I've Got This Cannon Fodder Trope Covered!

Chapter 11

Jiangnan, Xuzhou.

It was late morning, and the spring sun shone brightly. The gentle breeze of early March carried the scent of crabapple blossoms through the open window.

Inside the room, a man pressed an official seal onto a document. Footsteps approached, and soon, a man dressed as a guard entered, kneeling to pay his respects, "Your Highness."

Xiao Junzhan didn't lift his head and simply said, "Rise."

The guard stood, bowed, and reported, "Your Highness, I have investigated thoroughly. The young lady in question is from the Zhongyong Marquis household, the daughter of Wei Heng from the second branch. She is the ninth in the family. Wei Heng's wife is the eldest legitimate daughter of Lord Jiang. Miss Wei was raised in her maternal grandfather's house and recently returned to the capital."

"She's already returned to the capital..."

Xiao Junzhan paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Ninth Miss Wei."

The guard was taken aback.

Xiao Junzhan continued, "If there is nothing more, you may leave."

"There is one more thing," the guard bowed again. "The Governor of Xuzhou, Lord Gu, is waiting outside and requests an audience."

"Let him in."

The guard acknowledged the order and left. Soon after, a middle-aged man in his forties with a square face entered the room. Upon entering, he knelt and greeted, "Your humble servant Gu Xulin pays respects to Your Highness. May Your Highness be in good health."

"Rise," Xiao Junzhan said. "What brings you here, Lord Gu?"

"There is a matter I cannot decide," Gu Xulin began. "Jiang Zixiu has committed a serious crime. According to the law, the entire Jiang family, young and old, should be escorted to the capital to stand trial. However, Lord Jiang is an official who has served under two emperors and is now advanced in years..."

Before Gu Xulin could finish, Xiao Junzhan had already understood. He responded, "Make sure the journey is handled carefully. The case has not yet been judged, and there must be no deaths along the way."

"Yes!" Gu Xulin's anxious expression softened. Just as he was about to take his leave, the Crown Prince spoke again from his seat, "Apart from Jiang Zixiu's immediate family, the rest of the Jiang family need not be shackled."

Gu Xulin was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, "Understood."

Inwardly, he thought this was a great mercy. Who would have thought that after all these years in retirement, Lord Jiang would still be remembered by the Crown Prince?

...

The atmosphere in the capital was more open than in Jiangnan. After confirming that Wei Hanzhang could ride, Wei Hanshuang, who had been showing her around the marquis' residence for the past few days, headed straight for the stables.

"Come on, the weather is so nice today; let's go for a spring outing in the countryside!"

Wei Hanshuang led over a gentle mare and, watching Wei Hanzhang effortlessly mount, smiled, "Look at you! Your riding skills must be quite good. Today, I'll introduce you to a few more sisters."

Having been in the capital for a while, Wei Hanzhang was excited as this was the first time she could go out with her peers, apart from attending a few banquets with Madam Jiang. She smiled brightly, "Then we should have a lot of fun!"

However, before they set off, she needed to inform her mother. Wei Hanzhang dismounted and headed straight for Jingya Hall.

When Madam Jiang learned that the two sisters were going out, she didn't object but smiled and reminded them, "Don't ride too fast; be careful."