Qing Dai, seated on the carriage shaft, recognized the man ahead. Her expression changed slightly, and she quickly leaned down to report softly through the carriage curtain, "Sir, the man blocking the road ahead... is Prince Qiao."
Prince Qiao?
Lu Changfeng briefly searched his memory before matching the title to its bearer-Li Chongfu, the eldest son born to a concubine of Emperor Zhongzong, Li Xian. His birth mother had held little status, and his principal wife was Zhang Yizhi's niece, an awkward connection that had always made Empress Wei dislike him and regard him as a thorn in her eye.
After the Divine Dragon Coup, Empress Wei had found a pretext to frame him and banish him to distant Junzhou, where he held the empty title of prefect while effectively under house arrest. He was a rather awkward, and rather pitiable, member of the imperial family on the fringes of Chang'an's circles of power.
His thoughts flashed like lightning, and he already had some idea of why the prince had come.
With the road blocked and no way to avoid him, Lu Changfeng straightened his robes, lifted the curtain, and calmly stepped down from the carriage.
He walked over.
Lu Changfeng offered the young man in coarse hemp robes a simple bow. "Your humble official, Lu Changfeng, greets Your Highness, Prince Qiao."
Li Chongfu forced a somewhat stiff smile and gestured for him to rise. "There is no need for such ceremony, Mr. Lu. You are young and accomplished, a man of distinguished bearing. Though I reside in a remote place, I have heard of you and admire you greatly."
"You flatter me, Your Highness."
Lu Changfeng straightened and regarded him calmly. "May I ask what brings Your Highness to this deserted fork in the road to stop my carriage?