Needlework

It was almost midnight when the emperor returned. The children had already gone to bed, and Xie Ning was still sewing under the lamp, with Qinghe accompanying her. Fearing that doing needlework at night would strain her eyes, they lit a few more lamps in the room. The windows were closed. The weather had turned cloudy in the late afternoon, and now a drizzle was falling outside. The bamboo grove of Qingbi Hall rustled in the rain, the sound of which was soothing to the heart.

Bai Hongqi followed the emperor to the entrance with an umbrella. His robe was wet with raindrops, and the emperor's shoulders were only slightly damp.

Xie Ning came forward, took the emperor's cloak, and whispered, "Have you had dinner?"

"I have, but I'm hungry again," the emperor replied. "Let the diet room send some late-night snacks."