Geng Jing shook his head. "That is not clear."

"But this Ran Xiaogu is no ordinary beauty, she knows poetry and songs, and she has the Fourth Prince's favor entirely."

"Since he has had Ran Xiaogu, the Fourth Prince has not gone to that whole side of the city once."

Ning Chen's eyes narrowed. "Take this Ran Xiaogu, and have her brought to the capital in secret."

"And keep men in Xiangzhou looking into it."

Geng Jing gave a slight nod. "All right."

"By the way, His Majesty's birthday is in a few days. Do you have your gift ready?"

Ning Chen was brought up short. "His Majesty's birthday?"

Geng Jing looked at his face. "You did not know?"

Ning Chen smiled bitterly. "Nobody told me... and His Majesty never said a word about it."

Geng Jing had nothing to say to that. "You were waiting for His Majesty to tell you a thing like that? Not even knowing when His Majesty's birthday is — if the censors hear of it they will impeach you all over again."

Ning Chen gave a roll of the eyes. "When is His Majesty's birthday?"

"The twenty-seventh of this month."

Ning Chen worked it out. There were six days left.

"What gift did you get ready for His Majesty?"

Geng Jing said, smiling, "His Majesty is fond of poetry and songs. I have an old painting ready for His Majesty."

A light moved in Ning Chen's eyes. "Let me have a look at it."

Geng Jing's eyes went wary. "It is at home."

Ning Chen made a disappointed sound.

He was starting to get a headache over it. What gift was he to get ready for His Majesty?

Should he take along a good heavy weight of goodwill?

While he was thinking about it a rolling rumble came from outside.

Geng Jing frowned. "It is going to rain again. It only stopped half a day ago."

"There has been too much rain this year. The flooding is bad all over Yunzhou."

"It has been raining on and off in the capital for a month…