At the hour of the Tiger, Bai Yujun got up and washed.
At this hour on ordinary days, she would be curled up beneath the blankets in deep sleep. Today was the birthday of a Celestial Master from one of the palaces, and there was much to prepare.
Outside the window, the sky was pitch-black. Spring water flowed through a bamboo tube into a bluestone basin. Washing her face with the cool water felt wonderfully refreshing and cleared her head. When idle, Bai Yujun liked returning to simplicity, and she still preferred washing with plain water.
She picked up a towel and wiped her face, burped, then changed into a white shirt. The shirt was brand-new, and its knotted buttons were lovely. Though it had buttons, a certain Bai chose the easy way and simply pulled it over her head...
She slipped her arms in first, then her head, and pulled the shirt down into place.
Finally, she gently tugged with both hands behind her head and pulled her long black hair free from inside the shirt.
She casually found an outer robe and put it on.
The little courtyard was quiet beneath the night sky. The door opened from within.
Warm orange candlelight spilled from the doorway into the courtyard. Bai Yujun casually shut the door, and the courtyard fell dark again, leaving the candlelight inside.
A few moths fluttered around the lanterns in the corridor. The darkness before dawn was hushed and still.
The monkey was asleep atop the hotel lobby counter. Hearing the movement, he raised his head.
"Squeak~ What time is it?"
"The hour of the Tiger. I'm heading up the mountain for the day, burp~"
"Go on."
The monkey rolled over and continued sleeping, occasionally scratching his lower back with a monkey paw.
As she