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As dusk approached, the streets became crowded, and the carriage traveled slowly. Pei Ye followed from afar, all the way to the eastern city.
Once past the busiest section, the people began to thin out, and the houses with high gates and large eaves appeared. The carriage turned three corners, delving deeper, and finally stopped in front of a courtyard at the end of the alley.
Pei Ye stood at the entrance of the alley, watching from a distance.
The gates were tightly shut, decorated with delicate lions that seemed more exquisite than imposing. After the carriage had stopped for a while, a man wearing a silk robe got off. He was on the thin side and past forty, none other than the Elder Zhangsun that Ji Yun had mentioned.
He stepped forward to knock on the door, the coachman drove the carriage toward a side gate, blocking the man's figure. When he came into view again, he had disappeared, leaving only the doors that were slowly closing.