The next morning.
The rain had cleared, and the morning light was faint.
Inside the west wing room.
Jiang Yuechu slowly opened her eyes.
After a night of meditation, the surging True Qi within her body had completely stabilized.
She called for her two young maids.
Soon.
A maid named Cuier entered carrying a copper basin, followed by Hongxiu, who held a red sandalwood tray.
"Is Lord Jiang awake?"
Cuier set down the copper basin and nimbly wrung out a cloth to hand to her.
Jiang Yuechu took it, wiped her face haphazardly, and let her gaze fall upon the tray.
It was not the chest-high ru-skirt popular in the Great Tang, nor was it the martial attire she usually wore.
Instead, it was a Suzhou-embroidered Yuehua brocade shirt with a pleated Ruyi moon skirt at the hem.
It was a soft, elegant lake blue, embroidered with silver thread depicting a few slanted branches of winter plum.
It was certainly beautiful.
But this thing... how was she supposed to wear it?
Jiang Yuechu frowned slightly. "Isn't there anything... more practical?"
Trousers would work too.
With these layers upon layers of skirt hem, if she had to fight, wouldn't she be tying her own hands and feet?
Cuier looked troubled and said cautiously, "Reporting to Lord Jiang, this is the plainest clothing in the residence."
"Our Young Miss prefers quiet over activity and loves reading poetry and books, so the residence... does not have martial training attire for women."
As she spoke, the young maid stole a glance at Jiang Yuechu's expression.
"If Lord Jiang dislikes it, this servant will have someone go to the clothing store to buy one now, but it is too early, and the shops likely haven't opened yet..."
Jiang Yuechu sighed.
That was true.
Although the Yue family was a family of military generals, their daughter didn't necessarily have to wield swords and guns.
Her own Silver Robe had been tattered last night; she couldn't keep wearing that.
"Forget it."
Jiang Yuechu waved her hand, looking helpless.
"Let's go with this."
She would make do for now and find a shop on the street later to buy some practical gear.
The two maids helped her change.
Once she was dressed, both Cuier and Hongxiu's eyes lit up, and they couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.
"Lord Jiang... you truly are like a celestial being."
Yesterday, they had seen Jiang Yuechu wearing her Silver Robe, looking full of Evil Qi.
Now, having changed into this feminine dress, her cold and aloof temperament was accentuated by the soft fabric, giving her an even more ethereal air.
Jiang Yuechu didn't feel much about this.
She only felt that the sleeves were a bit too wide and she was afraid to take long strides while walking.
She pushed the door open and stepped out.
On the corridor, Xie Tinglan had been waiting for a long time.
This young Brigade Commander was standing with his back to the door, lost in thought.
Hearing the movement behind him, he turned around quickly.
"Lord Jiang, did you sleep well last—"
His voice came to an abrupt halt.
The young girl before him had hair like a waterfall, casually held up by a single silver hairpin.
She wore a lake-blue Yuehua dress that swayed slightly with the morning breeze.
Her waist was slender, and her skin was as white as snow.
If not for those familiar eyes, Xie Tinglan would have thought this was a young lady from a prominent and wealthy family.
Jiang Yuechu glanced at him, expressionless.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Xie Tinglan jolted, coming back to his senses, a flush rising on his handsome face.
"You look beautiful..."
"Hmm?"
Xie Tinglan realized what he had said and wanted to slap himself.
How could he be so reckless? What a loss of decorum!
He quickly lowered his head and cupped his hands in a salute to hide his embarrassment.
"That... General Yue has prepared breakfast in the hall and specifically ordered This subordinate to invite you, Lord Jiang."
Jiang Yuechu didn't mind his lapse in composure and strode past him.
"Good, I'm hungry too. I hope the breakfast here in the County isn't like that west lake vinegar fish..."
In the Yue residence's floral hall, the round table was filled with various breakfast dishes.
The crab roe soup dumplings had thin skins and large fillings, steaming hot; the Pian'er Chuan noodles had a rich broth with fresh, tender bamboo shoots; there were also several plates of delicate Dingsheng cakes and scallion-wrapped fritters.
Yue Huaiyuan was not wearing armor, dressed only in a loose robe, sitting imposingly in the main seat.
Beside him sat a gentle, middle-aged Woman, who must be Lady Yue.
On the other side was a young girl of about ten or so years, blinking her big eyes and looking curiously toward the door.
"She's here!"
Seeing Jiang Yuechu enter the door, Yue Huaiyuan laughed heartily and stood up to welcome her.
"Lord Jiang, how did you rest last night?"
Jiang Yuechu nodded: "It was acceptable."
Lady Yue also stood up, looking at Jiang Yuechu with a face full of smiles, her eyes filled with admiration.
"So this is Lord Jiang? I heard Old Yue muttering all night about an incredible female Inspector Envoy who had arrived. Seeing you today, you truly are a heroine who does not yield to men."
"This outfit fits you well. I made it for Wan'er a year ago, but she complained the color was too plain and kept it at the bottom of the chest. I never expected it would look so beautiful on you, Lord Jiang."
The Yue girl to the side looked away unnaturally, her face flushing red.
Although Jiang Yuechu didn't blink when killing demons, she was somewhat unaccustomed to such warm, domestic hospitality.
She nodded slightly as a return gesture.
"You flatter me, Madam."
Everyone took their seats.
Yue Huaiyuan clearly did not treat Jiang Yuechu as an outsider and didn't bother with rules like not speaking while eating.
While inviting Jiang Yuechu to eat the crab roe dumplings, he chatted casually.
"The breakfast here in the County focuses on freshness. Lord Jiang, please taste it. If you aren't used to it, I will have someone change it."
Jiang Yuechu picked up a soup dumpling and took a small bite.
The broth overflowed, filling her mouth with fresh fragrance.
It was indeed good.
"Thank you for the hospitality, General. The taste is excellent."
The meal went quite harmoniously.
Lady Yue occasionally served dishes to Jiang Yuechu, her words full of concern, as if she were truly hosting her own Junior.
Only Xie Tinglan buried his head in his food, looking only at his nose and heart, afraid of losing his composure again.
After the meal, the maids cleared the bowls and chopsticks and served fragrant tea.
Lady Yue was very tactful, taking her daughter and retreating first, leaving the floral hall to the three people who needed to discuss official business.
The tea aroma curled in the air.
Jiang Yuechu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and got straight to the point.
"General Yue, since the trouble in the County has been resolved, I should set off."
Yue Huaiyuan was taken aback: "So urgent? Why not stay for a few more days?"
"No."
Jiang Yuechu put down her teacup and looked outside the hall.
"There are nineteen commanderies in the Region East of the River, and all of them are in dire straits."
"Since I have accepted the imperial order and received the Silver Robe, I cannot indulge in comfort here."
Her words were righteous and solemn.
In reality, calculating the days, the other Inspectors should be arriving soon.
If she didn't hurry to farm monsters, the damn monsters would all be farmed by her teammates.
Beside her, Xie Tinglan heard this, put down his teacup, and opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something.
"Lord Jiang, actually..."
"That's enough."
Yue Huaiyuan suddenly spoke, interrupting Xie Tinglan.
He looked at Jiang Yuechu, a flash of complexity in his eyes, which then turned into a hearty smile.
"Lord Jiang, I, Old Yue, admire your dedication."
"However..."
Yue Huaiyuan leaned back against his chair, his tone relaxing a bit.
"You shouldn't push yourself too hard."
"Early this morning, news arrived from the Dusi."
"The other batches of Inspector Envoys dispatched from the capital by the General Bureau have already arrived in the various commanderies of the Region East of the River one after another last night."
"Not only that, but several golden robe lords who have been traveling outside for years have also heard the news and are rushing here."
Jiang Yuechu paused.
They had arrived?
"You mean... others have already gone to the other commanderies?"
"Exactly."
Yue Huaiyuan nodded and said earnestly: "Girl, you have traveled south, first resolving the siege of the City, and then slaying the great demon of the County. This achievement is already enough."
"You have been running continuously for so many days; even an iron body couldn't withstand it."
"This mess in the Region East of the River is not something you can clean up all by yourself."
Jiang Yuechu was silent.
Since everyone had arrived, didn't that mean... the monsters were going to be stolen?
How could that be allowed?
"Since that is the case..."
Jiang Yuechu stood up, smoothed her skirt, and her expression returned to its usual coldness.
"Then I will go to the places where no one has gone yet."
"Even if it's a remote village County, as long as there are demons, that is where I will go."
Yue Huaiyuan: "..."
Xie Tinglan: "..."