Yet Jih Heng didn't continue to press her with questions, seeming to show a hint of fatigue, so he propped up his head with his hand, leaned against the side of the palanquin, and closed his eyes.
Within the cramped confines of the palanquin, the two sat close together, their silence falling in unison. Outside, the whooshing sound of the wind could be heard, along with the soft crunch of the palanquin bearers' boots in the snow, bringing a sense of vitality to the cold, still night.
Each absorbed in their thoughts, it was uncertain how much time had passed before the palanquin came to a halt, and Zhao Ke's voice rang out from outside, "Duke, we've arrived."
Jih Heng, who had been feigning sleep with his eyes closed, opened them, lifted the curtain, and stepped out first, then waited for Jiang Li to descend.