Lord Min Hee sits with Lord Ono Arun, while Lady Ono Drishti sits with Hee’s wives. Lord Ono Hyeon having been escorted to the quests area, the adults are now freely able to converse.
Lord Min Hee serves his friend Lord Arun a cup of Sake. Lord Arun happily takes a sip and lets out a satisfied sound. Lord Min Hee only sips at his cup before placing it back onto the table.
Lord Arun playfully asks, “Well, Hee, what is wrong?” With a closed set of eyes, his playful tone sounded as if he was both amazed and knowing of the problem concerning his friend's heart.
Lord Min Hee narrows his eyes in contemplation. However, before long, he stiffly says, “I fail to understand what are you talking about?”
Lord Arun snorts as he folds his arms over his chest and raises a disbelieving eyebrow. “Really, you have no idea?” Lord Arun casually asked.
Lord Min Hee fails to answer, only causing Lord Arun to sigh loudly in exasperation. “Fine, allow me to be direct…., your youngest daughter…. If I did not know you better, I would dare say that you are displeased at her return,” Lord Arun softly said.
Lord Min Hee glances at his friend before carefully replying, “No, I am quite happy she has returned.”
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Lord Arun snorts under his breath with disbelief as he serves himself another cup. “Fine, then, I won’t interfere in the matter too much, but I suggest that you don’t allow for things to slip out of your reach until it is too late to fix them,” Lord Arun warningly said.
Lord Min Hee doesn’t reply and merely serves his friend another cup of Sake.
*
Lord Min Hee guides Lord Arun and Lady Ono Drishti for a walk into the gardens leaving the wives alone. As soon as they leave, Ayako rises her feet and twists her red lips into a semblance of a warm smile. “Good night, sisters,” Ayako mockingly said, before gliding out of the room.
Ehuang sighs tiredly as she rubs her aching head. Nuo gently reaches over and pats Ehuang on the back. Ehuang turns and smiles tiredly at Nuo.
Though tired, she still retains her dignity and grace as she rises to her feet. Nuo follows suit as they too follow in Ayako’s wake. Ehuang and Nuo pause to admire the scenery as they return to their own quarters.
Nuo breaks the silence first and says, “Ehuang, what of the little one?”
Ehuang sighs as if tired of the subject and wearily says, “Ayako does not care either way, but Hee will not change his mind, Nuo.”
Nuo opens her mouth to protest, but Ehuang quickly silences her by saying, “Nuo, enough.”
Nuo presses her lips together, not speaking out of turn. Zhuang sighs and softly says, “Nuo, I am sorry, but that child-, is out of our hands.” In awkward silence, the pair of women continues to walk together until their paths separate the two and they each go their own way.