Ever since Shen Tang had gone to mend the broken Four Pillars, there had been few occasions for celebration throughout the Kang camp. Chu Yao therefore proposed holding a banquet. For one thing, it would welcome the ruler back, celebrate her safely surviving the tribulation, and for another, it would let the officials relax a little.
Shen Tang naturally had no reason to refuse.
"That sounds good."
"Does Your Highness want to meet Xiahou Zi Kuan and the others?"
Xiahou Yu had stationed his troops seventy li away. Chu Yao had sent word at the first opportunity, but whether they should meet still depended on the ruler's wishes. Times had changed. Her energy was limited, and she could not be worn out. If Xiahou Yu and the others knew that, they would understand.
"Of course I do."
It would take Xiahou Yu and the others some time to arrive, so Shen Tang took the opportunity to bathe. She deeply experienced the inconvenience of having no Civil and Martial Qi. In the past, she had people bring water directly, then used Martial Qi to heat it before jumping in for a good scrub. Now she could only trouble someone else to heat it for her.
After washing, she could only wring her hair dry with a cloth.
There was a reason ordinary people disliked bathing in winter.
Hair that was too long and too thick was difficult to dry, and the temperature was low this time of year. It was hardly worth falling ill and losing one's life just to take a bath. It was only in recent years, with the government vigorously promoting the perfume trade everywhere and gradually changing ordinary people's awareness of hygiene, that Kang's sanitation had improved somewhat.
Shen Tang emerged wearing a plain inner robe.
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