It was the dead of night, and the stars stretched across the vast sky.
As the night watchman's call gradually faded into the distance down the alley, Lin Feng still couldn't sleep. By military order, she would set out with the army tomorrow, accompanying her lord to escort the never-before-seen "Princess" to Ten Crows for a marriage alliance. How long would the round trip take? What was the terrain like in Ten Crows? How many brutal battles would they encounter along the way? These thoughts circled through her mind, keeping sleep far from her.
Yu Zi, who shared her room, was sleeping soundly.
In the darkness, Lin Feng could hear her soft snores.
Tossing and turning, Lin Feng eventually slipped carefully out of bed. With her literary energy protecting her, she threw on a windproof cloak and wrapped it around herself, lit a small lamp, and wandered through the courtyard to clear her mind. From a distance, she saw that the light was still on in her teacher's courtyard. She paused, then gently knocked on the door. "Teacher, are you still awake? I can't settle my mind, and there are some things I'd like to ask you about."
"Not yet. Come in."
Lin Feng entered and saw her teacher sitting before the window, his damp gray-white hair hanging loose as he studied a game of chess. Candlelight lent his features a gentle, kindly warmth, utterly unlike the sternness he showed during lessons. Lin Feng sat down opposite him.
"Teacher, you're still awake at this hour?"
Chu Yao set down a piece. The crisp, decisive click against the board made the night seem even quieter. "I slept for a while already, but a nightmare woke me..."
Hearing this, Lin Feng lit the stove. Once the water boiled, she took a jar