Some questions on the use of preposition before time expressions

[Deepurple]

Before "this, that, these, last, next, yesterday, tomorrow, some, one, all every" + "time expressions", we normally do not use any prepositions.
I would like to ask if the rule applies to "the next..., the last... ,and those"?
Furthermore, we say "on the evening of (date)..., but "in the early (late) evening of (date)..... What is the reason behind this?

Thank you for your explanations.

[engee30]

...
Furthermore, we say "on the evening of (date)..., but "in the early (late) evening of (date)..... What is the reason behind this?

Thank you for your explanations.

on the evening of (Friday,) September 6 - focus on the date/day; we know that it was evening and we also know that it was (Friday) September 6
on + date/day

in the early/late evening of September 6 - focus on the time of day; we know it was September 6, we also now it was in the evening, but the most important thing we know is that it happened early or late in the evening
in + time of day