Jiapingguan Chronicle

These new recruits were still excited and had no idea what kind of test they were about to face. They also didn't know that with the appearance of Song Yaojia and Xia Chen, their final assessment had begun.

Although these two people's assessments cannot be counted in the official results, and although failing their assessments still allows one to participate in the next assessment, it's uncertain whether one will be able to enter the second part of the practical test.

At this moment, the new recruits looked at Song Yaojia and Xia Chen, who were sitting there relaxed with kind smiles on their faces. Their feelings were a mix of excitement and complexity, and a little panic. Many of them were quietly straightening their clothes to make themselves look very smart. Others were thinking the same thing: how wonderful it would be if the lords in their hometowns were as kind and approachable as these two princes. Unfortunately, such people are always few and far between.

These new recruits each had their own thoughts, and they thought they were controlling their expressions well. Little did they know that they were still young and inexperienced, and all their thoughts were seen through by Song Yaojia and Xia Chen.

The two observed each other silently for a while, exchanged a glance, and their smiles deepened.

Song Yaojia slowly fanned herself, looked at the group of people sitting upright and somewhat reserved, and said with a smile, "Relax a little, no need to be so formal. We're just having a casual chat, don't be nervous!"

"Your Highness, we're not really nervous, it's just that it's our first time meeting you two, and we're a little..." A round-faced, big-eyed boy next to Sa Er scratched his head sheepishly, "and didn't know what to do."

"You deal with marshals and generals every day, are you still so at a loss?" Xia Chen raised an eyebrow. "I see you get along with them very well, so why are you at a loss when it comes to us?"

"That's different; you two are royalty."

“They’re royalty too!” Hearing this reason, Song Yaojia and Xia Chen were both amused and exasperated. “You’ve spent more time with them than we have, but you can’t treat them differently!”

Seeing Song Yaojia's expression, the new recruits all wanted to explain, but they didn't know how.

Song Yaojia and Xia Chen observed their reactions and silently gave them a rating in their minds.

"How about we introduce ourselves one by one?" Song Yaojia looked at the boy who had a cheerful appearance, a round face, and big eyes. "What's your name? How old are you?"

"Me?" The boy smiled shyly. "My name is He Chun, He as in seedling and Chun as in spring. I'm sixteen years old this year."

“He Chun?” Song Yaojia nodded and said with a smile, “It’s a really good name. Spring rice seedlings are usually full of vitality. This is your family’s wish and blessing for you.”

“That’s what my elders say too.” He Chun looked at Song Yaojia with admiration. “Your Highness is really amazing.”

"Oh? Why do you say that?"

“When many people hear my name, their first reaction is, why would a boy have such a delicate name? It’s not manly at all.” He Chun sighed with distress. “Since I can remember, the vast majority of people have said that.”

"So, you've always believed that what the majority says is right?"

“No, that’s not right.” He Chun shook her head. “I’m very clear about what most people think. I’m just very troubled by having to explain every time, which makes me seem long-winded and noisy.”

"You didn't choose to join the army just to prove you're a real man, did you?"

“Of course not.” He Chun shook her head and looked at Song Yaojia. “Actually, when you think about it, our family has some connection with His Highness.”

"What does this have to do with me?" Song Yaojia looked bewildered. He shook his head slightly. "This surname is so unique. If it has anything to do with me, I won't forget it."

"To be more precise, it's related to His Highness the Eagle King." He Chun smiled sheepishly. "Back when His Highness the Eagle King was conquering Huzhou, my great-grandfather joined the Eagle King's army at his command."

"Really?" Song Yaojia thought for a moment. "I've never heard my uncle mention it." "Your Highness is joking. My great-grandfather served in the supply corps for a very short time. After His Highness the Eagle King conquered Huzhou, the Eagle King's decree was lifted, and my great-grandfather went home. Although he was reluctant to leave, that was the only way."

"You mean this? I remember." Song Yaojia nodded. "I never expected such a coincidence." He looked at He Chun. "You..."

“Your Highness, Xiaochun looks thin and small, but he may have been injured.” Sa Er saw what Song Yaojia wanted to say and explained, “In the last assessment, he took on ten opponents by himself. It was only because it took too long and was too physically demanding that it ended.”

"Wow, that's amazing!" Song Yaojia clapped her hands. "You'd better do your best tomorrow. I'll be watching you closely."

"Really?" He Chun was even more embarrassed after being praised by Song Yaojia. "Then I'll do my best."

After Xia Chen finished introducing He Chun, he looked at Sa Er next to him, raised an eyebrow at him, and said, "Come on, it's your turn."

"I?"

"Yes, introduce yourself, just like He Chun did earlier."

"Ah, this."

"Don't be so nervous. Just say what you want to say, or don't say anything if you don't want to. We're just having a casual chat." Song Yaojia looked at Sa Er. "Do you want to say something? If not, we can have someone else say it. It's okay."

"Your Highness misunderstands. I am not good with words and do not know what to say."

"Didn't the Prince just say where you're from and who your family is? Tell me what you can."

“Yes.” Sa Er thought for a moment, cleared his throat and said, “I come from Longxi. My grandparents, maternal grandparents and parents are all alive.”

"Are you from Longxi?"

Song Yaojia raised an eyebrow, turned to look at Xia Chen, and winked at him.

Xia Chen knew what he meant and smiled helplessly. Longxi was nominally the fiefdom of the Xia family, but the Xia family had never set foot in this place. Every year, the taxes were handed over to the national treasury, which was established when the founding emperor was alive.

"Has your family lived in Longxi for generations? Do you have any fellow villagers here?"

“Your Highness, my family has not lived in Longxi for generations.” Sa Er looked at Song Yaojia and Xia Chen, sighed softly, and said, “My great-great-grandfather’s generation fled from here to Longxi and settled there.”

"From here? Is this Jiaping Pass?"

Sa Er's words startled Song Yaojia and Xia Chen. They looked at him, unsure of what to say.

“Yes, from here, Jiaping Pass.” Sa Er looked at the two men’s reactions, shook his head at them, and said, “Your Highnesses don’t need to be sad. Actually, it has nothing to do with Your Highnesses or even with the Great Xia. When our ancestors led their family away from here, the Great Xia didn’t even exist yet!”

“That’s true.” Xia Chen quickly realized, “At that time, whether it was the Central Plains, the border regions, or Jiangnan, everything was in chaos. Even the territories of Liao and Jin were not peaceful, and various places were in the midst of war.”

"Your Highness is right," Sa Er nodded. "Back then, it was a chaotic time, with war everywhere. Everyone wanted to flee to places where there was no fighting, but..." He smiled bitterly, "Where was there peace? However, my great-great-grandfather was quite lucky. The place he settled in was indeed like a paradise, because it was a village deep in the mountains, untouched by the war. My great-great-grandfather and his clan lived there. But the older he got, the more he missed his hometown, the more he wanted to return. But my great-great-grandfather knew it was impossible for his generation, so on his deathbed, he left a will stating that any descendant, regardless of generation, should return to their hometown if they had the opportunity, even if they didn't settle there, just to visit and live there for a while. But..." He paused, "Who could have imagined that so many years would pass before we finally had the chance to come back and see it again?" He looked at Xia Chen, "Your Highness just asked me why I chose to come here, and this is the reason." (End of Chapter)