It was still in that drafty shelter.
Sun Shaozong watched the beggars receiving hot soup and steamed buns before the city gate in the heavy snow, and the expectations in his heart had long since sunk to rock bottom.
By now, the snow outside the city had accumulated to more than half an inch deep. Though it had not yet reached the point of cutting off traffic, at this rate, it was only a matter of time.
The beggars were already short on food and clothing. After searching through the snowstorm for an hour or two, they had basically reached their limits. Pressing them to expand the search would be forcing them to risk their lives.
Leaving aside whether they would be willing, even if they were willing to gamble with their lives, what were the odds of finding the Hot Air Balloon in this blizzard?
It seemed he had lost this round of the gamble after all.
Fortunately, he had not lost everything yet!
Sun Shaozong withdrew his gaze and looked back toward the city. He did not know how long he had waited when he finally saw more than a dozen riders approaching from afar.
He instinctively rose and went outside the shelter to meet them, only to abruptly halt.
The arrivals were not those he had expected, but over twenty Dragon Forbidden Guards and a carriage surrounded by them.
What was this?
Under Sun Shaozong's suspicious gaze, the carriage slowly drew near. Then an aged eunuch with snowy white hair stepped down, drew out his voice, and shrieked, "An Imperial Decree!"
As he spoke, he held the imperial edict high in one hand for Sun Shaozong to see.
This was a signal for him to kneel and receive the decree, but under the present circumstances, how could