Before the sun had fully risen over the city walls, Ying Lan set out on her journey. She led her horse along the streets, her eyes darting from side to side. She had to exit the city before anyone recognized the stolen horse.
She saw the city gate looming ahead of her, a towering arch of stone and wood. But her heart sank as she spotted several carriages rolling towards it, flanked by the Marquess guards.
She recognized one of the carriages as the Marquess's own; she had seen him many times through its veiled windows. Another carriage belonged to his daughter, Miss Ding; Ying Lan caught a glimpse of her proud face looking out through the carriage window.
Ying Lan cursed under her breath and quickly darted into a nearby alley, pulling the horse behind her. She could not afford to be seen by the Marquess guards, especially the one whose horse she had taken in the night.
She pressed herself against the wall of a restaurant and watched as the carriages and the guards passed by. She knew that every year on this month the Marquess left the city to join the emperor at the temple to pray, but she had not expected him to leave today.
***
From a high restaurant balcony that overlooked the street, another pair of eyes —belonging to a man in his middle years — watched the Marquess's cavalcade with keen interest.
The man donned a blue robe that marked him as a scholar. His face was thin and sharp as a blade, and his beards had traces of grey.
He knew more than most; he knew the route the Marquess and his people would take to the temple; he knew where they would spend each night.
He counted the guards in the cavalcade, noting their weapons.
He watched the cavalcade vanish under the city gate, then he turned away from the balcony.
He went down the stairs and left the restaurant. He had a horse waiting for him in a nearby stable. He would give them an hour, then he would follow.
***
Ying Lan wanted to put as much distance between herself and the Marquess cavalcade as possible, so she waited for an hour before she dared to come out of her hiding spot.
She led the horse towards the city gate, joining a stream of travelers who were also leaving the city. She noticed a middle-aged man in blue scholarly robes among them. He too had a horse by his side.
He gave her a quick glance; she turned her head away quickly. They exited the gate together.
The scholar wasted no time; he leaped onto his horse and spurred it into a gallop. He soon disappeared into the horizon, leaving behind a trail of dust. Ying Lan wondered what he was running from or to.
She mounted her horse more slowly. She rode at a leisurely pace along the road, taking in the sights and sounds of the countryside.