When they returned to their residence, the sky had turned a gentle gold. Their attendants had prepared a meal, but Bai Li asked for it to be brought to the private dining room rather than the main hall. Neither Matriarch wanted a formal dinner. They wanted an evening that belonged to them, with no elders waiting outside the door and no one asking for a decision as soon as they set down their cups.
Yan Cijin changed into a soft robe and sat near the window while Bai Li poured tea. The mountain was full of small sounds. Somewhere below, an instructor was correcting a student who had made the same mistake three times. A pair of birds argued on the roof, then flew off when a servant opened a nearby door. The lanterns along the paths were being lit one by one, making the courtyard look warm and welcoming against the blue shadows of evening.
