Night had fallen.
The banquet at the Ye Family estate came to an end amid the warm, harmonious atmosphere of host and guests enjoying themselves.
Xue Yao took his leave of Cheng Bo and Ye Qingxian. As the steward saw him off, he stepped through the Ye Family's vermilion gates.
The night wind was cold, sweeping away the lingering scent of wine and candles from the banquet hall and pulling him from its cozy warmth back into the chill of reality.
Xue Yao walked down the street with his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze remained calm, his pace unhurried, and his face betrayed not the slightest ripple of emotion.
Yet his thoughts had long since left the Ye Family estate, its lights dimming behind him.
Back to the mansion.
He silently formed those two words, and shadows stirred in the darkness, following him as he crossed several quiet streets and alleys. They escorted him back to the understated, imposing gates of the Xue Yao Viscount Mansion.
As he entered the mansion, the lamps along the corridors cast a gentle glow, bathing the courtyard's bluestone paving in a warm sheen. The servants had long since returned to their quarters, and the vast courtyard was so quiet that only the wind could be heard.
Xue Yao went straight to the study in the inner courtyard. He pushed open the door, sat behind the main desk, and after a moment's silence, spoke.
"Send for Uncle Chen."
His voice was quiet, yet it carried a composure and force entirely at odds with his age.
The page waiting outside silently withdrew.
Before even the time it took to brew a pot of tea had passed, a figure seeped soundlessly out of a corner of the study. It was as if the shadows had