Li Yuanping rode his horse, his spirits high, but when the excitement faded, he felt a cough coming on. The armor he wore was cold and icy, sticky with sweat on the inside, and Li Ximing, who embraced the horse's neck in his arms, seemed to sense something. He asked:
"How has Father been feeling recently..."
"Hm."
Without answering, Li Yuanping, his face pale, let his horse approach the carriage with black flags fluttering and dismounted. Dou Yi, standing nearby, quickly took the reins. Li Yuanping then said:
"Take the horse for... let Xihong use it as his mount. From tomorrow on, there's no need to prepare to travel by carriage."
He bent down to enter the carriage, began to unstrap his armor, and Li Ximing, understanding as always, lit the brazier inside the carriage. Coughing twice, Li Yuanping sat down beside the brazier and said gently:
