THE SUN slowly disappeared beyond the horizon, and darkness settled over what had once been the Pei estate.
Lily remained kneeling before her father's grave.
At first, Yichen thought she would eventually stand on her own.
She didn't.
Night passed.
Morning came, bringing sunlight across the rows of newly made graves. Lily was still in the same place, the small jade token resting before her.
She did not ask for food or water. She did not speak to anyone. Even when Elder Yanshu approached to leave something beside her, she gave no response.
Another day passed.
Then another.
The weather changed with them.
Sometimes the sun remained overhead for hours, its heat falling across the open grounds with nowhere left to provide shade. At other times, clouds covered the sky and rain swept across the graves.
Lily remained there through all of it.
