The red gate of the Festival Hall slowly opened.
The armored soldiers raised their long spears and retreated to the sides, resembling a black tidal wave parting to reveal the dark interior of the Western Capital Road Marshal Mansion.
Zhang Xia strolled leisurely up the stone steps.
But she did not rush to cross the threshold and instead turned back to look behind her.
The girl stood like a treasured sword under the Marshal Mansion's lights, quietly watching the pursuing Marquis, expressionless as she said, "Is this how the Western Capital Road treats envoys? How can the Heavenly Family's envoys be met with axes and blades?"
The scholar inside the gate pondered for a moment and silently waved his hand.
Hundreds of Marquises wielding broadswords retreated like a receding tide, vanishing without a trace into the alleys. Only then did Zhang Xia turn around and proceed into the Festival Hall.
