By afternoon, the sky had grown gloomy, weighed down by thick clouds.
The north wind howled, tearing at the branches in the Waterside Pavilion and Flower Shed, making them look like they were baring fangs and claws.
Before evening, thick flakes of snow began to fall from the sky.
The elder aunt dismissed the young ladies from class early. To keep warm, everyone gathered in the Warm Pavilion where the charcoal fire was blazing.
Noticing Shen Ningning's absence, someone piped up.
"The Commandery Princess has missed a whole day of class. Isn't she afraid she won't be chosen as a female official?"
Someone immediately scoffed, "Are you really that clueless, or are you just pretending? The Commandery Princess isn't here to be selected as a female official at all."
"That's right," another young lady chimed in. "The Crown Prince personally invited her to the palace. Do you really think she'd want to be the Ninth Prince's companion?"
