By the time Yuwen Junan arrived in Shangjing, Pei Hengyu’s fast horses had already reached the main road heading south.
Unaware of the catastrophic flooding of the Sishui River, Yuwen Junan only thought the Luan Bird was too flashy. After leaving it outside the Chongguang Gate, he slipped stealthily into the Imperial Palace.
The morning sun spilled onto the newly planted phoenix trees, drying away the melancholy of autumn and lifting his spirits for no apparent reason. Yuwen Junan lay back on the low couch by the window, imagining that Pei Hengyu might still be attending the morning court session.
Chapter 171