"Halt!"
Hua Biao heard a furious shout and was so startled that he nearly choked on the fruit in his hand.
He spat out the fruit in his mouth and angrily pulled aside the carriage curtain.
He had been in a terrible mood lately. In this bitterly cold season, all the ministers were resting in the warmth of their homes, while he alone had been running everywhere, suffering humiliation and threats. Now that he had finally returned to Luoyang, someone actually dared shout at his convoy?
Your Lordship was a damned Imperial Envoy!
Yet when Hua Biao stormed out of his carriage, he saw tightly shut city gates, tents and chevaux de frise all around. Defensive works of every kind filled the space outside the gates, countless armored guards stood stationed nearby, and riders could be seen galloping back and forth in the distance.
Hua Biao's anger vanished at once.
He looked at the sky, then at the gates, and his heart gave a lurch.
A junior officer immediately came forward, checked the travel document in his hand, and bowed. "My respects, Lord Hua."
"Please rise... May I ask whether something serious has happened inside Luoyang?"
"We don't know either. These are the Grand General's orders."
"Please rest here for now, Lord Hua. Someone will bring fine wine and delicacies shortly."
Hua Biao looked at the armored guards around him, clad in armor and bearing sharp weapons, and immediately chose to follow his heart. He put on a friendly smile and nodded.
"Good, good. I'll go and wait, then."
The junior officer explained, "Lord Hua, we'll report to the General Who Conquers the West right away. You'll be able to enter soon. Please don't worry."
Hua Biao nodded and returned to his carriage.
He had no idea what had happened