After the Qixi Festival, it had rained for several days, and the weather grew gradually cooler.
In the pond of the Grand Preceptor's Mansion, fallen flowers floated on the surface, while inside, Qi Yutai paced back and forth, restless.
Apart from showing his face once at the Board of Rites Office, he had not set foot outside for days.
Following another bout of illness, Qi Qing feared for his safety and directly requested leave from the Board of Rites Office. Qi Yutai was confined within the mansion, unable to step out at all.
Being cooped up in the mansion all day, his craving for the drug grew especially intense.
When plagued by irritation and confusion, the desire for Cold Food Powder always seemed amplified. However, everything in the mansion was orderly to the degree that even his wish to drink alcohol was thwarted—his body, barely recovered from a serious illness, could not cope with strong liquor.