The next day.
At the first gray light of dawn, a little clamor rose from the market again.
In the Alchemy Room, Niao Niao perched on a small stool beside the furnace, warming herself with narrowed eyes. Whenever the flames seemed to dim, she gave them a flap of her wings.
In the room opposite, the faint sounds that had continued for nearly half the night had long since quieted.
Behind the bed curtains, Fan Qinghe lay on the outer side with the quilt pulled up to her chin, leaving only her long lashes and high nose exposed. At the faint clamor from the market, she frowned, then slowly opened her eyes.
She had drunk a little yesterday, so a slight headache upon waking was inevitable. Fan Qinghe glanced around the room and wanted to raise a hand to rub her brow, only to suddenly realize something was wrong!
Her back felt warm, as though she were leaning in a man's arms...
Fan Qinghe's expression stiffened, and her mind swiftly cleared. She lifted the quilt slightly to look. She was curled between a man's arms, one large hand reaching beneath her neck to rest right in front of her, covering her conscience with a thoroughly full handful...
!
Fan Qinghe's pupils contracted. She did not dare move at first, swiftly recalling last night's events:
The Female Prince had suddenly taken it into her head to pester her for instruction, but the Female Prince was extremely stupid and kept making mistakes. She could only take turns demonstrating and teaching. Having drunk too much at their gathering, she had grown a little dizzy afterward, and while watching the Female Prince practice, her eyelids had begun fighting each other. She had leaned against them and fallen asleep...
How could I have fallen asleep?!