Under the Bamboo Parasol

It was nearly nightfall when Feng Yun arrived at the inn that was twenty li away, she had not yet felt exhausted from the long journey.

In her hands held the branches with red apricot blossoms that were in full bloom, she had tied them with a red cloth, and they looked like items one might find in a chamber of newlyweds. The perfect painting of the blossoms in perfect bloom, that would seemingly last for an eternity.

She left her horse in the stables and entered the inn, it seemed to be a very desolate place for one to spend the night.

There was not a single worker that she saw there, save for the innkeeper who was ticking away at his abacus. He was so focused that he had not noticed a young lady in red that had entered his inn.

Feng Yun looked at him, she had already taken off the silk veil, revealing a beautiful face with those dark piercing obsidian eyes that stood out like a firefly in a sea of darkness.

The Innkeeper kept his focus solely upon the worn wooden abacus as if trying to tie up loose ends until he felt a looming and chilly presence, which convinced him to look up, to meet the figure of a person entirely in red. The innkeeper suddenly jumped for a moment, his mind shocked to see a young lady in the middle of nowhere.

He was unsure if this figure was human or spirit, and surely, the dimness of the candlelight in the inn did little to help this.

Such a figure reminded him of the ghost tales of young girls who hung themselves on the eve of the wedding night because their frail hearts could not take the pain of a life without their beloved, so they chose the path of death, rather than the lifetime of a marriage without love. Their lives drained from their lifeless bodies, leaving nothing but a beautiful shell that would soon rot in the dirt.

"One room please." The figure in red spoke.

He was expecting a rusty old voice, but it turned out to be the pleasing sound of a young woman.

He inwardly let out a sigh of relief, "This way please." he said as he led the way to the room.

As far as Feng Yun could tell, she was the sixth guest in the room, all the others were resting in their rooms, while the others were playing a game.

"Here, this is the water lettered room, is there anything else that miss needs?" The innkeeper inquired.

"Send someone to take care of the horse, and tomorrow I will be having breakfast."

"Yes right away." The innkeeper replies as he retires, leaving Feng Yun in front of the empty room.

She enters, gently lighting a candle in front of the mirror. As the only source of light after the sun set, the candle was lit before a bronze mirror, with a reflection that gave off an eerie yet gentle light.

Feng Yun took off her crimson cloak, revealing a light green young maiden's robes. Her clothes were slightly more conservative than what a young maiden of the capital would wear, the fabric was thick and luxurious if one looked closely they could see patterns of tiny leaves woven into the fabric. She sat down in front of a bronze mirror.

She looked into the plain mirror that showed her reflection. She could not remember the last time she had seen this face, but she was certain that this countenance had not changed the slightest bit.

She took a comb from her pocket and gently began combing her thick, long silky hair that was as black as ink. She gently did her hair with pieces of green silk ribbon that held her thick hair in place. In one of the drawers, she placed a jade hairpin with the design of a beautifully carved leaf gently sliding it into her hair.

After some time, Feng Yun blew the candle out, allowing herself to be swallowed by the darkness of the night.