Pei Hengyu sat upright on his horse as the scorching sun pierced through thin clouds, casting a serene glow over his white hair. Unlike the starving refugees scattered outside the city walls, inside Yunzhou City, drums and music blared in unison. A young girl dressed in sheer gauze danced flirtatiously atop a carriage decorated with fresh flowers.
Yuchi Lan cast a stealthy glance at the Emperor’s expression, inwardly breaking into a cold sweat for the head of the Prefect of Yunzhou.
Brightly colored silk handkerchiefs and sachets were tossed toward the flower carriage by the men and women packed along the roadside. Encouraged by the crowd’s adoration, the girl’s dance grew even more seductive. The ensuing cheers drowned out the accompanying string and wind instruments, making the steed beneath Pei Hengyu snort with agitation.
Chapter 181