Hu Xiaotian left the chamber with a heavy heart. Shi Kuan, Commander of the Golden Scale Guards, appeared before him to take his leave. Princess Anping was dead, and Qichen Palace no longer needed to be guarded by a large force. Shi Kuan and his Golden Scale Guards had completed their mission. Surprisingly, the man replacing them was Dong Tianjiang, commander of the Tiger Standard Battalion. He had come under orders to lead five hundred men in escorting Princess Anping's coffin back to Great Kang at dawn the next day.
Hu Xiaotian had dealt with Dong Tianjiang before, but back then, the Dong brothers had come knocking of their own accord, doing everything they could to make trouble for his party. Now the emperor of Great Yong had chosen this very man to escort them. Truly, enemies could never avoid crossing paths. Hu Xiaotian inwardly cursed his luck. If Xi Yan kept playing dead, their journey would probably be plagued with trouble. Remembering her warning that something major would happen three quarters past the Zi hour, he could not help feeling a little hopeful. He hoped she could use the opportunity to slip away and eliminate this hidden danger once and for all.
Although Dong Tianjiang had opposed Hu Xiaotian many times, he observed every courtesy on this visit, keeping things strictly official without showing undue arrogance. Led over by Shi Kuan, he cupped his hands before Hu Xiaotian. "Lord Hu, I have come on His Majesty's orders to escort Princess Anping's coffin back to Great Kang."
Hu Xiaotian returned the salute. "The journey to Great Kang takes us over high mountains and distant waters. Thank you in advance for your efforts, General Dong."
"Since you two have met before, there is no need for further introductions," Shi Kuan said.