Chapter 338 - Dang Gui, Return
Compared to the grandeur and splendor of the Ruen Dynasty's imperial palace, the Northern Qiang’s royal city was less extravagant but carried a deeper, more solemn presence.
Walking along the stone-paved roads of the royal city, Dang Gui habitually touched the golden hoop on his left ear. Among the Northern Qiang, men customarily wore rings on their ears, while women adorned their wrists. The material, be it gold, silver, iron, or copper, signified their social standing.
Despite having lived in Northern Qiang for many years, Dang Gui still disliked the sensation of something hanging from his ear.
As he walked through the royal city at night, he thought that the empty city was so silent that it felt like a vast tomb. The only sound accompanying him was that of his own footsteps. Dang Gui often thought that the royal city was nothing more than an enormous cage, and inside, the primary prisoner was the Northern Qiang King, Yelü Jiejia.
Occasionally, patrolling guards carrying torches would approach, but they would retreat without question upon seeing Dang Gui display his Qihuang Society token. The King of Northern Qiang put his greatest trust not in his favored ministers or his most decorated generals, but rather the members of the Qihuang Society—his personal, hidden army.
Dang Gui had served in the Qihuang Society for ten years, steadily climbing the ranks through sheer martial prowess until he reached the Huitian-rank. The rank was like a legend among the Northern Qiang people. Achieving this position required more than combat skill; it also required an untainted past. The primary duty of the Huitian-rank was to safeguard Yelü Jiejia from the shadows.
Seven days had passed since he received the secret letter from the Ruen Dynasty. Tonight, it was finally his turn to take the night watch. It was time for him to "change shifts."
That secret letter contained only a few words, yet Dang Gui was the only one who understood the gravity of those words.
The palace pathways were sparsely lit, casting shadows that made the road appear dim. Dang Gui walked with his head slightly lowered, silently counting his steps. When he reached his three-thousandth step, he lifted his gaze and faced a secluded hall, the Library Hall.
Northern Qiang were not as creative with names as the Ruen Dynasty, Dang Gui thought to himself.
Yelü Jiejia would be in the hall right now. He handled state affairs in the Library Hall every night.
Dang Gui ascended the steps, nodded to the guards, then gently pushed open the door and slipped inside, closing it softly behind him.