Imperial City
Though there were no buildings nearby, a little farther away stood dense clusters of one- and two-story structures, struggling to assert their presence in this land where every inch was worth its weight in gold.
The establishments near the Imperial City were all old, established businesses, no more than two stories high. Buildings above two stories were forbidden in this area, lest anyone climb high and overlook the Imperial Palace.
Yet even from the second-floor windows, one could see the palace gates.
Whenever anyone entered or left, those with sharp eyesight could see their figures and features clearly.
At this moment, the lights on both floors of one shop had gone out. A clerk sighed as he curled up on a couch beneath the window, drinking wine. A plate of five-spice peanuts sat on the small table beside him as he drank alone in gloom.
By the rules, he was responsible for monitoring the palace gates tonight. He had to keep watch through the night; he could eat and drink, but not sleep.
"Spring is gradually arriving. I wonder how things are at home..." the clerk thought to himself. Then, in a daze, he suddenly saw firelight flare outside the window. Startled, he hurried over and peered through a crack in the window.
He saw the palace gates thrown wide open, with a black mass of people pouring out. All wore armor and appeared to be palace guards.
"Something happened?!" Staring dumbfounded at the scene, the clerk watching the palace gates immediately realized something was wrong.
"Something must have happened. I need to report to the Prince at once!"
The sudden unease made the clerk feel that this originally concealed observation post had become unsafe as well.
The unease had come without much reason, but those in their