Zhuang Qingning saw Chu Jinnian off to the edge of the village and only returned home after his and Jing Zhao's horses had vanished from sight. She sat in the courtyard, sipping her tea for a while.
However, the more she drank the tea, the more tasteless it became. She called over Xiangqiao to bring her a fresh pot.
Upon hearing this, Xiangqiao frowned and sighed inwardly.
This was the fourth pot of fresh tea Zhuang Qingning had asked her to replace in just half an hour.
Xiangqiao felt that it wasn't that the tea tasted bad, but rather that Zhuang Qingning felt empty in her heart after Chu Jinnian's departure, and thus, found no taste in the tea. She became somewhat worried about Zhuang Qingning.
Meanwhile, Zhuang Qingning, looking downcast, suddenly slapped her thigh, "How could I forget about that?"
"Miss, what's wrong?" Xiangqiao jumped in surprise.
"No, nothing." Zhuang Qingning waved her off, "Go and make me some more tea."