Zhou Shuren remained motionless in deep thought after the Retired Emperor left, mulling over the unexplained change in the Crown Prince's behavior.
Without moving his gaze from the chair the Retired Emperor had sat on, he reflected on how it symbolized the realm which had been passed to the Emperor—who, as Crown Prince, had been very reserved.
Zhou Shuren had an insight: the livelier the Crown Prince, the less likely the similarity between father and son would drive them apart. Otherwise, both reticent, their relationship would surely suffer.
At the Zhou family residence, Zhulan received an invitation from the Ningxu Residence for Marquis Ning's birthday feast.
Lady Li took the gold-embossed invitation and remarked with mixed feelings of admiration and perplexity, "Didn't Marquis Ning used to keep his birthdays low-key? Why the big celebration this year?"
