Mu Yuanxiu sneered coldly, "It’s her!"

Xiao Shan looked at him, surprised, and asked, "Brother Mu, judging by your expression, do you also recognize the Beiyang Empress Dowager?"

Mu Yuanxiu smiled coldly, "Empress Dowager Hui, I’ve heard about her and would like to meet her."

Xiao Shan shook his head, "Seeing from afar is fine; she’s a beautiful but venomous woman. If you approach her to pay respects, Brother Mu, you might lose your life."

Mu Yuanxiu remained noncommittal, "Yuanxiu remembers Brother Xiao’s words."

.

Mu Yuanxiu was still thinking about Baili Mansion in Liangzhou City.

He and his ten subordinates did not rest in Sky Wolf Village. After dinner, they hurried overnight to Liangzhou City.

Xiao Shan, accompanied by several main stewards, greeted them at the village gate with torches.

Once Mu Yuanxiu’s group had gone far, a competent assistant next to Xiao Shan spoke, "Boss, this Mu Yuanxiu has changed quite a bit compared to seven years ago; he’s grown even more handsome. Honestly, it’s the first time I’ve seen a man look this good."

Another person said, "Indeed, he was only a young boy back in the day, and now he truly looks like a man. It makes a rough guy like me envious, and several women in the village are praising him."

Xiao Shan raised an eyebrow, "You all are acting like those women, fixated on Mu Yuanxiu’s looks! Haven’t you noticed the ten guards around him?"

One person said, "Boss, I noticed; those guards are well-equipped and certainly not ordinary people."

Xiao Shan narrowed his eyes, "They speak in Capital dialect and are extremely respectful towards Mu Yuanxiu, always calling him ’master.’ I think Mu Yuanxiu must be a high-ranking official in the Capital."

His nearby aide slapped his thigh, "Oh, boss, why didn’t you say so earlier? We didn’t even make an effort to build closer ties with him."

Xiao Shan glared at them, "Mu Yuanxiu wouldn’t disclose his real identity. If we keep asking, wouldn’t that just annoy him?"

Someone said, "Boss, we just regret not befriending him better, not really aiming to pry it out."

Xiao Shan said, "Wait for it, Mu Yuanxiu will definitely come to us for help." He stroked his chin thoughtfully, "This Mu Yuanxiu is too peculiar. He knows me, recognizes the Beiyang General Lang Feihua we captured together seven years ago, and seems familiar with the Beiyang Empress Dowager. Now he’s an official in Zhao Country Capital and knows people from Baili Mansion. His identity is definitely not simple!"

.

Sky Wolf Village was less than twenty li away from Liangzhou City’s outer gate.

Mu Yuanxiu and his group had sturdy warhorses, adept at long-distance travel.

The journey of over ten li took less than half an hour.

With border conflicts occurring, the city gates were tightly shut.

On the gates, guards stood every few steps, wielding long blades.

Though there was no moon at night, the snow reflected enough light for those on the gate tower to clearly see someone approaching the gates.

A guard shouted, "Intruders are approaching, archers ready!"

A guard next to Mu Yuanxiu called out loudly, "Capital reinforcements have arrived, open the gates immediately, our General wishes to see Lord Baili. Here is the passage token!"

Another guard lit a firestarter, illuminating the torch.

The torchlight shone on the travel document held by the guard.

It also revealed the troop deployment token in Mu Yuanxiu’s hand.

The guards on the tower put away their bows and arrows, and went to report to the garrison commander.

Soon after, the garrison commander came with others to open the gates.

Mu Yuanxiu and his eleven companions spurred their horses and entered the city.

The garrison commander here was once a gate soldier in the area.

He recognized Mu Yuanxiu.

"So it’s Mr. Mu. I didn’t expect that after seven years, you’d have risen to become a General. Congratulations on your promotion, General Mu."

Mu Yuanxiu also vaguely remembered the soldier with a black mole on his face.

He smiled slightly, "You’ve been promoted too."

"Heh, I can’t compare with General Mu."

.

Entering the city, Mu Yuanxiu, accompanied by ten guards, headed straight to Baili Mansion.

During the wartime curfew, aside from occasional patrolling soldiers, no one else was present.

Almost all shops were closed tightly.

The occasional dog barking at night in the cold and snowy ambiance sounded desolate and grim.

Soon, they arrived in front of Baili Mansion.

Baili Mansion was different from other mansions.

Although the main gates were shut tight, many lights could be seen from afar inside the mansion.

A bright lantern was lit atop a two-floor pavilion within the mansion.

A guard stepped forward and knocked on the gate.

After a short while, someone behind the gate asked, "Who?"

"The commanding officer of reinforcements from the Capital! Wishes to see Lord Baili Xuanwei Envoy."

The guard spoke in official Capital dialect.