So shabby that not a trace of a woman's life could be seen.
Just as Wu Yuan finished looking around, he heard footsteps outside the tent coming their way. He immediately straightened up. As someone lifted the tent flaps from either side, a tall shadow fell across the entrance. The newcomer walked straight toward the seat of honor.
He led his men in bowing respectfully.
"Tudege of the Wu Clan of the Northern Desert pays his respects to Sovereign Kang."
Wu Yuan might joke around with Gong Cheng in private, but he would never be foolish enough to show disrespect in front of Shen Tang.
No matter how poor and threadbare Shen Youli might be, she was still the ruler of a state, with strong troops at her command and a place at the pinnacle of worldly power.
If she were insulted, her subordinates would rush forward and hack the offender to pieces without waiting for her orders. Even with Gong Cheng as his trump card, Wu Yuan had no desire to tempt fate and experience the saying, "When a sovereign flies into a rage, a million corpses fall." As an envoy, he maintained a respectful bearing.
Shen Tang did not make things difficult for them.
Wu Yuan soon heard a young woman's voice from above. It lacked the soft warmth usually associated with women and instead carried a slightly husky, low tone.
"People from the Northern Desert? Rise."
Only after the voice fell did Wu Yuan look up.
He kept his eyes lowered, avoiding Shen Tang's face.
His gaze moved first to her chin, then darted upward just enough for him to see her clearly. Shen Tang had grown into her looks since those days. Though she wore plain clothes and had a cool, distant air, she could not