Hongji and his wife, son, daughter arrived back home from Capital City with some people in tow.
By now, it was nearly dark; the lights weren't on in the main house, yet the lights in the smaller house were shining.
This should have been dinner time. With servants and Mother, the concubine, and Father in the smaller house, why were there no lights on in the main house?
The group made quite a commotion as they entered the main house courtyard, and then lit the lamps while the workers helped open the doors and unload the cargo.
Hongji and Mrs. Li did not concern themselves with the luggage; their first priority was to go into the room to check on Mrs. Lai, only to find the door locked, and the original maids and cook from the house gone.
None of the other workers were there either. Could it be that the servants were given a holiday?
The couple were slightly puzzled, wondering where the mobility-impaired Mrs. Lai might have gone.
