The Emperor talked with the old Duke for over an hour in the Imperial Study Room, only ending their conversation when Yu An announced that Imperial Concubine had personally come to deliver pear soup to His Majesty.
The old Duke stood up, "Your Majesty has matters to attend to, this humble servant will take his leave."
The Emperor, also feeling like they had said enough, nodded and let the old Duke leave. "Yu An, escort the old Duke out of the palace."
Yu An acknowledged.
As the old Duke exited the Imperial Study Room, he saw the Imperial Concubine, standing on the steps in a peach-red cloak. Given the Duke's status, it would be impossible for him to greet the Imperial Concubine, so he simply said, "Your Highness, you are very kind."
If it hadn't been for the Imperial Concubine personally delivering the pear soup, he suspected the Emperor would have continued to interrogate him. He couldn't say much more, after all, how much more could there be to say on the same subject?