Princess Qingyang stayed until evening, only leaving after dinner.
'If her brother were in the Capital City, she'd never dare to stay this long.'
Having eaten and drunk her fill, Princess Qingyang headed home, thoroughly satisfied. She even made off with two jugs of Ye Chutang's Snow Drink.
Ye Chutang saw her out. Once the princess was gone, she returned to her room.
As she pushed open the door, her steps faltered.
But the hesitation was almost imperceptible, and a moment later, she walked into the room, her expression unchanged.
Circling around the screen, she saw Xiao Wu lying on the bed, already fast asleep from the late hour.
Ye Chutang walked over to tuck in her blanket, and her eyes landed on the round table to the side.
A letter lay silently on its surface.
She walked over and picked up the letter. There was no writing on it, but the seal was emblazoned with a black hawk, its wings spread wide for flight.
Its eyes flashed like lightning, its talons sharp as hooks.
