After the first frost, the days grew colder, one by one.
The nights stretched long; Yun Jiao often sat for a while in the rocking chair, and before she knew it, everything around her turned pitch black, except for a touch of blue lingering at the horizon. Fluffy snow poured down, silent and majestic. The snow-covered Imperial Palace lost its usual grandeur and gained a touch of soft and romantic poetry.
Yet the chill was like a wandering thread, struggling to seep into one's bones.
The Feng Shui of the Imperial Palace only nourished those in favor; everything inside was costly. The same Silver Tael that could buy charcoal outside could only earn a eunuch's smile inside, as they curiously asked whether you lived such a difficult life, even more meager than theirs.
When the lights of Xianfu Palace lit up, Gong Mei softly reminded, "Lady, don't sit outside anymore, be careful not to catch a cold."
Yun Jiao lay on the rocking chair, cradling a hand warmer.
