When the realm follows the Way, I shall wear your embroidered robes and pendants; when the realm forsakes the Way, I shall bear you on my back.
-"Song of Retreating Together"
The next morning, just as the hour of the Rabbit began, Xing Yan woke early. After the sudden upheaval, he had scarcely slept that night.
When he woke, the sky was not yet fully light; only the eastern heavens showed a little brightness. He rose from his outdoor sleeping place and looked around. The nearby camp was silent, with hardly anyone awake. Only the sentries kept pacing through the tall grass in the distance.
He stretched, then, afraid of disturbing the others, slowly followed the stream beside the camp downstream. After all the smoke and flames the night before, his face felt tight, and he wanted to wash the soot from it.
After strolling for a while, he noticed the winding mountain stream gradually curling into a small, lush green wood. At its edge, he went no farther, but crouched on a smooth, round white stone beside the stream and cupped water in both hands to wash his face.
Only when the cool water touched his face did he feel its burning sting. He supposed the smoke and flames had scorched him during last night's escape.
After washing for a while, he copied Qiong Rong and rubbed his face haphazardly a few times with his hands, considering it clean. Then he stood, ready to return to camp.
Just then, Xing Yan heard a lovely voice speaking in front of him:
"Xing Yan, wipe your face with this."
With water dripping before his eyes, his vision was blurred, but he recognized that familiar voice at once: it was Princess Ju Ying. Though he did not know when she had awakened