"Start from the beginning."
Ding Wu sat across from Song Jia.
For several moments, he said nothing.
Song Jia did not rush him.
Whatever had driven him to her courtyard in the middle of an Imperial competition was serious enough that he had swallowed whatever pride remained between them.
Finally, he spoke.
"After the baby died, Yimu changed."
Song Jia's expression remained neutral.
"How?"
"At first, I thought it was grief."
That would have been reasonable.
Ding Wu looked down at his hands.
"She wouldn't sleep. She became angry over everything. She refused to let anyone move the baby's belongings."
Song Jia listened.
"Then her appetite changed."
She became more alert.
"In what way?"
"She was always hungry."
"How soon after the baby's death?"
Ding Wu frowned.
"I don't remember exactly."
"Before or after the wet nurse died?"
His head snapped up.
"You know about Shufen?"
"I know she died."
He stared at her.
Then nodded slowly.
"After."
