commander of the 2nd Regiment of the Xuanwu Reserve Army and the Garrison Battalion."
Qin Zhaoyue raised an eyebrow. This military general was robust and must be at least 1.85 meters tall. She sensed a sharp and angular presence about him.
The next moment, a figure stepped forward, blocking her view...
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