It was New Year.
The Southern Wu royal family was shrouded in gloom, with no heart for lavish celebrations. Many nobles simply shut their doors and carried on with their pleasures as usual.
Bai Yujun spent a warm New Year's Eve with the two children. There was a pot of dumplings and a table full of dishes. There were no fireworks or firecrackers, nor did they stay up to keep watch over the year. Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, they went to bed. A tiny oil lamp lit the stove, while the girl crouched beside it, head lowered and back bent, diligently scrubbing the pot...
Bai Yujun had originally planned to wash the dishes herself, but the girl would not allow it and insisted on doing it personally.
Once the work was done, the night had grown still and deep.
She picked up a jade bottle, poured out a pill, placed it in her mouth, and swallowed it with a mouthful of water.
The pill had been specially made by Bai Yujun for the girl. Spending long periods soaking in cold water to gather river snails would greatly affect her bones and muscles, leaving behind the roots of rheumatism and arthritis. The pill could drive away pain and nourish her body, but she needed to work and exercise more so that its medicinal power could quickly seep into her muscles and bones.
She blew out the oil lamp, removed her outer clothes, and rustled into bed.
The small bed was not large, just enough for the two children to sleep pressed together, warm and snug.
Before falling asleep, the elder sister glanced at the beautiful horned demon in the large bed beneath the azure moonlight, muttered something, and slowly drifted off. The little Thatched Hut fell silent...