Early the next morning, lightning flashed and thunder roared.
The torrential rain continued for three hours. Not only did it show no sign of easing, it only grew heavier.
Rolling thunder sounded from time to time, exploding across the cloud-choked sky and jolting the people of Shuzhou awake from their dreams.
Xiao Wuge was one of them.
It was not that he was afraid. Such weather simply always reminded him of some unpleasant memories.
He climbed up and looked around. The candle in the dim side room had long since gone out; only when lightning streaked past was the room illuminated for an instant.
Letting him know that he was presently in Jiaxing Garden, not Chunhe Garden.
He sat blankly for a moment.
Xiao Wuge got up, laboriously pulled on a long robe, and headed outside.
The oversized robe had not been fastened with its ties, hanging lazily from his body.
"Young Master, you're awake?"
Cui'er, who had been keeping watch outside, heard the sound and turned around. Seeing him, she hurried over to straighten his clothes and tie the sash, then used a warm towel to wipe his face and help him rinse his mouth.
Seeming to see that Xiao Wuge wished to go out, Cui'er sped up her movements and asked with a smile:
"Young Master, are you going to see Eldest Miss?"
Xiao Wuge looked at the downpour and thunder outside the window, shook his head, and said, "It isn't hot anymore. I'm going to Chunhe Garden to find brother-in-law."
Cui'er smiled and nodded. "Then once Cui'er has tidied your clothes, I'll take you to Chunhe Garden to find Son-in-law."
"The son-in-law is going to Guiyun Academy today. He should already be awake and having breakfast by now."
"Oh, I'll go eat too."
With that, once his