They had left Jin City two days ago. The party had been traveling at a normal pace, and it would probably take another three days to reach Kaifeng, the Capital City. Nothing much had happened along the way. Occasionally, they encountered people looking for trouble, but those people scattered at the sight of the guards surrounding the carriage. Those who made their living by robbery had a discerning eye of their own; they knew whom they could attack and whom they must not touch.
After two days, Huang Xiao and the others had learned that there was indeed a woman in the carriage, along with a maid. However, Huang Xiao had only faintly heard her voice and glimpsed her back from a distance; he had not seen her face. He was not qualified to guard the carriage at close quarters. Never mind him-even Mu Qiang and Du Ge had been assigned to the outermost perimeter, either scouting ahead or bringing up the rear.
"Brother Du, what do you think the relationship is between the young lady in that carriage and the Commandery Princess?" Huang Xiao quietly asked Du Ge beside him. They were now at the very front of the party, some fifty feet ahead of those behind them.
A few days earlier, Huang Xiao would not have dared ask such things. But two days had passed, his curiosity had grown, and with more distance between them and the others, his misgivings had diminished somewhat.
Mu Qiang remained as he always was, showing no reaction whatsoever to Huang Xiao and Du Ge's conversation.
"Younger Brother Huang, I thought you weren't curious. Looks like you couldn't hold it in after all, eh?" Du Ge teased quietly.
"Aren't you just the same, Brother Du? You simply haven't said anything," Huang Xiao replied