Inside the Imperial Palace, Wei Zhilin stood calmly outside the Hall of Worthies. Listening to the bell announcing the end of court and gazing at the plum blossoms in the snow outside the hall, he could not help slipping into a reverie...
He could no longer remember how long it had been since he last came here. In those days, the Former Emperor often discussed affairs of state here with Wei Zhilin's revered master, while he instructed the two princes nearby.
Now the Former Emperor was gone, and the Eldest Prince's bones lay buried in a foreign land... Everything here seemed unchanged. Every blade of grass, every tree, even the furnishings inside the hall remained as they had been.
Yet everything here also seemed changed. The surroundings remained, but the people were gone; blue seas had become mulberry fields...
"Teacher, why are you standing outside? Please, come in!"
From the corner of his eye, Wei Zhilin glimpsed a bright yellow dragon robe rounding a corner of the Eaves Corridor. Before its wearer arrived, hearty laughter rang out. It was Emperor Chen, Zhao Chang.
Wei Zhilin lowered his head solemnly and slowly knelt. "Your subject... Wei Zhilin, pays his respects to Your Majesty!"
"Ah... please rise, Teacher, please rise..."
Beneath a yellow silk parasol, Emperor Chen wore the Heaven-Reaching Crown and Cloud-Climbing Shoes, with several eunuchs and palace maids following behind him. He smiled at Wei Zhilin and, seeing him kneel, extended a hand in a gesture of support, though his steps remained unhurried as he approached.
"It has been... so long since I last saw you, Teacher. I have missed you dearly! I summoned you today only for a chat. There is no need for such formality. No matter when, you will always be my teacher!"
As he spoke, Emperor