A rope twisted from sheep's wool was used to lash the sheep itself!
-Folk proverb
On the twenty-ninth day of the first month, during the wu hour that night, Water Marquis Meng Zhang answered his father's summons and came to the Clear Abyss Palace behind the Sea-Quelling Hall to discuss affairs.
Inside the Clear Abyss Palace, a Green-Robed Clerk took over from the yellow-robed messenger. Trotting ahead, he led Meng Zhang through the empty great hall toward the Emerald-Green Chamber, a secret room in the palace's eastern side hall.
As soon as Meng Zhang entered the Emerald-Green Chamber, inlaid with jade and emerald stone, he saw his father, Chi Gang, standing in the dim green-jade light. Dressed in a deep black robe, the old dragon stood before a white-jade writing desk, gazing absently at a crystal window that admitted light in only one direction. He seemed absorbed in watching the colorful fish swimming through the green coral groves outside. Beside his towering figure stood Meng Zhang's eldest brother, Boyu, and his trusted confidant, Long Ling, both respectfully attending him. Perhaps because the Second Princess was missing, her fate unknown, both wore white robes patterned only with bamboo leaves and seaweed in pale gray ink, as a token of mourning. The moment Meng Zhang entered, an oppressive atmosphere struck him in the face. When the clerk withdrew and the door closed soundlessly, only the four of them remained.
These four men in the Emerald-Green Chamber held the highest positions in the South Sea Dragon Clan.
"Father, your son has failed you!"
Meng Zhang spoke first.
However arrogant this dragon deity and Water Marquis had been in the past, he had no choice but to lower his head now. Standing in the chamber with his hands hanging at his sides, he bowed