Yin Zhili heard the words but didn't take them to heart. She had only seen Jih Heng a few times and hardly spoken to him; it was just a spur-of-the-moment decision, said with conviction, but she would soon forget. On the other hand, he appeared unaffected, yet... no one knew of his dejection.
It was all in the past. Yin Zhili looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.
Resigned to her fate.
...
After the grand banquet in the palace, with the lights dimmed and the revelry dissipated, it seemed even more desolate than on ordinary days.
Empress Dowager and Emperor Hongxiao were walking towards the Imperial Garden.
Emperor Hongxiao had dismissed the Concubines; he had drunk some wine that day but wasn't intoxicated, appearing instead in a very cheerful mood. Empress Dowager, observing his demeanor, smiled and said, "Your Majesty seems very happy today."
