A wisp of breeze entered the Nine Realms, and a skyful of longing fell as rain.
Days past slipped by in mournful, rustling showers; the coming year would return in quiet simplicity.
The pattering spring rain fell over the Imperial City, and specks of fresh green emerged from the cracks between the street stones. The city's busy inhabitants walked the streets with calm expressions, watching the affairs before them and thinking of feelings from days gone by.
A city wall divided the inside of the Imperial Palace from the outside, but within the palace rose a different scene of sorrow.
A burly figure descended from court with a numb expression. Watching the direction in which the civil and military officials departed, he sighed softly.
Prince Ying rose and returned to the entrance of the Sleeping Hall. He took a deep breath, wiped the sorrow from his face, and put on a faint smile before stepping into the Sleeping Palace.
Within the magnificent Imperial Palace lay a scene of Jiangnan.
Prince Ying's Princess Consort had specially arranged its construction back then to please that white-clad figure. Ink-dark little buildings, small bridges, and flowing water displayed the fullness of spring.
Clad in a long dress, graceful and noble, Prince Ying's Princess Consort sat alone in the garden's pavilion, ceaselessly sewing new clothes, as though she never wished to stop.
Several maids stood nearby, watching her increasingly frail figure from behind and sighing softly.
Prince Ying returned to the Imperial Garden. Seeing his princess consort, he slowly walked over.
Sensing someone approaching, she slowly raised her head. When she saw Prince Ying, a faint smile immediately appeared. "Yuan Yin, how were things at court?"
Prince Ying slowly walked up to her, shook his head, and said as though nothing were wrong, "The same