After spending time with his sister, Mao Zhu got ready to go to the barracks just outside the capital. He arrived there a quarter of a shichen1 later but he was bewildered upon seeing his superior at the entrance.

"Lieutenant! You've come just in time."

Mao Zhu saluted in response. He and Colonel Po Ning had five years of camaraderie on the battlefield.

They could be called good friends but he never crossed the boundaries. He knew he was still his junior and that was what Colonel Po liked about him.

Soldier Mao wasn't a one-of-a-kind genius but whatever skills he had was partnered with his integrity and ability to handle people well. It was a shame that in those five years, the youth could only advance to a standard sixth rank military official.

Even in the army, it all boiled down to one's origins. Those who had noble military lineage could advance like grasshoppers in a field of rice.

Although the Mao family was a huge force in trade, he still wasn't a noble son. So towards this Lieutenant of his, Colonel Po was very lenient.

"I'm going inside the Imperial Palace and since you're here, tag along as well."

"...Sir, is it appropriate to tag along?" Mao Zhu was flabbergasted.

It was the imperial palace they were talking about but his senior was speaking like they were just going out for lunch. He got a slap on the back as a reply. If he didn't have numerous days of harsh training, his knees would buckle at the hit.

"What're you dawdling around for?! It's an honor to enter the palace and you look like you don't want to. Are you even a soldier of this nation?!"

"I am!" Mao Zhu straightened his back out of instinct and mounted his horse right after the colonel got on his own.

The imperial palace huh?

Not once had he entered that place before. Of course, it was because he was a commoner.

Now that he was inside, he thought that it was more accurate to say that the palace was a small city. He wouldn't have the leisure to explore but seeing just a section of the frontcourt, he could tell it was humongous.

Mao Zhu would never dare to go to the rear court but he could imagine it to be just as big as the front or even bigger. The perfect abode for the 'three thousand' females of the harem.

He could only see walls and tiled roofs though. He knew this was one of the few permissible roads for middle-ranking officials like them.

The two spent the whole day running to and fro the offices inside the Imperial Palace.

It turned out the Colonel rested for a few days before filing all his soldiers' identification in the department of warfare. Out of all the regiments, they were the last to receive payment and rewards.

The sun was about to set when they finished logging everything that was needed. They could finally go home.

Walking down the official road was the fastest so they opted for it, instead of the previous route.

Mao Zhu felt more tired of handling official affairs than being on the battlefield. Back there, all he had to do was hack away. But here in the capital, he was also a sixth-ranked official. So his brain was getting some exercise.

Brooding over this, he was quiet. He didn't feel like talking to his superior. The older man dragged him all the way here just to be ordered around.

He was thinking of how to berate him without sounding disrespectful when Colonel Po suddenly stopped and dropped to his knees.

Good thing Mao Zhu reacted just as quickly and did the same.

"Greeting bi xia2. Long live, long live, long live your Majesty!"

The young lieutenant felt his heart thunder despite himself. Even if he knew he was going to the palace, never would he have imagined crossing paths with the dragon.

Even standard officials of the third rank had a hard time meeting his Majesty.

It was granted Mao Zhu only saw the golden fabric of his robes in his peripheral. Lifting their heads was a sin.

So it's true that his Majesty was active and didn't laze around with his harem, he thought.

The Emperor walked with power in his steps. He just came from the Ministry of Personnel to see how they assigned people in the harem.

It was a relief that his Empress was doing a great job at managing all those women. He hadn't heard any issues rooted in scheming these days.

But even if there was, it was fine. The Empress could handle them.

As for the Emperor?

As long as they wouldn't do something stupid to harm his wife, he wouldn't mind taking care of those women's families.

Abominable disasters would befall if they did the opposite. But even without his interference, Nuo Ying Su was able to instill this in them.

Indirect yet effective.

It just spoke about how effective the Empress was.

As far as he knew, there were 348 women in the harem. No matter how they limited the selection, they could only do so much. As he was thinking of how to lessen the number of women in his backcourt, two soldiers knelt and saluted him.

He was about to answer with the usual 'En' when he saw the insignia of the Southern Army.

So he halted and examined the two.

They didn't have the badge of high-ranking soldiers but normal footmen wouldn't be able to enter the palace either.

So he assumed they were in the middle ranks. His day was uneventful so this little thing easily caught his interest.

"You may rise."

Colonel Po was surprised to hear a reply. The situation should have been: they would salute and the Emperor would pass them by.

But who was this person striking a conversation? And even asking them nicely about the recent war?

The parade of servants behind his Majesty wasn't surprised by this anymore. Their master wasn't a traditional ruler. He never felt it below him to talk to anyone, no matter the status.

It was the same trait that his loyal subordinates wouldn't trade for anything else.

As calm as the colonel could, he introduced himself after a short talk about the concluded war.

"This subject-official is surnamed Po, first name Ning. Colonel of the 71st Regiment, Falcon Division of the Southern Front."

"This subject-official is surnamed Mao, first name Zhu. The Colonel's Lieutenant, your Majesty."

The Emperor's critical eyes appraised the two but their heads remained lowered.

Mao Zhu could guess that he was about the same age as the Emperor but he felt the unimaginable distance between them.

"Let Zhen think a bit. Colonel Po... I've read several people with that surname."

No one bothered his Majesty's thoughts as his eyes soon lit up.

"If Zhen is not mistaken, this is your fourth or fifth major campaign in the South?"

The colonel was overwhelmed by this statement.

"Yes, bi xia!" His nods were vigorous, his eyes reflecting his gladness.

The colonel was a plain man. He never learned fancy words to curry favor with his Majesty.

"You have done great service to this nation, beloved official. Your family will be rewarded!" The Emperor never failed to show his appreciation.

Apart from his good memory, he knew it was hard enough for a peasant to live through one military campaign. But this colonel somehow passed through five with success.

This showed his abilities and loyalty to the crown. That was why he remembered his name in passing.

The old colonel almost cried upon hearing this. In his life, he never expected to meet the dragon face to face. And here he was being rewarded.

"The heavens blessed this subject!"

He wanted to kowtow but was held up by a eunuch. The Emperor only nodded. He was a ruler who knew how to show emotions at the best times.

Even though the colonel at his age wouldn't make a huge advance in rank, the Emperor valued all people who served the empire.

"And the lieutenant, you mentioned your surname. Are you perhaps related to the Mao merchants?"

"Yes, bi xia. This subject is the third son of the Mao family."

The Emperor was impressed with his temperament. Mao Zhu had a chiseled face but eyeing him, one wouldn't feel intimidated. One look at him and one would feel that it wasn't bad to rely on such a person.

That sort of dependable but strict brotherly vibe emanated from him.

The Emperor smiled. "Zhen heard some stories about a certain lieutenant. It seemed Zhen finally gets to see the protagonist of those stories."

Mao Zhu was baffled. What stories?

But the Emperor didn't look like he'd be talking further because he was already walking away.

"Zhen had Commander Sui prepare a welcoming banquet in the East Royal Villa. Colonel and Lieutenant should go there today. The commander seems interested in you."

Those parting words seemed to be directed more toward Mao Zhu. But no matter what he thought, he couldn't remember being famous in the war.