Now, Old Madam Ye feared Jiang Li might become despondent, and was willing to do anything to make her happy. She promptly agreed to the request, but worried that it might be boring for a girl like Jiang Li to go alone, so she had Ye Jiaer and Rufeng accompany them. Thus, the three young people, along with Xue Zhao, Xue Huaiyuan, and Situ Jiuyue, returned to Tongxiang.
Tongxiang remained the same as before; after Feng Yutang's downfall, a new prefect had taken his place. This prefect was not old, not yet of thirty years, but perhaps it was his youth that endowed him with some talent. He had already accomplished several significant deeds in Tongxiang, and the people were quite satisfied with him. When word got out that Xue Huaiyuan had returned, the people of Tongxiang all flocked to the Xue Residence's gates, bringing gifts of eggs and grain.
