Hours before the fire outbreak at the Crown Prince's mansion.
Zhongshan Ling moved back into his mansion a week earlier, following the sixth prince's failed attempt overthrowing the Emperor. He left the palace as soon as he was cleared to leave by the doctors before his father Emperor thought of a reason to keep him in the palace. No, that it mattered anymore since he was the last person in his father's mind.
Zhongshan Ling was used to being the second choice child of his father and mother. First, he was forced to always concede to the sixth prince because he was the emperor's favourite son. Now that the sixth Prince and the imperial consort are out of the question, he was once again kicked aside by the Emperor for someone else.
