I traveled back to ancient times, but I was able to lie down and relax.

It was quiet outside, and no one came to disturb us.

But they didn't waste too much time. Soon after, Song Chen got off the carriage, and the group continued on its way.

Song Chen watched the group leave until they were almost out of sight, then cracked his whip and said, "Let's go."

"Commander," a soldier who was on good terms with him leaned closer, "are you really willing to let your sister-in-law go like this? I see quite a few families here with their children."

"Whether I'm willing to give her up or not, I hope she's safe."

He glanced at the soldier who had asked the question again: "They've been married for so many years, how can it be the same? If something happens to her, I can't hold her back."

"Pah, ptah, ptah, Commander, you're being too pessimistic. Quickly spit a few times."

Song Chen couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he spat a few times and said, "Alright, let's go. Instead of worrying about me, you should save your energy to kill a few more enemies! After we win the battle, let's go home as soon as possible!"

"Yes!"

On Liu Nanjia's side, it was time for her to eat and rest. As she was eating, she noticed that a gaze was constantly falling on her.

Looking back, it was Ge Yang.

Young Master Ge experienced the cruelty of war firsthand that day, losing not only several of his bodyguards but also sustaining injuries himself.

When Liu Nanjia said he was going to leave, he was persuaded by those around him to give up his idea of ​​joining the army and came back with them.

This can be considered as fulfilling Prefect Ge's wishes.

"What? You have something to say?"

Seeing that Ge Yang seemed hesitant to speak, Liu Nanjia gave him a hint.

"It's nothing. I haven't thanked you yet because of your arrow that day."

"Well, I was just lucky that day. It must have been God trying to save you. Besides, anyone would have done the same in that situation."

Liu Nanjia waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing.

After finishing this conversation, Ge Yang still seemed to have something to say, and finally stammered out, "How did you and that person meet?"

"That one? Which one?" Liu Nanjia was taken aback. "Oh, you mean Song Chen?"

"We've known each other for a long time. If we were to start from the beginning, it would be quite a long story. Would you like to hear it?"

Ge Yang nodded.

Liu Nanjia also needed to do something to distract herself, so she started talking: "Let me think, it should have been six years ago, when we were still living in the village..."

"Then we moved to Linchuan City, and you probably know what happened next."

Looking back on the past six years since the family split up, Liu Nanjia realized that she had experienced quite a lot.

Ge Yang listened intently, his expression shifting between surprise and admiration.

He murmured, "You actually built all those businesses up little by little? I thought before..."

"Did you think I inherited it from my family? Of course not, I started from scratch." Liu Nanjia couldn't help but feel a little proud when she said this.

"Yes, when I found them back then, the siblings were already doing quite well. But I never expected that they would continue to be like this today."

The uncle overheard their conversation and chimed in.

"No wonder your relationship is so good." After hearing so much, Ge Yang roughly understood. "So, when did you two start..."

"When did your feelings start to change?" Liu Nanjia understood Ge Yang's unspoken meaning. "I can't really say for sure, but it was probably a case of feelings developing over time. Anyway, it was before he came to the border that he was certain. Back then, he didn't dare tell me because he was about to leave. He only dared to tell me once when he was drunk, but he forgot about it when he sobered up."

Looking back now, Liu Nanjia no longer feels angry, but only finds it amusing.

She then briefly recounted the details of the incident, assuming that Ge Yang had never seen anything like them before and was asking out of curiosity.

Indeed, in this era, most marriages were arranged by parents and matchmakers, and free love like hers and Song Chen's was a minority.

Liu Nanjia didn't mind promoting the idea to these "ancient people".

"It's just the two of you, one's an idiot and the other's dull-witted. Everyone around us can see it, but you two don't even realize it to each other," the uncle couldn't help but complain.

"Uncle!" Liu Nanjia was displeased. He turned around and saw Liu Xiaowan also smirking, clearly saying, "Miss, that's how it is."

Ge Yang smiled, but there was a hint of bitterness in his smile.

It was too late after all.

On their return journey, they didn't have to rush as they had on their way there. It took them almost three months to reach Linchuan City in early September.

In fact, Liu Nanjia had considered whether or not to hurry on the journey, because this year's autumn imperial examination was in early August.

But after calculating the time, it was too rushed, there really wasn't enough time.

In addition, July and August are the hottest months, so we simply slowed down our pace, traveling in the morning and evening and resting during the hottest part of the day.

Exhausted from the long journey, Liu Nanjia returned home and did nothing but rest for a few days.

Then came the good news that Liu Yanxi had become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

"Great, bro! I knew you could do it!" Liu Nanjia grabbed Liu Yanxi and jumped up and down.

This rare good news made her briefly forget her worries about Song Chen, and it was the happiest moment for her since Liaocheng.

"Alright, alright, you're such a grown-up, why can't you be more mature?"

Liu Yanxi was shaken so badly he could barely stand. Although his words were full of disdain, his tone was one of doting affection.

Being the top scholar in the provincial examination is practically a step towards becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations).

In the past few days, Liu Nanjia's small house has been almost overflowing with gifts from all sides.

Needless to say, there are close friends like Bai Ran, Cao Wanying, and Qin Zhiyuan, as well as many other guests who frequent the club and whom they wish to further their relationship with.

But when Liu Nanjia was sorting through these things that day, she discovered one item that was exceptionally valuable.

"This was sent by Prefect Ge. Isn't this too much? Isn't it inappropriate?"

Liu Nanjia took the gift list and went to discuss it with Liu Yanxi.

“Pen and ink, gold, ginseng… and several rare books!” Liu Yanxi frowned more and more as he looked at them. “There are indeed too many.”

“It wouldn’t be appropriate to just return it directly. How about this, Nan Jia, aren’t you on good terms with Young Master Ge and Miss Ge? Invite them over to our home and discuss this matter there.”

"Okay, let's do it this way." Liu Nanjia went to write the invitations.

The Ge siblings arrived quite quickly, especially Ge Yue, who was particularly hospitable.

"Sister Liu! It's been so long since we last met, almost nine months, nearly a year! What have you seen during your long absence? What's Liaocheng like? I've never been that far north before."

Liu Nanjia asked in confusion, "Didn't your brother go too? Didn't he tell you?"

"Tch," Ge Yue glanced at her brother, "I don't know what's wrong with him, he's become a taciturn person ever since he came back from there. When asked, he only says the same few questions, which is almost the same as not saying anything at all."

"Huh?" Liu Nanjia exclaimed in surprise.

On the way back, he seemed pretty normal, didn't he? He was a little less talkative than before, but after seeing so much, Liu Nanjia only felt that he had become more mature.

"Cough, she's talking nonsense." Ge Yang felt a little awkward after his sister exposed his weakness. "What did you call us here for today?"