The Imperial Competition Grounds had never been this crowded.
By sunrise, invited witnesses had already begun filling the raised viewing platforms surrounding the main arena.
Imperial relatives.
Military officers.
Noble families.
Representatives of major Clans.
Teachers from Tranquility Conservatory.
And, naturally—
the Song Clan.
Song Huo leaned over the railing.
"Where is she?"
Song Xia looked at him.
"The trial hasn't started."
"I know."
"Then why are you asking?"
"Because I want to see my niece."
Song Qing sat behind them with the calm expression of someone who was absolutely not calm.
Lu Ping stood nearby.
Across another section of the viewing platform, Gong Yuhan, Wen Huo, Dai Chen, Lei Tai and Liang Hua had also arrived.
Cui Guo was absent.
Again.
Gong Yuhan noticed immediately.
So did Song Jia's family.
No one mentioned it.
Not here.
Not now.
Several rows farther away, Gong Yu and Wen Jun sat with selected students from Tranquility.
