The steeds let out long whinnies, white vapor streaming from their mouths. Their iron hooves pawed at the ground, sending snow mixed with black mud flying in every direction.
The lead rider wore the Supervision Department's senior historian uniform, emblazoned with a three-headed serpent totem. He glared viciously at the carriage and shouted, "I'll say it again. We are the Imperial Supervision Department. We suspect that a wanted criminal of the court is hidden inside this carriage. Everyone inside, get down at once and submit to an inspection."
Ning Xin Hai held the reins in one hand and the whip in the other. He kept the carriage horses from bolting forward in fright and falling, sitting there with his head lowered and eyes meekly cast down, apparently with no intention of saying a word.
A slender jade hand reached out, and someone lifted the cloth curtain of the carriage.
Cui Xiaoxin looked at the rider and said, "Senior Historian Yan, what an imposing display of authority."
"Heh heh." Yan Xiangma grinned and said sheepishly, "Cousin, why did you come out so quickly? I haven't finished reciting my lines yet."
"Senior Historian Yan, you mean to say, 'I am Yan Xiangma, the most famous wastrel young master in Jiangnan City. There's nothing I won't do.' Is that the line?"
Yan Xiangma sheepishly rubbed his nose, reddened by the wind and snow, then urged his horse over to Cui Xiaoxin. Looking at the girl's pretty face, he said, "As expected of my cousin—you understand me best. You even remember my Jiangnan underworld catchphrase word for word. But I was planning to change it to: 'I am Yan Xiangma, the most authoritative man in the Supervision Department. There's nothing I won't do.' What do you think, Cousin?"
"The previous line sounded better."
"Then