Di'an, Imperial Palace.
By the shores of Sky Peak Lake, birds chirped and flowers bloomed, while the misty rain after the downpour dispelled the heat of summer.
Two elderly men, companions of a lifetime, walked along the shaded path by the lake embankment. The first rays of light filtered through the treetops filled with birdcalls, scattering onto them, catching the attention of one garbed in a golden Dragon Robe.
The elder raised his gaze, staring at a bluebird hopping on the treetop, and suddenly broke the silence:
"I've noticed that since the year before last, we've been meeting more and more often."
The imposing middle-aged man paused, his voice betraying no emotion:
"That is not a good thing."
The elder turned his head, his aged, profound eyes carrying a trace of deeper meaning:
"What? Across Dayan, those who wish to meet with me are as many as the fish in the river; yet for the Prime Minister, this becomes a bad thing?"
