Chapter 209.2

Now, with the title of commander, he was undoubtedly one of the new emperor’s most trusted aides and a prominent figure in the court.

Xiao Jirou had just gotten into the carriage, her mind still pondering over the questions asked by Yaoniang, when suddenly someone knocked on the window.

She lifted the curtain and looked out, coming face to face with Qing Wang’s refined countenance.

Qing Wang had become thinner than before, and his face showed a resolute determination.

Indeed, one’s state of mind can influence one’s appearance. Previously, Qing Wang was handsome and cheerful, but his face revealed a hint of immaturity. Now, it seemed as though he had sharpened all the roundness, giving his features a sharper and more mature appearance.

No one knew how much hardship Qing Wang endured at the Yanshan Imperial Mausoleum. Emperor Jin’an was not a merciful man; once he made up his mind to temper Qing Wang, he wouldn’t show any mercy.

So, when Qing Wang first arrived at Yanshan, he genuinely thought he might spend his whole life in this desolate and remote place, never to return.

Everywhere he looked, there were stones covering the mountains, which were desolate and devoid of people. At night, the place was even more eerie with faraway howls of wolves. There was also only a single lamp, which could drive people to madness.

Fortunately, at that time, Qing Wang was immersed in boundless remorse, leaving no spare attention to these matters.

Later, when he finally gathered his spirits, he remembered what Jin Wang had told him and began to observe the garrison stationed at the imperial mausoleum.

Unlike other garrisons, the Yanshan Imperial Mausoleum garrison was isolated in the mountains, with no nearby human habitation. The soldiers and officers there seemed to have been contaminated by the atmosphere of the place, as they appeared cold and rigid like stone statues.

In this place, no one looked at Qing Wang with disdain, nor did they pay any attention to him. If it were an ordinary person, they wouldn’t be able to endure such disregard and indifference, but that was precisely what Qing Wang needed.

With Jin Wang’s prior arrangements, Qing Wang disguised himself as an ordinary soldier and joined the garrison. Once he was truly integrated into the garrison, he discovered that this place was unique.

Because there were no nearby settlements, just mountains and stones, the garrison soldiers had nothing to distract them from their daily drills. They practiced for five hours each day, engaging in various types of warfare: mountain battles, plain battles, siege battles, even street fights, and monthly competitions in which the entire army participated. Winners would advance, and losers would be demoted. Everything was based on strength.

When Qing Wang first arrived, he was self-confident, believing that with his martial skills and experience in leading troops, he wouldn’t have to pay much attention to these people. But it wasn’t until he was mercilessly subdued during one of the competitions by a soldier shorter than him that he realized how there would always be someone better.

From that moment on, he changed his attitude. From losing to winning, he gradually climbed the ranks from a low-ranking soldier to leading small units, then entire units, until he became the deputy commander of the garrison.

Above him was the commander, the soul of the entire Yanshan Imperial Mausoleum garrison – an old man who had lost one of his legs. The old man was very aged, and the uniqueness of the Yanshan garrison was largely attributed to him.

Only at this point did Qing Wang learn that the old man was a person of Jin Wang. When Jin Wang had come to Yanshan, he was brought here by Duke Ningguo. Jin Wang had spent half a year here and came out a completely changed person.

That year, Jin Wang was fifteen years old.

Qing Wang reminisced, what was he doing back then?

It seemed that he was worrying about how to deal with Yong Wang and Lu Wang if they caused trouble for him after his fifth brother left the palace. He immersed himself in self-pity and felt lowly and pathetic.

Only at this moment did he understand that he had always thought of his fifth brother as being superior to him since birth, having a good mother and a powerful maternal family, and an uncle who could be a great general.

Princes of high-ranking maternal families were always privileged.

Now he realized how ridiculous that notion was. No one was naturally entitled to everything; you must have the ability to grasp what the heavens gave you.

…

“Do you need something?” Xiao Jirou asked from inside the carriage.

“I’ll escort you back home,” replied Qing Wang.

Tall and imposing, dressed in royal attire, mounted on a majestic steed bestowed by the emperor, Qing Wang looked awe-inspiring and extraordinary. But at this moment, he was half-bent and awkwardly standing next to the Xiao Family’s horse-drawn carriage, which was clearly incomparable to the carriages from the princes’ manors. It was quite a sight, and people couldn’t help but sigh.

Xiao Jirou knew very well how popular Qing Wang was in the capital. The various men from the Xiao Family held official positions in the court, both civil and military, so naturally, they had heard a lot about it.

Although the men of her family didn’t say anything, her two sisters-in-law couldn’t help but whisper to her. They said she was silly, as it was clear she wouldn’t have to worry about wealth and prosperity for the rest of her life. Qing Wang was genuinely repentant, so there was no need to dwell on the past.

Was she still stuck in the past?

Xiao Jirou didn’t know. She didn’t even understand her own thoughts.

“There’s no need. Qing Wang, you are a busy man and have many matters to attend to. A humble woman like me can go back on her own,” she said.

“Jirou…”

“Return to the manor.”

Upon hearing the urging, the coachman of the Xiao Family didn’t dare to delay any longer and drove the carriage away.

The carriage had already gone far, and Xiao Jirou’s personal maidservant, Qiong’er, suddenly said, “Consort, the prince is still following behind the carriage.”

“I’ve told you many times not to call me ‘consort’ anymore.”

“But…”

“I’m no longer a consort; I haven’t been for a long time. Ever since his return, I am no longer a consort.”