The morning dew gently trailed down the vines; wisps of cooking smoke curled up, softly unveiling the curtains of dawn.
The sky brightened.
By the time Shen Hua woke up, there was no one beside her.
She touched the pillow; it bore no trace of warmth. The girl suddenly sat upright, forgetting even to slip on her embroidered shoes as she got out of bed, and with her hair disheveled, she hurriedly chased after.
"Madam."
Shen Hua asked in a low voice, "Has he left?"
Ningzhu replied, "The Marquis left early in the morning."
Shen Hua pressed her lips together, standing stiffly for a long while before slowly walking back with a weary stride.
She felt only a little bit of loss.
Definitely not much.
It was better this way, anyway; it was less painful than seeing him off herself.
This emotion enveloped her, lingering until she had finished her morning meal.
Er Rong came.
