The Imperial Clan Court had never been a lively place.
High walls, deep courtyards, vermilion gates studded with brass-even the wind had to bow three inches lower here.
Prince Ning sat at the head of the room, a half-written Self-Defense Memorial spread before him.
It was not that he could not write. He was waiting.
Waiting for his son to return.
When Jiang Yu had gone out after noon, he had said he was going drinking with Shen Yi and would be back before dark.
Now the sun had long since set, and the lanterns beneath the covered walkway had all been lit.
Even the side gate of the Imperial Clan Court had been locked, yet that boy still had not returned.
"He's getting more and more out of hand."
Prince Ning murmured the words, though there was little anger in his voice.
He sounded more like a father grumbling about a disobedient son.
After speaking, he was just about to send someone toward Yingtian Prefecture to meet him.
Then hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
Prince Ning frowned and had barely lifted his head.
The door burst open.
The man who rushed in was Zhou Yong, an administrator of the Imperial Clan Court, ordinarily a steady fellow.
"Administrator Zhou?" Prince Ning set down his brush, his voice calm. "Has His Majesty summoned me?"
Zhou Yong opened his mouth, then closed it. His Adam's apple bobbed several times before he managed to force a few words out of his throat.
"Prince Ning, the Heir Apparent... the Heir Apparent, he..."
"What happened to Yu? Didn't he go drinking?"
"He ought to be back by now. Has he drunk too much again and passed out in the street?
"Or did he get into a fight and get detained by Yingtian Prefecture?"
Prince