```
Zhulan and Zhou Shuren slept well and had a hearty breakfast in the morning. They picked up the food prepared by the inn and got onto the carriage, which fell in with the convoy. Zhulan leaned against the window and finally saw Wang Ru. Calculating the time, it had been almost a year since they'd seen each other. Wang Ru had grown a lot taller, with her features maturing a good deal as well, becoming more delicate by the day. Even after a year of care, Wang Ru had not recovered well; last year's injuries had been truly severe—she was quite frail.
Wang Ru didn't notice Zhulan, so Zhulan let the curtain drop.
After a while, the carriage convoy continued its journey. They were not so lucky the next day, as it began to rain from the sky. The most dreaded thing when traveling was rain, as the road was dirt, and once muddied, it became difficult to traverse.
