Mu Dan adjusted his straw hat, holding his ceramic food container in one hand as he casually followed behind Pei Ji. His steps were slow and unhurried, his light blue hanfu swaying with an effortless, cold elegance that made him look less like a village youth and more like a noble young master inspecting his personal estate.
Crossing through the inner hallway, Pei Ji stopped before a grand wooden door lined with rows of official tax ledgers and sandalwood furniture.
Inside, a middle-aged man in an official crimson robe was carefully reviewing a stack of provincial accounts. This was none other than Mu Rong, the Tax Official of Hundan Province.
"T-Tax Official Mu…" Pei Ji's voice quavered, his chest heaving as he bowed deeply at the threshold. "Your… your esteemed son has arrived to see you."
Mu Rong froze. He raised his head, his sharp official gaze instantly softening into utter shock the moment his eyes fell upon the slender figure standing in the doorway.
"Dan Dan?!"
