The ox cart's interior was nowhere near as magnificent as the carriage from the prince's residence, and it was much smaller. A veiled hat large enough to conceal the entire body hung on the wall, its long veil trailing onto the carpet.
Though dressed as a woman, Li Yuanying still sat upright and solemn, his bearing commanding. Huo Qilang had never seen a woman of such cold, otherworldly beauty. Dazzled and bewitched, yet awed by his overwhelming radiance, she grew reserved for a time. Before meeting him, she had often wondered whether the greatest beauty under heaven would be a man or a woman. Never had she imagined it could be both.
She could not help thinking, Of all the wonders creation brings forth, mortals can never guess where a surprise might lie.
After she had sat facing him in a daze for a while, three knocks sounded against the front wall of the carriage. Li Yuanying blew out the candle. Then the door was pulled open, and shadows moved outside. The City Gate Officer stationed at the East Gate was conducting a routine inspection. Seeing what appeared to be two beautiful women seated in the shadows behind the gauze curtain, the patrolmen did not dare look too closely and shut the door again.
The ox cart swayed through the East Gate, traveled another two li, then turned south.
Once the city walls had gradually receded from sight, Li Yuanying removed his wig and women's clothing. He took a plain, round-collared casual robe from the bundle Lady Yu had prepared and put it on, becoming a man again.
Before Huo Qilang had looked her fill, Lady Jing had vanished. She felt rather regretful. She helped straighten his clothes a little and noticed he had forgotten the floral ornament pasted between