North of the Great Xia Imperial City, the ceremonial procession of the Northern Mongol royal house slowly approached. The Northern Mongol Emperor and the Empress had come in person, protected by thousands of elite Imperial Guards, while countless Imperial Enshriners hid among them. The spectacle was immensely imposing.
When the ruler of one dynasty entered another, both courts treated it with utmost gravity. Neither dared allow the slightest mistake.
The four Martial Marquises personally left the city to receive them. A battalion of Imperial Guards cleared the streets, and the entire imperial city grew tense. Countless soldiers came and went in formation after formation, investigating every possible hidden danger.
"Martial Marquis."
As the plain-clothed figure passed by, soldier after soldier immediately dropped to one knee and greeted him respectfully.
"Rise."
Ning Chen spoke calmly. "Do not be overly nervous. Just patrol as you normally would."
"Yes."
The soldiers accepted their orders, rose, and continued their inspections.
Ning Chen strode onward toward the northern city gate. By his calculations, Mingyue and the others should have arrived by now.
Outside the northern gate of the imperial city, ten miles away, banners fluttered in the wind. The Northern Mongol Imperial Guards cleared the way ahead, while Imperial Enshriners guarded the royal procession at its center. Not for a single moment did they dare relax their vigilance.
As the procession drew near, the plain-clothed figure stood quietly before the northern gate, and the four Martial Marquises bowed in unison.
"There is no need for such ceremony. You are all Martial Marquises of Great Xia now; there is no need to bow to me anymore."
Ning Chen looked at the four and spoke calmly.
Kong Yu, Changsun Yunxuan, Marquis Anling, and Marquis Dongzhi rose and stepped half a pace back. None dared overstep in the