Under the Bamboo Parasol

It was a quiet winter night in Qing Cheng's imperial capital when a carriage entered the imperial capital. The set curfew had long past, but this carriage was somehow able to make it past the Northern gates of the city. It truly makes one wonder why, on this cold and quiet night, that there were no guards patrolling the Northern gates.

The carriage seemed to be that of a noble family's. It was made of excellent material, but of simple design, a peach wood carriage with intricate designs that displayed different flowers. The interior of the carriage was spacious, with thick cotton padding and layers of insulation.

There was a middle-aged woman reclining on the cotton padding with her eyes closed. The woman, although was about middle-aged, yet she her skin was as exquisite as that of a twenty-year-old. Although she was not the most beautiful woman in the world, she seemed to be extremely elegant. Her hair was held up by six hairpins, with three on each side that secured her hair in place. She was dressed in blue brocade robes, embroidered with lilies. It gave off the feeling of royalty, and anyone who stood nearby could not help but feel respectful towards her.

The carriage had a light incense smell emitting from it, one that was used to calm one's mind and body. Something that perhaps a person in meditation would use.

Outside, driving the carriage, was a young girl, dressed in a blood red dress, her clothes were not adorned with a trace of embroidery that might find on the dress of a bride, it was simply just a red dress. Her face was covered with a light red veil revealing only a pair of deep obsidian eyes. Those eyes did not show any innocence of her age. They were empty as if there was no joy, no happiness. Looking into her eyes made one wonder what experiences the girl had gone through.

The carriage went at a speed equivalent to that of a person running. As the two pearl white horses, strong and robust, braved the dark night. The girl only simply had her hands upon the reins, it could be seen that she was in no rush as she allowed the mares to go at their own pace.

The night was cold, and the streets were deserted aside from the night watchmen. The capital that was bustling when daylight broke had very few people on its streets when night fell.

Even if there was a single soul that noticed the carriage coming through the Northern gates at night, there would not be a single person who would dare report it to the magistrate, lest they bring a calamity upon themselves.

The carriage continued driving until it stopped before a mansion in the eastern part of the capital. Once the carriage stopped the girl steps down, and says: "Madam, we have arrived."

Hearing the girl's voice, the woman in the carriage opens her eyes, there was a slight curve that formed upon her pink lips. She puts on a gauze hat to cover up her face. Then she steps down from the carriage in steps filled with elegance. The girl closes the door to the carriage and follows soundlessly behind the woman.