Li Jing shut himself in his study and did not come out for a day and a night.
The official documents on the desk had piled up into a small mountain, yet not a single one had been reviewed.
The water in the teapot had long gone cold. Outside the window, the light faded from bright to dim, then brightened again. He sat in his chair in the same posture, like a stone statue.
The steward's voice came from outside the door, cautious and ingratiating through the wooden panels.
"My lord, an urgent report has arrived from the yamen. Bandits are causing trouble in the north, and they need you to dispatch troops."
Li Jing's gaze was unfocused as he remained lost in memories of the past.
"My lord?"
The steward had waited outside for a long time, until his legs went numb. Several times, he wanted to knock, but each time he raised his hand, he pulled it back.
Finally, unable to bear it any longer, he called out softly.
"My lord, it's daylight."
The door was pulled open from within.
Li Jing stood in the doorway, his face waxy yellow, his chin covered in dark stubble, his eye sockets deeply sunken.
"My lord..." The steward's voice caught in his throat.
"Prepare the sedan chair. We're going to the yamen."
The steward froze for a moment, then nodded repeatedly and hurried off to give the orders.
Li Jing rose and quickly left the study. As he crossed the front courtyard—
"Master?"
Yin Shi's worried voice came from beside him.
"Master, where are you going?"
"The yamen."
"But you haven't eaten anything for a whole day..."
"I'm not hungry."
He stepped through the Moon Gate, and his back disappeared around the corner.
Yin Shi stood where she was, twisting her