The next day, Zhao Junyao rose early for the morning court. It was almost November, so the days were shorter, and it wasn't quite bright yet. Xia Ruqing slept soundly. As usual, she wasn't called upon to attend to him. Attended by Palace Attendants, Zhao Junyao dressed in his dragon robe and went straight to Zhaochen Palace.
As his carriage passed through the Imperial Garden, a pair of eyes peered through the dim morning light, gazing fixedly at the departing imperial procession, staring until it was no longer in sight. But then that gaze suddenly shifted, fiercely fixated on Qingya Residence. Malignant, sinister, envious!
「Days passed by just like this, one after another.」
Once November was well underway, within a few days, a light snow began to fall steadily, firmly marking the end of the chilly autumn and ushering in winter. Since the Little Prince's demise, there had long been little celebration in the harem, so this light snowfall stirred everyone with a bit of excitement.
