At the heart of Xia City was the royal palace, and in the shadow of the magnificent building was an unremarkable villa on the royal grounds. Guards patrolled vigilantly, and there was an intangible web of power that protected it from less physical assaults.

This was the Regent's palace, and the power that his house wielded was presently even higher than the royal palace.

Gong Shenjun alighted from his carriage, striding up the well-maintained pavement back to the villa. Servants bowed as he passed.

"Your Highness."

"Your Highness, welcome back."

These words, spoken however sincerely, were but chatter in his ear that he had come to take for granted. Cutting across the lush, carpeted hallways, he emerged in a study that overlooked the lake. The room was sparsely furnished, without much...