Pan Hong and his son remained ill until the emperor's imperial carriage left the capital.
The emperor took many people with him. There was not much change on the main streets, but several districts where officials lived had grown much quieter.
The street where Pan Hong's family rented a house was far more silent than before. Many officials had followed the imperial carriage, and with their fathers away from home, the children seemed less mischievous. The sounds of parents scolding their children, which had made the place a scene of chickens flying and dogs leaping every morning and evening, suddenly vanished.
Pan Hong, lying in a reclining chair beneath the sun, found it unbearably dull. He laboriously pushed himself up on his arms and slowly made his way toward the door.
Pan Yue, sitting by the window with a book in his hands, looked over in surprise. "Father?"
Pan Hong waved at him and said slowly, "It's too quiet. I'm going out for a walk."
But in his current condition, he could not walk far. He could only sit on the threshold and stare blankly at the silent street.
Not until evening, when children returning from school came running home, did the quiet street regain a little life.
The courtyard gates next door and across the street finally opened to welcome the children back.
The mothers instructed their children, "Your fathers have followed the imperial carriage on campaign. Don't be naughty at home. How was school today? Did you listen to your teacher?"
Only after questioning their children did the neighbors notice Pan Hong sitting on the threshold. Their voices unconsciously softened by several degrees. "Minister Pan, soaking up the sun?"
Pan Hong nodded slowly, smiling gently. "Yes, soaking up the sun."
"Sunlight is good. The more sun you get,