In the wee hours of the morning, a carriage rattled down the cobblestoned pathway of Zhuque Street. It was early enough that the sleepy ministers heading in to attend morning court didn't pay it much attention. Those who were of high enough rank to afford the privilege of using a sedan made use of the scant opportunity to catch a little bit more shuteye before they had to deal with their difficult liege. Those who had little choice but to shuffle in on foot were too tired to do much more than put one foot in front of another.
Thus it was that this nondescript carriage carried on its merry way largely ignored except for a couple of envious glances here and there by lower-ranked officials whom it passed by.
