Wanglu Ward
Spring was deepening, and a misty drizzle fell as an ox cart rolled down the street, gradually disappearing into the rain.
Passersby who caught sight of the ox cart respectfully bowed or stepped aside. From its markings alone, almost everyone knew it belonged to the Duke of Dai, whose household had been registered here only a few months ago.
"I wonder what the ox cart from the Duke of Dai's Residence is going out for in this rain."
The thought flashed through the minds of those who recognized its owner, but they gave it no further consideration. Though every move made by the Duke of Dai's Residence drew more attention than anything else in Wanglu Ward, people did not watch it every moment of the day.
Only one unremarkable-looking ox cart trailed far behind the cart from the Duke of Dai's Residence, following it all the while.
Besides a driver so ordinary that he would vanish into any crowd, this cart carried two young eunuchs in disguise. One posed as a wealthy young gentleman, the other as a scholar, allowing them to split up while shadowing their target.
"Get a little closer. Don't lose them."
As they left the sparsely traveled street and entered an increasingly bustling area, another ox cart suddenly cut in ahead of them. The eunuch disguised as a wealthy young gentleman spotted it when he lifted the curtain and hastily gave the driver an order.
Just then, he seemed to glimpse a white blur flashing past. But when he rubbed his eyes and looked again, more ox carts were gathering ahead, and the road, dampened by the drizzle, looked clean and tidy. Where was any white blur?
Perhaps I saw things. When their cart finally squeezed past the one ahead and resumed following the