I originally wanted to write two chapters about the women of the Grand View Garden, but people said it was too much filler, so I'll just skip it—also, there'll be an extra chapter tomorrow, and the Crown Princess will make her appearance.
Crown Prince's Residence.
As dawn broke, Wang Dexiu, Assistant Administrator of the Court of State Ceremonial, scurried about on his trademark short little legs, having long since lost count of how many times he had paced between the two stone lions.
Not only was his forehead beaded with cold sweat, but his Deerskin Boots were soaked through as well. Every time his ten toes touched down, it felt as though they were sinking into swamp mud.
Yet rather than stopping, he hurried even faster.
Just as he reached the stone lion on the left again, Wang Dexiu rose onto his toes and twisted around, spinning half a turn like a top. He was about to rush toward the stone lion on the right when a whole crowd came pouring out of the residence, led by none other than the Crown Prince.
Wang Dexiu hastily made another sharp turn and dashed to the foot of the steps. He wiped away the cold sweat he had accumulated for so long, then bowed with his gleaming forehead exposed. "Your Highness, why are you..."
But the Crown Prince had no time to heed him. Shielding his eyes with one hand, he scanned the street and muttered, "Why hasn't Beloved Subject Sun arrived yet?"
After a pause, he frowned. "By rights, he should have come yesterday!"
Though he knew that speaking up now would likely bring him no good, duty compelled Wang Dexiu to brace himself and advise, "Your Highness, you are the sovereign. There is no reason for you to wait at