What does he know about what happened the precious night? That it happened. Literally under everyone's nose, without any suspect or hint that something like that was even being planned. And for IAs, that's not exactly a prideful thing.
No wonder that Sao is furious. I'm merely one night, not just him and his whole organization got humiliated in front of the whole nation, he also lost his position as General - as well as all the other three.

If asked about it by anyone, he only had swearing to give.

On one thing, WuNing was right, but not on the fact LaNi got promoted. To Sao, promotions aren't something light or to play with, he wouldn't use it not even if he was certain that the promoted would consider it a punishment.
Instead, he made LaNi a full-duty IA.

Before, he gave a privileged role to him, that he could work only 4 nights per week and just on investigation duty.
But what he grants he can take back, especially when he gets angry — and he really is an evil person who doesn't give a damn about fairness.
Bring a full-duty IA does not only mean that LaNi will now have to work every night of the week, but also that he will have to carry on also all the other duties an Imperial Assassin is supposed to: raid, executions, interrogations.

It's early morning when suddenly someone knocks on the door of Yung manor. It's two messengers from the Seelie Court, sent by the Queen herself to formally invite Sao to a special competition meant to occur that same day, in the Fairyland. He is told that his grandson, WonPil, also known as Prince Caelean will participate to the competition between the Courts.

Although reluctant, after they assure him that due to the difference in the speed of time, he'd be missing from home for just a few minutes, he accepts to follow them.
The Seelie take him in the Court through the closest passage from his manor and they lead the way through the magical forest surrounding the Seelie territories. They walk for a time Sao doesn't manage to count, in that confusing environment, but doesn't complain. In a way, he is fascinated and he always wanted to see this so-called Queen said to be WonPil's mother.
They finally reach a wide, open valley where a crowd is already waiting.

There aren't chairs or benches, everyone except for the Seelie Queen, on that side or the audience, are supposed to sit or lie on the grass. The Unseelie are on the opposite side, at quite a distance from the others.
The Seelie Queen is sat on a throne, just as much as the Unseelie King, but their design is very different.
There aren't great interactions between Sao and the Queen, she only tells him to not drink nor eat anything while there, or neither herself nor her son will be responsible of him being stuck in Fairyland. Just to be quite hostile, both her and WonPil would have the authority to release him.

Sao doesn't sit, but waits with crossed arms on his chest while standing aside.
When finally WonPil and the Unseelie Prince make their appearance, by the starting area of the competition, their images are projected in the sky, at the work of some warlocks. It's like huge screens on the sky, with different distances and angles to follow the princes and make sure the audience won't miss the actions when the contenders will get out of sight.

At a first sight, Sao almost didn't recognize WonPil. He gives a totally different vibe than usual. He stands in a straight and proud pose next to the Unseelie Prince, not looking any less than the other in dignity and charisma.
His hair are longer, a little over the shoulders, decorated by small braids locked with golden threads and little flowers. He is not wearing an armour or protections, just a fairy outfit that reflects the colours of the summer season approaching, like every other Seelie, including the Queen.
WonPil has bow and quiver on his back, as well as a long sword, in fairy style too. Even from far, his body looks more fit than it has ever been, although he didn't increase in mass. His muscles, under the tight, light clothes are clearly tonic.

The General glances at the Queen from time to time, seeing that she keeps smirking proudly. Himself is still not impressed, regardless the apparent changes in WonPil's appearance, but he has a feeling she summoned him just to show off.
Gwynn of the Wild Hunt is supposed to be the arbiter for the competition between the Princes. He is on his fairy steed, standing near the young ones, ready to monitor.
Sao is gloomy and fears that WonPil is going to suck, as always, and bring shame on him. He hopes that nobody else there will associate him to their precious Prince. If there were somewhere to bet, he'd go for the Unseelie guy without second thoughts.

When the preparations are ready, Gwynn gives the go and the Princes start their competition, that's very difficult and dangerous.

(...)

As promised, when Sao is escorted back to Xhuanghen, he has been missing for only a few minutes which leaves his servants baffled. And he really was in the Court for hours, but he is thoughtful because of what he witnessed and the timing couldn't interest him less.

~ 3 days before the current date.

Average day. Before heading to the Court for the daily reunion, he makes a stop by the headquarters of Imperial Assassins to receive reports on the recent happenings.
He would have never expected what was about to come.
One of the officers tells him about a Nobody's-Child* who got involved in a case, deliberately causing a ruckus to help a suspect escape. That wouldn't be a big deal, something he'd not even need to know, but the officer tells him he was just about to contact him. And insists that he has to go to see this boy with his own eyes.

Sao knows that his men wouldn't risk to bother him for no reason, least of all an officer and veteran of his organisation. He agrees to see this person, curious about what's the matter.
They head downstairs, to the little dungeon of the building, and approach one of the small, there cells on the left.
A boy is chained to the bars, wearing the typical black robe Nobody's-Children are usually seen with.
As the General takes a better look at the face of the young man, he is left shocked to realise that he looks absolutely identical to WuXin.

He knows that WuXin had a twin, at birth, but like everyone else, he thought their oldest brother Zhao had killed him, as their abeoji ordered him to do. If it had not been for that fact, he could have as well taken it for a case or some creature playing tricks.
Sao tries to speak with the boy, but he doesn't know anything, not even his real name. Before he could make conclusions, the IA officer who led him there hands him the few belongings that they found on that guy, when they arrested him.

Among those items is a letter, that got opened, with the seal on it, broken. He reads what's written in it and shuts his eyes. The seal both outside and inside the letter is the undeniable proof that the document is authentic and in truth, Sao isn't even too surprised. It's very Zhao.
Not really having the heart to kill that boy - everything about WuXin makes him uncommonly sensitive - to just get rid of him and make things easier, he is forced to take him home with him, but not to the same residence where he is living with SangPil and family.

Sao chooses a more remote manor, where there won't be indiscreet eyes to make rumors to see 'WuXin' in such a poor state.
There, he explains WuNing about the letter, their family, WuXin and all the basic things he needs to know.
He also leaves him to the care of the servants to clean him up and give him a decent look. Not having many options in that moment, the servants give WuNing one of WuXin's hanfus to wear.

Before letting the new brother meet anyone, Sao tries to make sure he learns at least the most minimum manners and customs, to avoid making the whole family ashamed.
He secretly hopes that WuXin will kill him, when they will meet, but he knows that it probably won't happen.

*Nobody's Children are boys born from prostitutes in brothels, from unknown fathers. Zhao left WuNing to their care, thinking that he would be the safest among them. They are like a brotherhood, living in the street on thievery and little crimes, to survive together.

He suddenly sends a letter to TiHao, warning him that he has to come to pick his daughter up from his home, as he needs to leave for a few days, due to some urgent work matters.
He doesn't say it's urgent, but still prefers not to leave her all alone with servants but rather have them return to her family.