It was still dark outside, that cold morning breeze was still blowing strong when Chi Lian was roused from bed at four o'clock by Muyang. Looking at the time, she yawned and put her head back down on the pillow. It was ungodly to wake up at this time unless it was related to the children. So, she yawned again and asked him, "Is it the kids? Is Mei-Mei crying again?"
"No," he replied in a serious voice, "The royal butler is here."
"At this time?" she questioned in surprise. Was the emperor sick? Had someone died? There was no good to reason to wake someone up at this time unless it was to give them bad news. "What happened?"
