When Empress Dowager Meng left, Mrs. Xiang followed.

Though the Empress Dowager kindly asked the young ladies to enjoy themselves with the food despite her retirement, the girls stopped eating soon after she was gone.

The Fourteenth Miss Meng was the first to stop, wiping her lips with a napkin. Other ladies quickly followed suit. Soon, the hall servants brought tea for them to wash their mouths.

Chi Zuosi, who accompanied the Empress Dowager to retire, ...