While Chu Yun was happy to be back among his family, and in the home he had grown up in, it felt a little disconcerting to realise how nothing had changed while his own life would never be the same again.
The servants smiled and called him "young master", as if he'd never left, and his father roped him into a boring conversation about the court as if Chu Yun would still be around to see minister Sui's foolish gamble pan out. But none of that made him feel like he was still part of their lives, not really.
His mother organised a lavish feast, in which Chu Yun, and by consequence Xiao Zai had the seat of honour.
Xiao Zai for his part was doing his best to fulfil his filial duties. He kept topping off Chu Yun's father's wine cup, and complimenting the food to his mother's face, even though she had never cooked anything in her life.
There was only someone missing. "Where's Hean?"
