It wasn't until the New Year that the Emperor's mood improved somewhat. Perhaps due to his low spirits, he had been neglecting state affairs for over four months, delegating many responsibilities to the Crown Prince.
The entire royal family was in mourning, and the Crown Prince, with no other duties, was suddenly overwhelmed with work. Though frustrated at first due to the busyness, he gradually adapted.
Not only the Emperor but even the court ministers were increasingly satisfied with the Crown Prince. Seeing this, the Empress finally discussed with the Emperor the matter of allowing Prince Gong to return to his fiefdom after the New Year.
Though Prince Gong's injury had healed, his leg still had a slight limp. It wasn't too noticeable at a slow pace, but became evident when he moved faster.
