The sky was clear and mild, a fine rain slanting gently down.
Wildcat lay fast asleep on the window lattice, curled into a ball as the breeze carried threads of fine rain through the opening.
Suddenly drenched all over the head, the cat startled awake, arched its back, and swished its tail in displeasure.
It could only leap away, shake the droplets from its body on the floor, then find another place to lie down and lower its head to lick its damp fur.
Wildcat did not dislike rain, but once its sweet dreams were disturbed, it blamed the rain as well.
Shang Qingzheng gazed absently out the window, her eyes resting somewhere beyond it, her thoughts unknown.
In recent years, she had often stared blankly into the distance. Not only those around her, but even the cat had grown used to this habit and left her alone.
Footsteps drew closer, and a woman in a deep crimson dress came into view. She walked with a gentle sway, neither hurried nor slow, followed by three disciples who kept their eyes lowered, not daring to look around.
Li Zhouying stepped forward with proper decorum, bent her knees in greeting, and said,
"Peak Mistress, these are the disciples newly admitted this year. They still need you to assign them duties."
With that, she turned to the three nervous, cautious girls and said,
"Come forward and pay your respects."
All three were young women who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen. At her command, they hurried forward and bowed low, saying,
"Disciples pay their respects to the Peak Mistress."
Shang Qingzheng came back to herself, her gaze settling on their bowed heads. The loft was silent save for the pattering of raindrops.
She was no longer who she had once been. Years