Ning Chen, full of food and drink, rode his beloved Diaochan to the Inspectorate, her hooves going clop, clop, clop.

He had ridden back to the capital by eight-hundred-li express, and Diaochan had come home with the Ning'an Army.

When the Ning'an Army got back to the capital they had sent Diaochan on to the Ning residence.

He came to the first department, and the moment he stepped into the courtyard he heard weapons meeting.

Two figures were leaping and turning.

It was Yue Congyun and Gao Ziping, sparring.

The rest of the livestock stood watching, and every so often a burst of cheering broke out.

Ning Chen watched from the gateway a while.

He had seen what Yue Congyun could do on the road back to the capital. Her spear work was handed down in her family, and it was very good indeed.

Ning Chen coughed once and went in.

The livestock of the first department saw Ning Chen, were taken aback for a moment, and then came crowding around him in a rush.

"We greet my lord prince!"

When they had made their bows they looked at Ning Chen with expectation on every face.

Ning Chen knew perfectly well what the livestock were waiting for.

He fished out a silver note and tossed it over. "The courtesans' quarter tonight. It is on me."

The pack of livestock let out a cheer.

"Thank you, my lord prince!"

"My lord prince, how are your wounds?"

"Nothing much wrong with them now."

Yue Congyun and Gao Ziping had stopped too, and came over to make their bows.

When he had talked with the whole crowd a while, Ning Chen's eyes settled on Yue Congyun. "How are your wounds?"

"Thank you for my lord prince's concern. They are very nearly mended."

As she said it she took the bundle off her back and held it up in both hands. "My lord prince, the thing was escorted back to the capital safely. Please look it over, my lord prince."

Ning Chen took the bundle. There was a box inside it.

He opened the…