The deer carriage did not stop at Bright Moon Pavilion. It headed straight for the city gates.
At the city gates, the soldiers guarding the imperial capital stopped the deer carriage.
The gate guards came forward to inspect it as ordered. Li Guxian lifted the curtain, revealed her true face, and said, "I am Princess Leping of the imperial clan. I have urgent business outside the city. Sorry for the trouble, General—please make an exception!"
The gate guards had stern faces and sharp eyes.
They were not cowed by Li Guxian's exalted status. After clasping their hands in salute, one of them said, "My apologies, Your Highness. We are acting under orders. We were specifically instructed to await Your Highness here."
"The imperial capital has been rather unsettled lately. By secret order of the imperial clan, no member of the imperial clan is permitted to leave the capital."
"Please return, Your Highness."
These gate guards had clearly received orders to stop Li Guxian here.
Seeing this, Li Guxian did not make a fuss. Instead, she smiled serenely and withdrew into the carriage. As she did so, she said to Lin Bai, "Sorry for the trouble, Wolf Marquis. Please ask them to move aside and let us out of the city."
Lin Bai mused, "Ever since the Holy Sons of the top sects met with trouble in the imperial capital, the imperial clan has forbidden its members from leaving the city. They are protecting you."
Li Guxian said, "But I clearly have no need for the imperial clan's protection now."
"Wolf Marquis, please."
Li Guxian had Lin Bai step forward, allowing them to leave the imperial capital without a hitch.
Lin Bai drew a deep breath and sighed. He silently came to the carriage window and said to the soldiers outside,