You take on two husbands, I'll turn around and marry the tyrant and rule the world.

"Your Highness, you mustn't!" Tuanyuan cried out in alarm, her face turning pale, and she was about to kneel down.

Manbao panicked and slapped herself twice, then slid down to her knees before Chu Nianci: "My lady, it's dark and the roads are slippery outside. You've been drinking and are warming up; how could you possibly rush into the snow? Besides, since the Bai Shu incident, the Empress and Consort Shu have issued strict decrees forbidding anyone from entering that garden. If someone finds out, it will be a disaster!"

Chu Nianci frowned.

She definitely has to go tonight.

For no other reason than that, on this day in previous years, my mother would take her to burn paper money for my maternal grandmother at home, firstly to wish her peace in heaven, and secondly to pray for the family. Now that we are thousands of miles apart and cannot reunite, this longing for home has become even stronger.

She lowered her eyes and said, "You are all too cautious. Right now, the concubines are all serving at the Empress Dowager's banquet. The eunuchs and maids have long since gone off to slack off, and the guards certainly won't come to the back. No one in the garden will see anything."

She turned around and took a sable cloak from the rack to put on. "This way, I'll be warm and inconspicuous in the snow. I must go to offer incense today to appease my grandmother's spirit and pray for my mother's well-being. No one is allowed to stop me."

Seeing that Man Bao was still kneeling and refusing to give way, Chu Nianci lightly tapped him on the forehead and laughed, "If you stop me again, I'll send you back to the Fourth Treasury tomorrow."

Before Man Bao could react, Chu Nianci, carrying a bag of incense and candles, had already taken three steps at a time and walked past him.

As soon as they stepped out of the palace gate, Tuanyuan hurriedly caught up with her, took the incense and candle pouch, and stuffed a small hand warmer into her arms, muttering, "It's all my fault for being so talkative... I dare not stop you, but you have to take me with you. I'll light your way. If you don't agree, I... I'll have to go find Li Daban."

Li Daban was Li De'an, a high-ranking eunuch who usually guarded the palace when the emperor was away.

Chu Nianci laughed: "Oh, so you've learned to manipulate me now? You've really spoiled yourself rotten."

Even so, she still pinched Tuanyuan's chubby, round cheeks.

Tuanyuan smiled and said, "How could this servant dare to mislead my master? It's all for your sake."

As he spoke, he picked up a windproof palace lantern.

The lights are so bright that they can withstand wind and snow.

Chu Nianci nodded: "Good girl, I haven't spoiled you for nothing."

The two walked slowly and quietly forward, but they didn't notice that as soon as they stepped out of the palace gate, a dark figure quietly followed them.

Fortunately, the snow in the palace roads and alleys had been cleared.

However, in some remote areas, the ground was still icy and slippery, so the two proceeded carefully.

Night had fallen, and the concubines of the various palaces had all gathered at the Empress Dowager's residence for a banquet. Most of the palace maids and eunuchs were also hiding indoors to keep warm, and the Imperial Guards on night patrol no longer came here. There were hardly any people to be seen on the road.

They were familiar with the road to Meiwu, and the journey was uneventful.

The night wind was blowing hard, and gusts of cold air rushed towards them, but fortunately, both of them were wearing thick fur cloaks, so they could withstand it.

After walking for about the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, a faint fragrance of plum blossoms wafted over... We had arrived at Plum Grove.

As you enter the plum garden, the fragrance suddenly becomes stronger, and the closer you get, the more refreshing it becomes.

The snow in the park hadn't been cleared; it had only just stopped snowing, and the snow wasn't frozen solid when you stepped on it.

It was completely quiet all around, except for the sound of their footsteps. Their sheepskin embroidered boots made a soft "crunch" sound as they walked on the snow.

The moonlight shone coldly and clearly. There were no red plum blossoms in the garden, only the Jade Butterfly and Palace Pink varieties.

The flowers bloomed freely, their pale colors shimmering like scattered gold under the moonlight, or like a tree full of jade-colored butterflies, trembling as if they were about to take flight at any moment.

The petals and the snow on the branches blended together, making it impossible to tell whether the snow had fallen on the flowers or the flowers had bloomed in the snow.

It truly lives up to the saying: "Plum blossoms may be three parts less white than snow, but snow lacks the fragrance of plum blossoms."

Chu Nianci involuntarily took two steps forward.

The refreshing fragrance of plum blossoms enveloped her, making her seem even more pure and ethereal.

This world of ice and snow possesses a pure, almost solemn beauty.

She had already chosen a stone table and placed the incense burner and sandalwood she carried with her on it.

Tuanyuan lit incense for her, and Chu Nianci then lifted her cloak and knelt down without regard for the snow and ice on the ground. Tuanyuan then burned paper money beside her.

She closed her eyes and silently recited in her heart:

My first wish is that my grandmother's spirit may rest in peace.

My second wish is for my mother and uncle's family to be safe and healthy.

My third wish: May the New Year bring me continuous progress and a carefree and joyful life.

She prayed sincerely to the heavens: If my grandmother is watching over me, please bless me.

I am not greedy.

I don't seek sincerity, only wealth and honor; I don't long for a devoted friend, only wish to enjoy life to the fullest.

The riches and honors in this palace must be fought for to be obtained.

Now that I'm here, I'm not afraid of getting involved in trouble, gaining His Majesty's favor, and climbing to the highest position that everyone admires.

As long as you can eventually stand at the top, see the scenery you deserve, and enjoy the honor you deserve... then all the open and hidden attacks will be worthwhile.

Snow falls silently, and fragrant mist rises gently.

She opened her eyes, her gaze passing through the plum branches and looking towards the dark, upturned eaves in the distance.

Everything she wanted was inside, and she clenched her fists tightly.

The incense had burned halfway when a sudden gust of wind swept by, and the snow on the branches fell down in a flurry.

Almost simultaneously, Chu Nianci heard extremely light footsteps behind her...

She tensed up, and Tuanyuan gripped her sleeve tightly.

A clear male voice rang out from behind the plum trees in the distance: "Who's there?"

There are other people in this garden!

Chu Nianci's heart sank suddenly.

She had sneaked in, and if she were caught, and the news reached the ears of the Empress and Consort Shu... she could almost picture the Empress's gloomy gaze and Consort Shu's arrogant and domineering face.

"Shh..." She blew out the candle, picked up the incense burner, and Tuanyuan hurriedly kicked away the unburnt paper money on the ground.

The two of them slipped behind the nearest old plum tree.

The footsteps stopped for a moment.

The voice tentatively asked again, "Who is it?"

All around was the soft sound of wind blowing and snow falling; no one answered.

Chu Nianci felt a chill run down her spine, and Tuanyuan's hand trembled slightly on her wrist.

The starlight was faint, and the snow shimmered with a pale light. The intertwined shadows of the flower branches resembled countless ghostly claws, densely covering the ground.

The two held their breath and moved their feet little by little, afraid of making a sound by stepping too hard on the snow.

But the footsteps grew closer and closer.

Through the gaps in the plum branches, she saw a pair of sapphire blue boots embroidered with dragons, stopped a few steps away, motionless.

Then, a glimpse of a snow-white robe flashed by amidst the plum blossoms.

Chu Nianci suddenly froze... This figure... why does it look so familiar?

Like His Majesty.

Why would His Majesty come to this secluded garden alone in the middle of the night?

She must have misread it.

She rubbed her eyes, but her heart was beating faster and faster.

I'm afraid it's true, and I'm also afraid it's false.

Afraid of being discovered, yet unable to resist wanting to know who it was.

That irrepressible curiosity finally prevailed.

She bit her lip, made a "wait" gesture to Tuanyuan, and then lifted her skirt and, using the plum tree as cover, quietly followed them.