Qin Yutong said, "We shouldn't linger here. Let's leave at once. Once we reach Xiezhou City, everything will get better."
With Qin Yutong's help, almost everyone who had been stung by the bees began to recover. Once they left Red Sun Mountain, the walls of Xiezhou were already in sight. After the bee attack, the rest of the journey passed without wind or waves.
Sitting on his horse, the Prince of Zhou gazed at Xiezhou's city walls, finally shaking off the gloom of the past few days. He raised his riding crop and pointed toward the city. "We've finally reached Xiezhou!"
Huo Ge, prince of the Shajia Kingdom, rode beside the Prince of Zhou at the head of the procession. He smiled. "We owe so much to Your Highness for personally protecting us along the way. Otherwise, who knows what trouble we might have encountered?" His words belied his thoughts. He certainly did not believe the Prince of Zhou and his men had protected him.
Long Yefang, the Prince of Zhou, nodded. Xiezhou was merely one stop on their long journey. They still had to travel to the Kang Capital, and only upon returning there would his mission be complete. At that thought, the little pleasure he had just felt vanished without a trace.
Xiezhou's gates stood wide open, and a party of riders galloped toward them along the official road. It was Yang Daoquan, the prefect of Xiezhou, leading his subordinate officials out to welcome them. As they approached the procession, the riders dismounted and bowed to Long Yefang. The man at their head called out, "Your subordinate Yang Daoquan and his officials have come to welcome the Prince of Zhou! May Your Highness live a thousand, thousand years!"
The Prince of Zhou nodded. "Rise. This is Prince Huo