Tanchun's Night Departure

"..." "..." "..." The study soon fell quiet. All that could be heard was the rustling of bamboo leaves and banana leaves outside the window, along with the chirping of insects and croaking of frogs. The three women in the study were each preoccupied with their own thoughts, so for a while, none of them spoke. Another quarter of an hour or so passed before Xueyan finally couldn't hold back any longer. "!!" She suddenly straightened up and hurried from the doorway to Tanchun. Then, looking anxious but hesitant, she said, "Third Miss... I-I have something else I'd like to ask you." After speaking, she gazed at Tanchun expectantly. "..." Tanchun looked up and nodded. "What is it?" "Go ahead." She was worried about her Sister Lin too, and couldn't concentrate on her book anymore. Xueyan pressed her lips together, then finally worked up the courage to tell her what she knew and suspected. "My miss has seemed very strange these past few days." "It started that day... when Sister Ping'er brought over that sandalwood box. For several days now, she hasn't had an appetite, and she's been listless. No matter what we ask, she won't say anything." "Third Miss, do... do you know why?" As she spoke, her eyes had already begun to redden. Clearly, she had been worried about her miss for more than just a day or two. "Exactly!" Zijuan came over too, nodding repeatedly. "I remember now!" "That day, after Sister Ping'er left, Miss Lin's expression changed." "I've secretly asked her several times, but she just said she was tired. We haven't been doing anything lately, so how could she be tired?" "Third Miss, didn't you go to Second Madam Feng that day to ask what was going on?" "What did she say?" "What exactly happened