Hu Xiaotian froze at the news. "General Li, didn't you say the Seventh Prince was on his way here along the Heaven-Reaching River?"
Li Chenzhou said, "Indeed, but His Highness received a summons from His Majesty midway through his journey, ordering him to return to the Yong Capital immediately. He therefore entrusted me with escorting Princess Anping to the Yong Capital."
The news brought Hu Xiaotian equal measures of joy and worry. He was glad that the Seventh Prince, Xue Daoming, would not appear for now, sparing Zijuan a meeting with him and preventing their deception from being exposed prematurely. What worried him was that Li Chenzhou would personally escort them back to the Yong Capital. Exceptionally intelligent and shrewd, Li Chenzhou would certainly keep a strict watch on them throughout the journey. Hu Xiaotian had originally planned to find an opportunity along the way for Zhou Mo to take Long Xiyue away ahead of the others. Finding such an opportunity right under Li Chenzhou's nose would be difficult.
Hu Xiaotian put on a delighted expression. "Nothing could be better than having General Li accompany us. It's just that we probably won't be able to set out for another three days at the earliest."
Li Chenzhou said, "There is no need to delay. We will leave the Nanyang Water Fortress for the Yong Capital this afternoon."
Hu Xiaotian was startled. Wu Jingshan could scarcely believe his ears either. "But we haven't even sorted things out here yet," he said in astonishment. "We haven't had time to make arrangements for the dead warriors."
Li Chenzhou smiled. "Nothing is more important than the Seventh Prince's wedding date. Neither of you need worry. General Tang will take proper care of these warriors' bodies. As for the dowry, there isn't much left anyway. We