She looked up at the tightly closed door of the main house, listening to the still faint, heartbreaking breathing inside, and recalled Xiao Xun's broken cry from earlier. A chill ran through her. Xiao Xun was struggling on the brink of life and death, while the harsh winds and icy attacks of the capital were already imminently descending upon her. This palace, seemingly a refuge, was in reality already the eye of the storm.
The first snow in the capital has long since melted, leaving only a few patches of gray-white remnants in the shady corners of the eaves.
The wintersweet, however, was in full bloom, its pale yellow petals like scattered gold, adorning the sturdy brown branches. Its subtle, cool fragrance floated in the crisp air, refreshing and invigorating. Princess Jiahe's plum garden took this sentiment of serene companionship in the cold of winter to its extreme. The gnarled branches of the old plum trees were arranged in a pleasing, orderly fashion, some leaning against strange rocks, others beside winding streams, their branches weighed down by snow, further emphasizing their noble character. The pavilions and towers in the garden were all covered with a thin layer of snow, and red and white plum blossoms competed for attention, their subtle fragrance and sparse shadows creating a scene reminiscent of a fairyland.
However, this idyllic scenery cannot conceal the undercurrents surging beneath.
As Xin Jiuwei followed Zhao Mingwei into the plum garden, she immediately sensed the unusual atmosphere. The garden was filled with elegantly dressed ladies, their jewelry jingling – all were highly respected women from prominent families in the capital. They were in small groups, some admiring the plum blossoms, others whispering, but their gazes kept drifting towards the entrance, carrying undisguised scrutiny, curiosity, and a hint of barely perceptible disdain.
"Miss Xin has arrived!" Zhao Mingwei's face was adorned with a perfectly gentle smile, and her clear voice instantly attracted everyone's attention. She affectionately took Xin Jiuwei's arm and led her to the front of the crowd, "This is Miss Xin Jiuwei, who has come from afar to take care of the Sixth Prince. Miss Xin's contribution is indispensable to His Highness's recovery from danger."
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