Zhou Wu accompanied them for ten miles outside the city gates before Ling Hua halted any further escort with a wave of her hand.
Seated inside the carriage, wrapped in a cotton blanket just as she was when she arrived, she smiled at Zhou Wu and said, "General Zhou, today we part, and who knows when we shall meet again. I hope that by the time we reunite, His Second Highness will have ascended to the throne, and you will be coming to the Capital to be ennobled. By then, I will host a banquet in the Capital City to thank General Zhou for the generous hospitality of the past few days."
Zhou Wu was momentarily carried away by her majestic optimism. Despite his age, he felt a surge of youthful spirit, and he clasped his hands together, replying, "Zhou waits for that day."
