The next day, shortly after noon, Brother Huang brought Wu Pangzi and the others to Joyful Music Palace in Prince Huai's Residence.
Everyone climbed out of their sedan chairs one by one. Only then did Wu Pangzi clasp his hands behind his back and ask, "Brother Huang, why has my dear younger brother summoned me here in such a hurry?"
"I don't know." Brother Huang shook his head. "He only said he had something important to discuss with you. He didn't breathe a word about what it was."
Wu Pangzi eyed him suspiciously and smiled. "You really don't know?"
"I don't."
"All right, we'll find out soon enough." Wu Pangzi answered casually and asked no more.
In fact, he had arrived in Qingliang Prefecture the previous night, but he had not seen Ren Ye himself. Brother Huang had personally attended to him throughout.
This attitude made Wu Pangzi very curious. Prince Huai's letter urging him to come had sounded extremely urgent, yet once he arrived, the man himself was nowhere to be seen. In effect, he had left him waiting an entire night and morning.
With his "sworn brother" acting this way, the quick-witted Wu Pangzi had a gut feeling that something big might be about to happen in Qingliang Prefecture.
Still, at a time like this, he could hardly keep pressing for answers. That would only cheapen him.
When the group reached the entrance to Joyful Music Palace, Wu Pangzi told the four adopted sons he had brought along, "Prince Huai has important matters to discuss with me. Go to a side hall and find your own amusement."
"Yes, Father!"
The four answered with great respect.
"Attend to them properly," Brother Huang instructed an elderly eunuch, then smiled and extended a hand. "Come, come, Brother Wu. This way, please."