"It's me!" Though her face had changed, her voice was still that of a woman, sweet and pleasing to the ear. Hu Xiaotian marveled at the ingenuity of her disguise. He reached out to touch Qin Yutong's face, but just before his hand reached her cheek, he realized how disrespectful that would be and awkwardly drew it back. "Incredible," he said with a smile. "I've never seen anyone turn into someone else in an instant. I wouldn't recognize you at all-not at all!"
"Tomorrow, I'll disguise myself as an attendant and accompany you," Qin Yutong said. From her tone, she seemed to feel no need to ask Hu Xiaotian's permission. The matter was settled.
"All right..." Hu Xiaotian said.
"Remember, you mustn't tell anyone that I'm accompanying you!"
Early the next morning, Hu Xiaotian took Murong Feiyan to the Wan Residence to meet Long Yefang, the Prince of Zhou. Having heard that her master was going on a journey, Visa tearfully saw him to the door. She had finally found a master who treated her with such generosity and kindness, only to face a separation so soon. But when she heard that Hu Xiaotian would return within ten days at most, her tears turned to smiles. Hu Xiaotian had actually considered taking the obedient slave girl along, but recalling how reluctant Mosheli, the Shajia envoy, had been, he decided against stirring up trouble and left Visa at home.
As agreed, Qin Yutong would wait for him at the entrance to the lane. When they arrived, they found a dark-skinned young constable waiting there with a fine black horse. Seeing them approach, the constable stepped forward and saluted. "Your subordinate Shi Qing has been ordered by Lord Zhang to await you here."
Hu Xiaotian had recognized from a distance that Shi