Today, Princess Consort Zhao, having changed into a simple white gauze dress instead of her usual red, was kneeling before a low table, engrossed in a book. The vast hall was occupied by only her two personal maids and two doorkeeping eunuchs. An old laundry woman was tending to the flowers and plants in the courtyard, creating a particularly cold and quiet atmosphere.
The hall was constructed from high-grade dragon sandalwood. On the table sat a gilded sandalwood Incense Burner with a base of fine suet jade.
However, the incense in the burner soon burned out.
