Thus, the pot of water in Dadu City finally boiled over.
Bai Qingyan placed the book on the black lacquered table beside her, tiredly massaging her temples.
At the hour of Mao, when the sky just barely began to lighten with a glimmer of dawn, the bright moon still hung high in the sky, and scattered stars were faintly visible. With Chun Tao's call, "Miss, it's time to wake up," all the lights in the main house of Chunhui Garden lit up.
Maids bent over, lined up under the eaves, carrying copper basins, towels, hot water, and spittoons.
The maids pulled aside the curtains, hooking them with the gold-threaded copper hooks on both sides.
Chun Tao tested the steaming water's temperature, instructed the maid to add some cold water, then walked briskly across the curtain and gently hung the mosquito net on both sides of the bed. Seeing Bai Qingyan rise, she quickly knelt to help Bai Qingyan put on her shoes.