The Third Prince, Xia Wujie, had only just spoken and had yet to get a second sentence out when a clear azure light suddenly flared across the sky outside the hall.
The light pierced through hall after hall and swept past carved beams and painted rafters, illuminating the entire resplendent hall with crystalline clarity. Even the State Heirloom Jade Seal on the imperial desk took on a glazed sheen of immortal light.
The Xia Emperor and the Crown Prince, Xia Wushang, both turned to look at him, one with eyes as deep as an ancient pool, the other with a calm, questioning gaze.
"Uh, never mind." Xia Wujie smiled awkwardly and cupped his hands in salute to them both.
Xia Wushang betrayed no emotion. His fingers, still holding a stone, merely tapped the edge of the Go board with a faint clicking sound, as though reproaching the newcomer for his rashness.
Ah, the endgame had already reached its crucial final stage. Now that my younger brother has interrupted me, I've lost the thread. I'll probably lose to Father again.
Xia Wujie explained helplessly, "The prefectural governments of all sixteen southern provinces just sent urgent messages to the imperial capital. They said the sky had suddenly darkened, leaving the people terrified, and asked when daylight would return."
He had been drilling in the Martial Arena when the messages arrived and had rushed over without even removing his armor, only to arrive just as daylight returned.
"Daylight has returned." The Xia Emperor did not reproach his somewhat impetuous son. He merely gazed toward the Southern Region, a profound gleam passing through his eyes, as though savoring the earth-shattering changes hidden behind those simple words.
As the sovereign of Great Xia, he naturally understood what this "return of daylight" meant.
The Great Emperor