Wu Kui said, "I heard they would be here soon." He had barely finished speaking when the thunder of hooves came from ahead, and even the ground beneath their feet seemed to tremble. The lingering mist seemed to sense the vibrations too, surging and rolling violently. At last, the morning sun broke free of the clouds and fog and emerged in the eastern sky, spilling golden light across the earth in an instant.
A cavalry column nearly three hundred strong raced toward the bridal escort from the northeast. The mounted soldiers wore gleaming armor, and the golden morning sunlight traced magnificent outlines over it. They galloped forward with vigorous grace, seemingly bursting through the morning mist to appear suddenly before everyone's eyes.
Wen Boyuan reined in his horse and narrowed his eyes. In the middle of the cavalry column, a great banner fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the large character for Feng.
The cavalry halted a hundred feet away. A middle-aged commander clad in bronze armor rode out from the ranks and called, "Feng Changzheng, commander of the Azure Dragon Bay garrison, has brought his soldiers to welcome Her Highness Princess Anping and her entourage!"
Wen Boyuan nodded. News that Princess Anping would cross the river from Azure Dragon Bay's wharf today had long since reached the garrison, and the dowry and baggage had already been loaded aboard the ships the previous night. Wen Boyuan had personally supervised the arrangements and met Feng Changzheng yesterday. He cupped his fist toward him. "Greetings, General Feng!"
Feng Changzheng waited where he was. Once Wen Boyuan drew close, he turned his horse to ride beside him. The three hundred cavalrymen he had brought spread out to either side, opening a passage through their ranks. Wen Boyuan and Feng Changzheng rode into it