Chapter 223

Bazhou, Jincheng, Military Commissioner's Office. The autumn rain fell in a fine drizzle, and the copper bells under the eaves chimed softly in the wind. Their crisp sound, muffled by the patter of the rain, felt all the more desolate. Xia Huai'an was bent over his desk reviewing official documents. The flickering candle flame cast deep shadows across his furrowed brow. Outside the window, the rain fell like a curtain, blurring the silhouette of Jincheng. Suddenly, a rapid flurry of hoofbeats approached from the distance, shattering the tranquility of the office. The hooves sounded as dense as drumbeats, accompanied by the splashing of muddy water, clearly indicating that the rider had sped through the wind and rain without regard for the weather.