Little Swallow

"Be careful, the midday sun is very hot today." 

The brim of a paper umbrella cast a soft shadow over Yan Zheyun as he strolled along the meandering paths of the imperial gardens. It was too warm for any of the concubines to be out and about and Yan Zheyun, with only his trusted Xiao De for company, was a rare sight at this hour. Ordinarily, he would prefer to curl up next to the large bowls of ice that his station afforded him and take a nap to while away the uncomfortable heat but today Liu Yao had a task for him. 

"Please watch your step, we're almost there." There was a section of old cobblestones that was more uneven than others, signalling that they were in an old part of the gardens before the newer generations of emperors expanded upon it. Yan Zheyun didn't trip but Xiao De was there by his side to negate the possibility altogether.