Shao He played with Xiao Linzhang for a while until he was too tired to keep his eyes open; only then did she let him be taken to sleep.
"Mother, you mustn't go." Xiao Linzhang held onto her, refusing to let her leave.
Shao He took off her shoes and socks, climbed into bed, and lay down with him, "Can you fall asleep peacefully now?"
"Mhm." Xiao Linzhang burrowed into her embrace and quickly fell asleep, looking truly exhausted.
Shao He, too, had been worn out by the long journey and hadn't had a good night's sleep in days; now that she lay in this bed, sleep gradually began to overtake her as well.
When she awoke again, the sky outside had turned gloomy, with only a sliver of sunset remaining.
The candlelight inside the room was dim and soft. The windows were half open, allowing the breeze to slip through the cracks, causing the thin blanket to flutter and rustle softly.
