"Your humble subject thanks Your Majesty for your boundless grace!"
Hearing Duan Ziqian say that he would bring his father, the Marquis of Anguo, into the palace to recuperate, Jiang Zhizhou immediately dropped to his knees.
Duan Ziqian stood motionless before him, his gaze resting on the crown of Jiang Zhizhou's head. Only after a long while did he drawl, "Jiang Zhizhou, do you resent this arrangement of mine?"
Jiang Zhizhou did not lift his head, remaining prostrate on the floor. "Such consideration from Your Majesty is the greatest blessing a subject could receive! What grievance could your humble subject possibly have?"
Duan Ziqian nodded. "It gratifies me greatly that you understand my intentions."
Then he looked up at the sky outside the window. "It will soon be dark. I have been away from the palace for some time. I ought to return."
Jiang Zhizhou said, "Your humble subject respectfully bids Your Majesty farewell!"
Jiang Zhizhou waved a hand. "Rise. Go back and think carefully about what I said today. Northern Liang still needs pillars such as yourselves to hold it up."
With that, he left the teahouse under the escort of his guards.
By the time Jiang Zhizhou rose from the floor, Duan Ziqian was nowhere to be seen.
He stood where Duan Ziqian had been and likewise tilted his head to look at the sky outside. After staring into space for a good while, he hurried away.
When Jiang Zhizhou returned to the Rare Treasures Pavilion, he found Yang Qing and Bu Er sitting upright at the table, with several overturned plates before them.
At the sight of him entering, Bu Er gave a cheer and immediately stood to lift the overturned plates.
As he uncovered the dishes, he said to Jiang Zhizhou, "Young Master Jiang, you're finally