Hearing this, Concubine Du, who had just dried her tears, began to cry again and said, "Today is the third miss's hairpin ceremony, and I worry... with so many guests around, I fear it might turn out like a few years ago, during father's birthday celebration. Husband, you said she wasn't to come out and had me host it, yet she still made an appearance and humiliated me in front of so many people. I'm afraid that incident will happen again, which is why... I took it upon myself to have her courtyard locked."
Having said this, Concubine Du was already unable to speak through her tears.
Jie Residence's second young master patted Concubine Du's back and whispered consolations, "It's all right as long as you explain it clearly. Now, no more tears; it's getting late, you should rest."
After speaking, he stood up and walked outside, his heart inexplicably filled with restlessness and unease.
