The Prime Minister emerged from seclusion on the seventh day at noon following Li Zhaoyuan's visit. Xu Yuan, who was handling government affairs in the Mo-Yin Pavilion, was the first to learn of this.
Upon entering the Inner Courtyard, Xu Yuan immediately sensed that no one seemed to have returned home for some days. The courtyard, lacking in human presence, appeared cold and deserted.
Previously, the Inner Courtyard was always populated by someone—either by his aging father or the three juniors. The other three would tidily maintain the courtyard, and even though Xu Yuan did nothing, his presence would leave traces of human activity.
