Glancing at Bai Ruyi inquiringly, the Colonel continued, “I do hope, Your Highness, that it isn’t anything important you came to see him about. But if it is, I can send someone after him and bid him return at once.”
For a moment, Bai Ruyi was sorely tempted to take him up on the offer. In the end, however, he answered, “It is important, Colonel—but so is his recuperation. I’ll simply await his return.”
Colonel Zhou nodded. “Very well, Your Highness. I’m sorry I couldn’t be of more help.”
“It is I who should apologize,” Bai Ruyi answered quietly. He saw from afar that the young officers were only now leading the guards to the practice grounds in the opposite direction, having needed to wait for replacement guards to man the gate before they could leave. “I did not mean for my sudden visi
