Later Lord

Several months later.

Li Jing, far away in Hongzhou, died of illness. His final edict ordered Li Congjia, King of Wu, to succeed him. The grand ceremony was held in the palace of Jinling, with every civil and military official in attendance.

After Li Congjia ascended the throne, he changed his name to Li Yu.

His first decree was to send a letter of submission to the Great Song in the north.

Submission!

The first thing a ruler of a nation did upon ascending the throne was submit to another country.

Truly pitiful.

But...

Li Yu had no choice.

Southern Tang had already abandoned the imperial title in his father's generation and submitted to the northern great power.

Li Yu was merely yielding to the Major Trend.

After the ascension ceremony, Li Yu held a grand banquet, inviting every Southern Tang court official and their family members.

As a senior minister who had served through several reigns, Han Xizai and his family members were naturally invited. Verdant Green Maiden was among them as well.

Qinhuai River.

Under the night sky, the Qinhuai possessed a wondrous charm.

Along both banks of the river, lanterns had just begun to glow.

Han Xizai and the members of the Han family rode aboard a painted pleasure boat, admiring the scenery on either side of the Qinhuai River.

In celebration of Li Yu's ascension, the officials rode painted boats along the Qinhuai. The taverns on both banks of the river were filled with song and dance, bustling beyond measure!

This truly was...

"The singing girls know not the grief of a fallen realm; across the river, they still sing Flowers of the Rear Court."

Verdant Green Maiden sighed softly and recited a line from Mooring by the Qinhuai.

Hearing Verdant Green Maiden's voice, Han Xizai