Dusk fell, the evening glow lit the mountain forests, and the cool breeze grew stronger.
On the main road south of Qingliang Prefecture, Huang Wei paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, anxiety written all over his face.
All was quiet around them, and everyone waited a while longer.
"They're back, they're back! Lord Huang, look! The carriages are back!" A minor official suddenly sprang up and shouted.
Huang Wei looked up and saw four carriages and a group of bedraggled people making their way toward Prefecture City.
He soon spotted Ren Ye among them and, delighted as though his own son had returned victorious, exclaimed, "The caravan people are back with them too! They did it! Quick, a few of you head back and do as I instructed!"
"Yes, Lord Huang."
Several minor officials answered, then immediately turned and ran toward Prefecture City.
Huang Wei sprinted toward the group and soon reached the front of the convoy, calling to Ren Ye and Fan Ming, "What kind of negotiation took almost six hours...? You scared me so badly I'd already set up the mourning hall."
The convoy slowly came to a halt. Around it stood forty-two caravan members weeping with joy, and all four large cartloads of red sandalwood had been brought back as well.
At the sight, Huang Wei looked ecstatic. "It went that smoothly?!"
"Heh, with this prince handling it, how could it be anything but a piece of cake?" Standing among the crowd, Ren Ye hurried to show off. "You call this smooth? Come on, Brother Huang, open those ignorant eyes of yours wide and look at this."
With that, Ren Ye, Xu Qingzhao, Fan Ming, and the others smiled and stepped aside.
As the crowd parted, Brother Huang glanced at the last carriage