Hou Jingshu did not feel like she had gotten nearly enough sleep. It felt like she had been forced to wake up seconds after her head hit the pillow.
With a heavy sigh, she climbed off the bed and stretched her arms as the morning light filtered in through the cracks in the window’s shutters. She tightened the sash on her nightgown and opened the shutters to look outside.
The sun was up but still rising. Most people were still asleep. Only people who needed to wake up early were getting a start on their day—the stall owners who were preparing their stands, the cooks who made steamed meatbuns to sell on the roadside. They were the few who were awake.
“Your highness, you should get ready so we can leave.”
“Right.”
Hou Jingshu turned away from the window and glanced at Zheng Yawen. She wa
