Before the race, Tang Xiaobai didn’t feel confident about definitely winning against her sister.

She knew her sister’s riding skills well enough, but she also wanted to test her own level.

Ultimately, she was still a bit lacking.

Tang Xiaobai sighed inwardly, watching her sister about to cross that tree at the finish line, her gaze dimmed.

Yet at this moment, Tang Jiaojiao’s horse suddenly neighed, raising its front hoofs.

Tang Xiaobai was just startled in her heart when she saw the front hoofs land steadily.

She instinctively reined in her own horse as well.

The two steeds riding side by side, stopping just in front of the withered willow.

Tang Jiaojiao lowered her head, silent for a while, and said, "Take more people with you."

Tang Xiaobai felt her eyes heat up, opened her mouth, but only softly replied, "Mm."

...

On the way back, Tang Jiaojiao didn’t speak at all, walking slowly, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.

"Sister," Tang Xiaobai couldn’t help breaking the silence, "could you ask Grandmother to lend me Yingying?"

Grandmother, Princess Ji had a female guard by her side, named Yingying.

Female guards were very rare, her brother previously promised to find some for them, but never succeeded, and until now, Tang Xiaobai had only seen this one.

"Couldn’t you ask her yourself?" Tang Jiaojiao coldly refused.

"Sister, how many people do you think I should take?" Tang Xiaobai persisted.

Tang Jiaojiao still cold-faced: "I’ll choose for you, don’t worry!"

Tang Xiaobai smiled with pursed lips for a while, then the smile faded, she lightly said, "The Wang family should already know."

Since the news of her father and brother’s disappearance had spread, there’s no way the Prime Minister would be unaware.

When the Duke Yan Mansion was at its peak, it wasn’t given much regard by the aristocratic families, let alone now that something happened?

I’m afraid Sister’s marriage with the Wang family will have some troubles.

"Do I care about their Wang family?" Tang Jiaojiao sneered, "Wang Jian is just a little Seventh Rank official, he’s not worthy of me!"

Tang Xiaobai nodded in agreement.

In the original story, her sister became the Crown Princess Consort, a Seventh Rank minor official is indeed not a match.

As she was nodding, she suddenly saw someone riding out from the fork in the road ahead.

In a moon white gauze robe, with a cold and clear gaze.

Tang Xiaobai poked her sister with the handle of her whip: "Sister, doesn’t that person look a bit like Wang Jian?"

She had seen Wang Jian before.

Every time her sister had a matchmaking meeting, she would sneak a look.

So, this one does seem to be...

What to do if you’re caught talking bad about someone behind their back?

Only to see the eldest sister shoot a sidelong glance over, snort softly——

"Giddy up!"

Riding arrogantly past Wang Jian, leaving him in the dust... 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

...

After returning to the city, the two didn’t go straight home but went to Princess Ji’s Mansion first.

The moment they spoke of Tang Xiaobai going to Liangzhou, Princess Ji couldn’t sit still: "How could you let Xiaobai go? With so many boys in the Gu family, why Xiaobai?"

"Gu family cousins, might not be as familiar with Northwest military as I am," Tang Xiaobai said, "Besides, my surname is Tang."

Princess Ji glared at her for a long time, then said: "Wait until the Court finalizes the personnel for the inspection of Liangzhou, at least one Gu family member must be included, or I will not agree!"

Tang Xiaobai bowed gratefully: "Thank you, Grandmother!"

Having a Gu family member with her, she felt much more at ease.

There was something she didn’t speak of.

Yesterday, Mr. Zhou received a letter from Ah Xiao.

The letter said Li Xingyuan discovered agents of Prince Changshan in Liangzhou while managing Zhenzhou’s affairs.

Besides that, there are also spies from other places in Liangzhou.

This time, her father and brother’s disappearance was the result of multiple parties conspiring.

To find her father and brother, these spies need to be uncovered first.

To achieve this, she certainly couldn’t do it alone, so the selection of personnel for the inspection of Liangzhou was critical.

However, since it’s clear someone is targeting Duke Yan Mansion, I’m afraid the uncles of the Gu family won’t be able to go, at most a cousin from the Gu family could be inserted.

Among the Gu family cousins, the only one with a military background, Gu Wei, is still in Hedong, so who will they send?

With this problem in mind, after leaving Princess Ji’s Mansion, Tang Xiaobai was pulled by her sister to the Gu Mansion.

As soon as they entered the Gu Mansion, Tang Jiaojiao seemed visibly agitated.

After seeing the Eldest Aunt Gu and coming out, the agitation was even more obvious.

As Tang Xiaobai was about to ask, she finally couldn’t hold back: "Who is here today?"

She asked the accompanying Gu family servant.

The servant replied: "The ladies are all here, only Fourth Son and Miss Gu are left."

Gu Fourth Son was Gu Yuan from the second branch, Miss Gu was Gu Yulan from the third branch, an illegitimate child.

Tang Jiaojiao seemed to struggle for a moment, then said to Tang Xiaobai: "Find a place to wait for a while, I’ll be right back!" Without waiting for Tang Xiaobai to respond, she hurriedly left.

Tang Xiaobai looked in the direction she went and was quite surprised.

That side was the second branch of the Gu family.

Since Tang Jiaojiao had a falling out with Gu Wan, not only did she not let Gu Wan visit, but she also almost never went to the second branch of the Gu family.

Even though Gu Wan married off last year, she still wouldn’t go.

But this time, she took the initiative to go.

However, she didn’t go inside, just waited at the door.

Gu Yuan quickly came out.

Dressed in a casual robe, he hurriedly walked out, and as he approached, a scent of ink could be smelled from him.

Gu Yuan was still nominally attached to the Imperial College, but most of the time he stayed at home reading, preparing for the next imperial examination.

His background was somewhat delicate, although starting as an official through sponsorship wasn’t low, the prospects through the imperial examinations were better.

Besides, Gu Yuan had the ability to enter the officialdom through the imperial examinations.

"Cousin Jiaojiao." Gu Yuan cupped his hands in greeting, his demeanor gentle, just as before.

Tang Jiaojiao awkwardly returned the salute and stammered: "There’s something I want to ask Cousin for help with—"

...

The appointment for the inspection of Liangzhou was finalized after seven days.

With Xue Shaojian, the Imperial Censor, as the Inspection Envoy, and Gu Yuan, newly appointed Assistant Minister, as Vice Envoy.

Assistant Minister, eighth official rank, independent position.

When Tang Xiaobai heard this news, she had just finished lunch in the main hall and instinctively turned to Tang Jiaojiao.

Tang Jiaojiao was also shocked: "I just asked him for some help with manpower!"

Gu Yuan had two guards with decent martial arts skills around him, relatively reliable, so she wanted to borrow them for her sister’s protection.

Never expected him to personally step in!

"Could it be Grandmother’s idea?" Tang Xiaobai speculated.

Among the Gu family cousins, considering carefully, Gu Yuan was the most suitable to take this trip.

But once granted a position, he could no longer take the imperial examination.

For Qin Xiao to retain his eligibility for the examination, when he went to Hedong, he went only as Tang Ziqian’s advisor.

Even though he achieved military merits in Hedong, there were only rewards, no official titles.

Gu Yuan’s appointment cut off his path to the examinations.

The sacrifice was not insignificant.

Gu Ning sighed lightly: "This favor is no easy one to repay..."

Just as she spoke, a servant hurriedly and timidly came to report: "The Gu Family sent an official matchmaker to propose, to propose marriage for Fourth Son with the eldest miss..."

Tang Xiaobai was suddenly shocked.

Couldn’t tell Gu Yuan had this intention?

Tang Jiaojiao abruptly stood up: "Does he want to die, or does he not want to live?"