No words were exchanged that night.
The next morning, at the break of dawn when roosters crowed, sounds of washing and rinsing could be heard from the small courtyard where Zhao Douan was staying.
Shortly after, dressed neatly, Xu Zhenguan stepped out, declined You Jinhua's invitation to have breakfast at the Zhao residence, and amid the respectful farewells of the Zhao family, he took a carriage, facing the fish belly white of the east, back to the Imperial Palace.
"Big brother." At the entrance of Zhao Mansion, a young girl wearing a jacket lifted her face, which had dark circles under her eyes, and with a complex expression, she asked, "Did you and Her Majesty have anything..."
You Jinhua pursed her lips, her ears perked up high.
"..." Zhao Douan, between laughter and tears, flicked her forehead and scolded jokingly,
"You're too young to be thinking about such things. Go back inside."
