Being new to the area, Zhao Yan and Magistrate Li had only met a few times. After exchanging a few polite pleasantries, they got straight down to business. Magistrate Li had no time to dwell on the yamen runners' dereliction of duty; he hurriedly invited Zhao Yan and his entourage into the reception hall, and the secretary, knowing the protocol, immediately had tea served.
For the moment, Zhao Yan was the only one seated while the others stood off to the side. Li Hu and Zhuzi were not in a position to sit as equals with Zhao Yan; their current duty was to protect Zhao Yan's safety and carry out his other commands, so drinking tea was out of the question for them.
Since he did not usually ride horses and had ridden at a gallop today, Zhao Yan only began to feel a dull ache in his inner thighs once he sat down, though he tried his best to ignore the strange sensation.
Chapter 468