Hai hour (9–11 p.m.).
Outside the Wendan Hall.
Maids and servants went about busily, coming and going without pause.
The servants hurriedly climbed ladders to replace the candles in the lanterns.
Nearby, eight maids stood in waiting, each holding a food box in turn.
Inside the boxes were abalone soup, lamb broth, chicken soup, white fungus sweet soup, small wontons, scallion oil noodles, shrimp noodles...
All these dishes were served in white porcelain bowls.
Under each bowl was a small white porcelain stove, inside which a candle burned steadily, ensuring the food remained hot no matter when it was eaten.
Inside the Wendan Hall.
Elder Chen sat on the Grand Tutor’s chair with his eyes closed, resting.
Chen Ji sat beside him to the left, slowly sipping from a tea cup.
Neither wished to speak first.
Until Chen Xu, dressed in a black Daoist robe, appeared at the door, cupping his hands politely: “Family Head, Qi Xianshu, Hu Junye, and Yang Zhan have all arrived. Each has urgent matters to discuss. Whom shall I bring in first?”
The Qi family and Hu family also lived on You Street of the residence; the Yang family lived on Xuanwu Gate Street — just a few steps away, so news traveled quickly and they arrived swiftly.
Elder Chen put down his teacup: “Qi Xianshu.”
Chen Xu bowed deeply: “At once.”