Less than half a shichen had passed since Li Ji iniatially had come to the Prince's room, and soon the sky would begin to slowly grow lighter to the Yin hour whence tigers would wake up to capture their prey. (1)*
The moon rolled uncloaked across the sky, but soon the sun would bring the start of the next waking day—the third day of mourning Great Emperor Sogo of Akishino.
The sun would also return to scorch the fields and dry smaller rivers, for the rain only came in short temper tantrums. Adding to that, a swarm of locust had brought great disaster.
The governmental officials had taken action: Some of the storehouses were untouched, and new ones were being build as a contingency against food and water rationing. But everyone from the low-ranking officials to the populace were criticising "the nobles that still feast every day."
