Pan Yue and the others had lunch in the palace and accompanied the Empress Dowager for a noon rest. After a bout of laughter, they finally bid farewell and went home. Since the Empress Dowager was not in good health and it was the year-end, she did not keep them for an extended stay. Their tributes to the Emperor were sent to Taiji Hall by the Empress Dowager's people.
No sooner had they stepped out of Cining Palace than they encountered Old Lady Liang and Old Madam Liang. They were her elders and had treated her extremely well in the past, so Qian Yixiu braced herself and went to pay her respects to them.
She bent her knees slightly and said, "Old Lady Liang, Old Madam Liang."
Old Lady Liang, supported by a maid, was clearly not as energetic as she had been years ago. She still managed to step forward with a trembling hand and pulled Qian Yixiu's hand, saying, "Good child, you've been wronged. It's our Liang Family that owes you an apology."
