Princess Zhao Yang remarked, "The Southern Chu Kingdom pays tribute every year, requesting Qing State to preserve the courtyard where Princess Taihua once lived. Thus, this Autumn Cool Palace has been maintained, and envoys from Southern Chu still come annually to sweep its grounds."
The carriage had already left Autumn Cool Palace behind.
The wind blew, rustling the green leaves of the century-old silk tree, its pink blossoms blooming under the midsummer sun.
Wild grass grew tall before the courtyard, swaying in the breeze, but the people of the past were no longer there.
The carriage reached the end of the palace path. As they approached Kunning Palace, they could no longer ride in the carriage. Princess Zhao Yang and Shen Wei alighted and, guided by palace maids, entered Kunning Palace.
The Empress had not yet returned.
