Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating swirling motes of dust in the air. The massive hearth stood cold and dark, its iron tools neatly arranged like silent sentinels.
Her breath caught when she spotted the perfect vantage point. A wide bay glass in the morning room, its leaded window offering an unobstructed view of the gardens.
Peizhi immediately hurried down the remaining steps, her excitement growing with each passing moment. As she approached the window, her reflection ghosted across the glass , a pale-faced girl with wide, wonder-filled eyes, her hair escaping its bun in wild tendrils.
But beyond her reflection lay pure magic.
The gardens had transformed overnight into a winter wonderland.
Snow blanketed every surface, softening the sharp edges of topiaries and dusting the bare branches of trees like powdered sugar.
The stone benches wore delicate white caps, while the winding pathways disappeared beneath inches of the pristine whiteness.
