Half a month later, Ning Chen's army reached the capital at last.

Outside the east gate, banners and pennants streamed in the wind.

For a mile around, the Dragon Guard had sealed the ground off.

That was because the Xuan Emperor himself had led the whole court, civil and military, out of the city to welcome Ning Chen home in triumph.

Every so often the Xuan Emperor looked off into the distance.

"Why isn't he here yet?"

Eunuch Quan's face was wreathed in smiles. "Your Majesty, there is no need to fret. Word just came that Ning Chen is a mile and a half out."

"Still a mile and a half? Why is he so slow?"

Eunuch Quan hid a laugh. Only Ning Chen could get His Majesty fretting like this.

Still, he had not set eyes on Ning Chen in more than half a year, and he had been thinking about him too.

Just as the Xuan Emperor was running out of patience, the clang and ring of iron cavalry came from far off, and the dust rose into the air.

"Your Majesty, here he comes!"

"This emperor sees him!"

Ning Chen saw the imperial dragon palanquin from a distance and it gave him a start. He had had no idea the Xuan Emperor would lead the whole court out of the city to meet him.

He raised his hand, and the army halted.

Ning Chen swung down from the saddle and hurried forward.

"Your subject presents himself to Your Majesty!"

Ning Chen knelt.

Kneeling was a mistake, because Lone Stride shot out of the bamboo creel on his back.

Lone Stride was growing fast. He was somewhere around thirty-eight pounds now, and good feeding had turned his coat smooth and glossy as a bolt of silk. He cut a fine figure.

That gave the Xuan Emperor and the assembled court a bad scare.

The guards of the imperial presence drew their blades as one.

"Lone Stride, down!"

Ning Chen said it low and hard.

Lone Stride stretched, trotted over to Ning Chen's side, and lay down.

The whole…