Chen Qing was walking along the street when a commotion suddenly erupted at the far end.
"Make way! Everyone, make way!"
Several riders in black Tight-fitting Outfits, long sabers hanging at their waists, came galloping in.
With swift movements, they drove the pedestrians from the center of the street and cleared a passage.
The crowd retreated to either side and began whispering among themselves.
"It's the Princess's carriage procession!"
"Princess Changle? Didn't she marry into Marquis Pingding's Estate? Why would she come to Anping City?"
"I heard Marquis Pingding received an imperial order to inspect the southwestern provinces. The Princess is traveling with him, so they must merely be passing through."
Chen Qing followed the flow of people to the roadside and stood quietly beneath a cloth awning, watching.
Before long, a carriage procession slowly approached.
Leading it were eight Black Armor Sect riders, each with steady auras and sharp light in their eyes. They were clearly experts at Gang Jin or above.
Behind them were two luxuriously decorated yet unostentatious carriages. Their shafts were made of ebony, and their bodies were carved with cloud patterns and auspicious beasts.
The four fine horses pulling the carriages were snow-white from head to hoof, without a single stray hair. They were exceptionally magnificent.
"Fine horses." Chen Qing's gaze narrowed slightly.
Horses like these were no ordinary breed. They had likely been specially bred from exotic stock, capable of traveling a thousand li in a day without tiring.
Just then, he suddenly felt someone's gaze settle upon him.
Chen Qing looked up and saw an old man in a gray cloth robe riding slowly beside the second carriage.
The old man appeared ordinary, but beneath his bamboo hat, his eyes were like ancient wells and deep pools. At that moment, they swept lightly