The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

On the watchtower of the military post station, a sharp-eyed soldier was the first to spot two figures walking down the hillside.

"Who goes there?" he immediately became alert and shouted.

The soldiers at the entrance of the post station immediately gripped their rifles and assumed a guarded posture.

This is the first checkpoint outside Daming Prefecture. Although nothing major usually happens, the necessary vigilance is still very high.

Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua looked absolutely terrible. One was ragged and covered in mud, while the other, though cleaner, stood out starkly in her red clothes in the desolate wilderness. They didn't look like respectable people at all.

"We're here to see Chief Commander Wang Shao." Zhao Lingjun took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound as calm as possible.

"Looking for our commander?" The soldier at the door sized them up, his eyes filled with suspicion. "Who are you? Do you have any credentials?"

"You just need to inform him that an old friend has come to visit, and he will naturally see us," Zhao Lingjun replied, following Jiang Lin's instructions.

The soldier hesitated for a moment, still not daring to make the decision on his own. Wang Shao was extremely strict in disciplining his troops; if any shady characters were allowed in, he would be in deep trouble.

"You wait here, I'll go report," a soldier said, then turned and ran into the post station.

Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua stood at the doorway, enduring the scrutinizing gazes of the other soldiers. Zhao Lingjun was nervous, her palms sweating. She didn't know if Wang Shao would acknowledge her, or even if he would believe her.

Not long after, a tall and imposing figure strode out of the post station.

The newcomer was none other than Wang Shao. He was dressed in a sharp, close-fitting outfit, a knife at his waist, with a resolute face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. His appearance seemed to instantly lift the tension in the air.

His gaze swept over Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua. When he saw Zhao Lingjun's face, which was covered in mud but still showed delicate features, his eyes flickered slightly, as if he remembered something.

"You're looking for me?" Wang Shao's voice was deep and powerful.

"Wang Shao, it's me." Zhao Lingjun took a step forward and lowered his voice, "Jingshi Academy, Zhao Ling."

Wang Shao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Zhao Ling! Of course he remembered that name. The exceptionally intelligent yet somewhat mysterious young man who always followed the headmaster in the academy.

However, he never imagined that the disheveled girl in front of him would be "Zhao Ling".

He waved his hand nonchalantly to the soldiers around him: "You all step back and continue to stand guard."

"Yes, Captain!" The soldiers immediately stepped aside.

"Follow me," Wang Shao said to Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua, then turned and walked into the post station.

Zhao Lingjun and Niu Aihua quickly followed.

Wang Shao led them to a small office room and closed the door.

"What exactly happened? Where is the headmaster?" Wang Shao asked directly, his tone tinged with urgency.

"The headmaster and Shen Kuo are still in the city, they are safe." Zhao Lingjun reassured him first, then without hesitation, took out the account book wrapped in oilcloth from his pocket and handed it over.

"This is what the headmaster ordered us to risk our lives to bring out. It's irrefutable evidence of Prefect Zhao Liben's illegal mining operations, his keeping of private slaves, and even... his treason!"

"What?" Wang Shao's expression changed drastically, and he snatched the account book.

He quickly unrolled the oilcloth and began to peruse its contents. The more he looked, the more grave his expression grew, until finally it turned ashen. His knuckles turned white from gripping the account books so tightly.

The atmosphere in the room was terribly oppressive.

"Damn it! You beast!" Wang Shao slammed his fist on the table, the solid wooden surface thudding with a dull thud. "Zhao Liben, he deserves to die! Everyone on this table deserves to die!"

He exuded an astonishing killing intent, the true murderous aura of a soldier honed through countless battles. Zhao Lingjun was so startled by this aura that he took a step back.

Niu Aihua didn't react much; she just stood there silently, like a statue.

After venting his anger, Wang Shao quickly calmed down. He looked at Zhao Lingjun, his gaze becoming complex: "You...you're not Zhao Ling. Who are you?"

He only just realized that although the girl in front of him had Zhao Ling's features, she could not possibly be a man.

Zhao Lingjun knew that at this point, there was no need to hide her identity any longer. She took a small, golden token tied with a red string from around her neck and placed it on the table.

"Princess Jianing of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Lingjun."

Wang Shao's eyes widened instantly. He stared at the token representing royal status, then at the travel-worn young girl before him, his mind going completely blank.

He never dreamed that the "old friend" he had been waiting for was actually the princess of the current dynasty! And the headmaster actually led the princess into a dangerous and dangerous place!

Headmaster, you have audacity that's bigger than the sky!

Wang Shao's heart was in turmoil, but he forced a calm expression onto his face. He knelt on one knee and gave Zhao Lingjun a standard military salute.

"This humble general, Wang Shao, greets Your Highness! I am late in escorting you, please forgive me!"

"General Wang, please rise!" Zhao Lingjun quickly helped him up. "This is not the time to discuss these things. The headmaster instructed you to escort me back to the capital immediately and personally present this evidence of my crimes to my father!"

"Your subordinate obeys!" Wang Shao stood up and agreed without hesitation.

He knew the gravity of the situation. This was no longer a simple corruption case; it was a treasonous crime that threatened the very foundation of the nation! Every moment of delay meant more uncertainty.

"Your Highness, you must be tired from your journey. Please rest here for a while, have something to eat, and change into clean clothes." Wang Shao's arrangements were methodical. "I will immediately select the most elite personal guards and prepare the fastest horses. We will depart in one hour!"

"Okay!" Zhao Lingjun nodded.

Wang Shao immediately summoned his personal guards and gave them the orders. Soon, maids brought hot water, clean clothes, and steaming hot food.

When Zhao Lingjun washed away the dust and changed into a well-fitting dress, and saw the fragrant white rice and braised pork on the table, tears welled up in her eyes again.

Niu Aihua, on the other hand, was not so sentimental. She sat at the table and had already begun to write furiously.

Zhao Lingjun wiped away her tears and sat down. She knew that there was still a long way to go from Daming Prefecture to the capital. The road ahead would only become more dangerous.

She needs to eat well and get enough rest.

Because this war has only just begun.