A bank of fiery clouds stretched across the western sky, with the rolling ridges of Wumeng Mountain faintly visible.
In the distance lay stillness and grandeur.
Close at hand were noise and bustle.
People came and went among the shops lining the street.
There were stalls outside the shops as well.
Some of the more particular vendors pushed wooden carts, with goods hanging from their racks.
Most sold snacks or jewelry and the like.
Others simply spread a cloth on the ground and set out a few things.
There were bamboo baskets and mats woven by artisans, as well as crickets and other creatures caught in the mountains.
They drew quite a few people to stop and look.
Fortunately, this bluestone-paved road was fairly wide.
It could accommodate two carriages traveling abreast.
Those heading north and south each kept to their own side, lest they block the road and make themselves a laughingstock.
Of course.
The black flag hanging from the Xiao Family carriage was conspicuous enough that few dared stand in its way.
Most sensibly stopped outside the shops along the edges, leaving a path clear.
Shen Huatang naturally paid little attention to them.
She drove the carriage on without obstruction.
Xie Tingyun sat beside her. Though she looked from side to side, most of her attention was on the carriage compartment behind them.
A smile occasionally appeared on her face.
A very suggestive smile.
As she smiled, she would nudge Shen Huatang with her elbow and silently mouth her discoveries.
"Junior Sister, the young lady and the son-in-law are talking about the lyric poem from the other day."
"The young lady said the poem was very well written, and that it captured General Jinghong's beauty."
"Haha, guess what the son-in-law said?"
Shen Huatang could not help glancing at