[COMPLETE] Transmigrated Author: The Quiet Plum

Chapter 16: Accidental Meeting

Media: Long Yi Ran
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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 shichen later but he was bewildered upon seeing his superior at the entrance.

>時辰 - shí chen - time; one of the 12 two-hour periods of the day<

"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 trades, 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.