Zhao Jing comforted his mother, "As long as I do well, Father's grave will never lack for respect. If you get homesick, Mom, I'll take a couple of months off next year and bring you back for a visit."
Hearing this, Mrs. Zhao quickly demurred. "I was just being a little sentimental, why did you take it so seriously? When you first came to the Prefecture to study, you promised that you wouldn't return home until you earned the title of scholar. Jing, you can't go back on your word."
Zhao Jing: "..."
He had meant to comfort his mother, only to get a lecture from her instead.
They drank and chatted, and time flew by without them noticing.
As midnight approached, Mrs. Zhao and Xiang'er could no longer stay awake. Chen Wanqing and Zhao Jing walked the two of them back to their courtyard to rest before returning to the parlor to continue the New Year's vigil with De'an.
