Peizhi fished the rusted key from her sleeve, the one she'd kept hidden in a lacquered box beneath her bed for years and slid it into the lock.
The door swung open, releasing a gust of stale air. Dust motes swirled in the moonlight, settling over furniture draped in yellowed sheets.
Xiliu coughed, waving a hand admist the mist. " Wow, it's like a tomb in here."
Peizhi stepped inside, her fingers trailing over the shrouded shapes of chairs, a low table, a writing desk.
"Mother said she used to come here when she needed to escape Grandfather's lectures". She murmured. "No servants, no expectations. Just… peace and quiet"
Xiliu snorted. "Well, we'll have to earn that quiet. This place needs a week's worth of scrubbing."
Peizhi smiled and nodded. "Then we'd best start now ."
Hours passed by and they had just finished airing out the bedding ar dawn when a knock rattled the door.
