Great Qian's imperial capital.

The tall, sturdy demon-horses slowed their pace. More than a dozen armored soldiers recognized the carriage at a glance as Qingzhou's General's own, and saluted in unison.

Jiang Yuanhua stepped out of the carriage and held the document out to them.

"..."

The soldiers watched the document float toward them through midair, and hurried to bow and receive it with both hands.

Qingzhou must be in trouble again, it seemed — the General hadn't brought along so much as a single attendant, and wasn't even willing to show his face, sending out his divine spirit directly instead.

They glanced at the lowered curtain of the carriage, with not the slightest thought of checking behind it.

A divine spirit proved a man's identity far more reliably than any face ever could.

They flipped quickly through the booklet, then returned it with both hands, calling out in loud, clear voices, "Please, General, enter the city."

The four demon-horses set off again.

Jiang Yuanhua climbed back into the carriage as well.

By rights, Qingzhou's carriage was a matter of no concern at all to most people in the imperial capital.

Whatever happened across the Nine Provinces, this towering imperial city stood eternal.

But as the carriage rolled into the city, a young servant in a blue robe suddenly froze in his tracks at the roadside. Once he'd confirmed his eyes hadn't deceived him, he wheeled around at once and dashed off toward the western side of the city.

Gasping for breath the entire way, he finally came tearing into a grand, opulent estate.

He smoothed down his clothes and worked to steady his breathing.

The Princely Household of Ji kept strict rules of decorum — even a lowly servant had to mind the estate's bearing, and if anyone caught him making a spectacle of himself, a beating to the death wouldn't be out of the question.

Today, though, was a stroke of good fortune. A reward of silver was surely coming his way.

The blue-robed servant, proper and respectful, requested an audience with two of the handmaidens, keeping his…