Having finished ten thousand words by the third watch, time to sleep.
Shui Rong left the flower hall and saw that the wind and snow outside had grown fiercer. He could not help tightening his Fox Fur Cloak around himself. Seeing this, Nian Xia hurriedly pulled up his hood for him.
Once they were properly bundled up, master and servant stepped out into the swirling snow.
Back when he had speculated on gold shells, Shui Rong had injured himself in a fit of rage. Though he had painstakingly nursed himself back to health afterward, he had never fully recovered.
Coupled with his recent indulgence in wine, women, and pleasure, his slight frame had naturally grown weaker still.
Thus, after walking barely a hundred paces through the wind and snow, his hands and feet were already freezing. His face, on the other hand, burned hot from the alcohol rising in him.
Being cold and hot at once was hardly comfortable.
So when he reached Wei Ying's little courtyard, he lifted the cotton curtain and impatiently ordered, "Where is the hand warmer? Go find one for me, quickly! This damned weather changes at the drop of a hat!"
Only after he finished complaining did he realize that Wei Ying was the only one in the room. There was not even a servant attending nearby, and Xia Jingui was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Cousin? Have you two eaten yet?"
As he spoke, Shui Rong walked to the table and plopped down onto the Embroidered Stool Xia Jingui had just used.
Wei Ying was wracked with inner conflict. How could she have had any appetite?
She shook her head slightly. "Perhaps I ate too much this morning. I do not feel particularly hungry now."
After a pause, she waited for Nian Xia