After bathing and changing attires at Wutong Garden, Xu Fengnian made his way to the Tingchao Pavilion. Upon opening the door, he climbed to the third floor, where white fox-face was searching for sutras on a ladder.

"Holla." Xu Fengnian sent a greeting.

White fox-face jumped down from the long ladder, and the two locked eyes but no one said a word. The atmosphere was neither warm nor affectionate.

In front of the Northern Liang Palace,

Murong Tonghuang followed Xu Fengnian out and off the carriage. He was taken aback by the grand scale of the estate and the underwhelming reception in contrast. For a grand estate like Northern Liang Palace, Murong Tonghuang had expected more servants waiting for Prince Xu to return. Instead, the palace seemed to have only one frail old man standing at the vermilion entrance. It was a chilly day, and the old man, with his hands tucked into thick sleeves, appeared to be shivering from the onslaught of cold weather. He shook his feet against the wind before approaching with a smile when he saw Xu Fengnian. He exchanged trivial pleasantries with Xu Fengnian, like "Welcome back, look at how you've grown." and "Daddy has prepared some winter delicacies, which will do you just so well." and then "What happened to you? How come these ladies around you are all old faces?"

All good things must come to an end.

Upon reaching the desolate border where two provinces met, Xu Fengnian's carriage came to a halt as Qing Niao heard a faint sound from inside. Xu Fengnian lifted the curtain, stepped out, and found himself lost in thought when he gazed at the far less impressive sceneries of Northern Liang compared to the South.

With the arrival of Frost's Descent, the trees withered, leaves fell, and the insects entered hibernation. Outside, the gentle breeze now carried a chilling bite that could penetrate their clothing. Xu Fengnian had set off on his journey during the warmth of spring, and it was already winter upon returning to Liangzhou Province.