The Rising Sun rose in the east, its golden morning light spilling over the window paper and illuminating the brush, ink, paper, inkstone, and little turtle ornament on the desk.
The fluffy white Niao Niao lay in the snack dish on the desk, head tilted into a decidedly awkward position, sleeping like a piglet.
Ye Jingtang was dressing in front of the bronze mirror. He could faintly hear the murmured words of a good wife and loving mother disciplining her daughter in the main room next door:
"Get up already. The sun's shining on your bottom..."
"Master's wife, where's my bellyband..."
"Shh! Have you no shame... Your Brother Jingtang is next door..."
"Hee~"
They were not really a family of three, but the feeling still made him happy.
Yet when he thought of how this happiness should have belonged to the Sky-Pacifying Sect Master, Ye Jingtang felt a little more pressure weighing on his heart.
He had returned the night before last, but with so much to do yesterday, he had not gone to visit Third Madam, whose injuries had yet to heal.
Once dressed, Ye Jingtang said goodbye to Heroine Luo and led his horse out of the courtyard, planning to stop by Skywater Bridge before investigating the Heir of Prince Wu.
But he had only just left Dyeing Street with Niao Niao on his shoulder when he saw a swift horse galloping toward him. A Black Bureau constable sat astride it and called out from afar:
"Young Master Ye!"
Ye Jingtang rode up to him and asked:
"Is Prince Jing looking for me?"
The Black Bureau constable cupped his hands in greeting. "Prince Jing just sent word asking Young Master Ye to go to Blessings and Longevity Palace immediately. She didn't say what it was about."
Ye