Morning.
The unchanging hour between 5 to 7 AM.
In the inner city, the silent mansions seemed like hulking beasts, starting to stir before dawn. The servants were responsible for lighting lamps and sweeping the floors, while the maids served tea and water, attending to the officials putting on their robes.
Once the officials donned their bright red robes, the massive mansion under their feet would come fully alive.
Outside the side gate of Qingzheng Garden, Si Caogui had already led the carriage into the alley to wait.
He took out a piece of chamois cloth and meticulously polished the carriage clean, leaving no dust even in the grooves of the intricately carved patterns. The way he wiped the carriage resembled someone polishing a blade.
While polishing, Chen Ertong snuck along the wall and quietly asked, "Brother, where did Chen Ji go yesterday?"
Si Caogui continued polishing the carriage without turning his head.
