The lamp in Zhong Ziheng's study remained lit late into the night. He could not sleep.
Unlike previous nights when he stayed up late, this time he was not smoking alone in his room. The heavy scent of smoke was gone, replaced instead by the subtle fragrance of flowers. It was a branch of winter sweet that Uncle Lin had specially brought to him.
Uncle Lin had lived in this large courtyard for the better part of his life, spending decades tending to its flowers and plants. Not only did he understand the habits of every tree and blossom in the yard, but he also knew Zhong Ziheng's temperament inside and out. When he opened the gate at dusk and saw not a trace of a smile on Zhong Ziheng's face, he knew instantly that Zhong Ziheng was in a terrible mood today.
Chapter 278