In the days that followed, despite the Emperor being the father of more than twenty children, his favorite place to visit remained the Empress Dowager's palace. The person most cherished by the Emperor was neither the favored Consorts Rong and An, nor the perceptive Consort Mei and the intelligent Consort Lin, nor the Empress, who had birthed a promising heir, but his mother, the Empress Dowager.
As time passed, the Emperor gradually aged, and white hairs began to appear at his temples. His Princes and Princesses were all outstanding, and the choice for Crown Prince was nearly settled. The Empress Dowager was also aging, though her spirit remained vibrant, even more so than the Emperor.
On a crisp autumn day, after the court had been dismissed, the Emperor again went to the Empress Dowager's palace to pay his respects. Upon entering, he saw the Empress Dowager seated in the courtyard, admiring the red leaves.
