The winter of the seventeenth year of Chengqian came earlier than in previous years.
Just a few days after the Double Ninth Festival, several northern counties and cities welcomed the first heavy snow of this winter.
The weather was clear and sunny the day before, but just as noon approached that day, the sky was suddenly covered by a rolling curtain of gray and orange. After a brief warning, dense snowflakes could not wait to sweep across the entire ground.
In just one night, the entire area north of Yanzhou was transformed into a blanket of silver.
In the room where the heating was burning, Ren Yaoqi lay on the warm kang with her eyes closed. The quilt pressing on her felt a little heavy.
Her forehead and neck were covered with a layer of fine beads of sweat, her cheeks were flushed red from the heat of the kang, and her nostrils were filled with the smell of menthol.
Through the thick cotton curtain of the inner room, the voices of two maids talking could be heard.
"Your pattern is so beautiful, it doesn't look like you drew it yourself. Where did it come from?"
"I asked Sister Jinju, who works for Concubine Fang, for this. I heard it's a very popular flower in the southern capital, and it's not even available in Yunyang City."
"Sister Jinju? How could you get something from her?"
"Hehe, I'm using it to embroider the shoe uppers for Fifth Sister. How dare she refuse?"
"You treacherous girl, if Sister Xin Wu finds out, she'll have Concubine Fang drag you out to be a concubine!"
"Alright, you wicked bastard... I'm going to tear your rotten mouth apart."
Behind the curtain, there was the sound of two maids chasing and playing around the table. The tea set on the table was knocked against each other, making a clattering sound. The noise suddenly stopped, but after a moment, it started again. Finally, they were considerate of the people in the inner room, so the noise was much quieter.
At this moment, a stern scolding voice suddenly interrupted: "What are you doing!" It was the voice of an older woman.
It suddenly became quiet outside again.
"Madam Zhu, please forgive me, your servants..." The two maids hurriedly explained.
Nanny Zhu interrupted impatiently, "Is my sister awake?"
She didn't lower her voice deliberately, and it was a little anxious. Even though she asked this, she walked towards the inner room without stopping.
"She just took the medicine and rested. I believe she is sleeping soundly now." A maid replied hurriedly and followed quickly, as if to help the nanny open the curtain of the inner room.
"You go out and guard, don't let anyone in." Nanny Zhu stopped the maid's actions.
"Yes." The two maids paused and retreated swiftly.
Ren Yaoqi lay there with his eyes closed, not moving, as if he was asleep.
The cotton curtain separating the inner room from the main room was lifted, stirring the stuffy air in the inner room, and a breeze slightly cooler than that in the inner room flowed in.
"Sister? Sister, wake up quickly, sister..."
The man hurried to the kang and shouted a few times. Seeing that Ren Yaoqi didn't move, he reached out and gently pushed her arm through the quilt.
Ren Yaoqi finally opened his eyes, but he was a little sleepy.
"Madam Zhu?" Her voice was a little dry. She had been lying on the hot kang for a long time and needed to drink some tea from time to time.
"Hey, it's me. Do you want some water, sister?" Nanny Zhu immediately forced a smile on her round face, but there was an anxious look in her eyes.
Ren Yaoqi nodded.
Nanny Zhu immediately walked to the long low table against the north wall of the inner room, where a complete set of enamel teapots and teacups were placed, and poured a teacup of water back.
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