"What Wei Ying is never needed to change," he murmurs, giving into impulse and unfolding his legs to crawl up to the head of the bed, resting against the other pillow. It feels dangerously intimate to be so close in only inner robes but they have spent time in closer quarters and he thinks Wei Ying will not hold such an indulgence against him.

When he had woken at 5am to rain and darkness, he'd longed for more sleep. This is better.

"Lady Jiang knew this. Was a good person but Wei Ying deserved the kindness. Your sadness honors her."