In Shouci Palace, An Shutong attended to the Empress Dowager until she was asleep before returning to her own chambers.
Mu Qing hurried to greet her. "Miss, please, get some rest. Let me bring you a cup of tea to soothe your throat."
An Shutong gave a slight nod and sat down on the large daybed by the window, leaning against a soft cushion. The night was pitch-black, with only a few palace lanterns casting a faint, flickering glow in the wind.
Yingxue approached with a letter in her hand. "Miss, a letter from the master."
An Shutong glanced at it with disgust but took it nonetheless. She tore it open casually, scoffed at its contents, then crumpled it into a ball and tossed it to Yingxue. "Burn it."
Yingxue turned, lit the letter with a lamp, and tossed it into a ceramic basin, where it burned to ashes.
"Miss, I'm afraid you still have to write a reply," Yingxue said helplessly.
