Lanling City showed no sign of autumn desolation.
At seven in the morning, the mist had yet to disperse, and the towering Vermillion City Gate swung open section by section in the cool breeze. The city guards' armor gleamed with a cold, bluish iron light. Hooves pounded across the bluestone road, startling the ginkgo leaves beside it into a rustling rain.
The morning market outside the East City Gate was already sending cooking smoke into the sky. The fragrance of Jujube Paste Steamed Cake mingled with the vendors' cries and swept over the tall city walls on the west wind.
A golden figure with a saber at his waist walked out through the East City Gate, causing a stir.
"Look, quick! That man looks just like Jing An, Marquis!"
"Really?"
"Hey, he really does!"
"Could it be that Jing An, Marquis has returned from the Northern Frontier?"
"Why would Jing An, Marquis enter through the city gate?"
"."
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Li Fei entered Lanling City.
September 28. Jing An, Marquis had returned to the capital! From the Northern Frontier to Lanling City, it would take about a week by carriage.
Li Fei had returned alone this time, so he had chosen to fly.
Riding the flying vessel confiscated from You Ming of the New Heaven Society, Li Fei had flown from the Northern Frontier back to Lanling City in only two days.
Before he could even return to his own marquisate, invitation after invitation had already been delivered to his residence.
Every one of them invited him to a banquet, and the lowest-ranking host held the title of marquis, while the lowest official rank was a Level 16 Pavilion Official! At present, Li Fei was lacking only in connections and followers. In every other respect, he could already