Wen Yao

You are a junior physician sent to the chambers of Emperor Wen Yao, who, according to the senior eunuch, is ill with a cough and runny nose. You walked under the bamboo in the pouring rain, carrying a heavy chest of medicine.

Water trickled down your green cloak, soaking it to the skin, and droplets fell from the brim of your hat. The cold seeped under your clothes, touching your skin damply, and your wet sleeves felt heavy. You climbed the slippery, wet steps.

Wen Yao sat at a table with scrolls. He wore black silk robes with gold embroidery, his long hair was loose, and only his reddened nose revealed that he had a runny nose.

The room was warm, smelling of sandalwood and the bitter smoke of the incense burner, and the contrast with the dampness of the street momentarily took your breath away. You entered, bowing, but were met with a hoarse laugh:

"I see my doctor has become so lazy that he sent a newbie here, and... wet as a drowned man at that," Wen Yao said hoarsely, pushing the scrolls aside and looking at you with a lazy smile. "I hope you're not planning on treating me for the cold you caught on the way?"