Zhao Yunhui and Zhao Xin'er exchanged a glance. Both had some idea now: Huang Xiao must have something to discuss with them, but was probably finding it hard to bring up.
"Whatever it is, come inside and tell us. What is there that you can't say?" Zhao Yunhui said softly.
Huang Xiao nodded, then followed the two women into the room.
By now, he was no longer so torn. They had to learn about this sooner or later, and he also believed they would understand.
When they heard that Huang Xiao was about to leave Kaifeng, both women were reluctant to part with him, but they also knew that he had no choice. The matter in Dali was important too.
"When do you plan to leave?" Zhao Yunhui took a deep breath, then asked calmly.
"I was planning to set out in the next couple of days," Huang Xiao said.
"Then make it three days from now. Once Father has been buried in the imperial mausoleum, my sister and I will leave with you!" Zhao Xin'er said.
"Oh? Has the date been set?" Huang Xiao asked.
He really did not know when Zhao Guangyi would be buried.
"Our imperial brother only came to tell me last night," Zhao Yunhui said.
"Then three days from now it is!" Huang Xiao nodded.
Whatever else, Zhao Guangyi was his father-in-law. It would hardly be right for him to leave during the burial, and besides, two days or three made little difference.
Seeing how downcast the two women looked, Huang Xiao stepped forward and held them both, comforting them softly. "You'll still have me!"
Three days later, Zhao Guangyi was given a grand funeral with the rites due an emperor. The two women cried until they were nearly beside themselves. They had originally