Shangning City.
In the rear garden of the Marquis's Mansion, Wang Lian, his hair now completely white, was watching the goldfish he raised from a pavilion by the fishpond. Nearby, two young boys in brocade robes play-fought with short wooden swords.
Time slipped by unnoticed. As the sun set in the clear Northwest sky, its light bathing the rear garden, Wang Lian suddenly felt drowsy. He leaned back in a nearby lounge chair and soon, soft snores could be heard. A palace maid immediately fetched a prepared blanket and draped it over him.
The two boys, who had been playing energetically just moments before, exchanged a look, dropped their wooden swords, and ran to the edge of the pond to play in the water. This sent a nearby palace maid's face pale with fright. Just as she was about to rush over and pick the boys up, she heard the sound of hurried footsteps from the garden entrance.
