By the time everything was settled and the emperor's so-called "reward" had been distributed, the winds of late November had already sharpened into icy blades. The capital's rooftops were dusted white, and the mornings came so cold that even the most disciplined martial artists found themselves tempted by the warmth of a thick quilt.
Qiao Zhi had always been an early riser. Gu Yangjin… less so. But today, as dawn seeped through the paper windows in a faint silver glow, both of them were still tangled together on the bed, the brazier at the corner crackling faintly.
"Let's skip morning practice," Gu Yangjin mumbled, her voice husky from sleep. She leaned lazily against Qiao Zhi's shoulder, the ends of her hair tickling Qiao Zhi's collarbone. Her eyes were barely open — just a sliver of warm brown peeking through. "We could… stay in bed a little longer."
