C14 Plum Leaning Forest

Staring at the spilled hot water from the heater, the butler's heart ached. This heater was made of pure gold, worth a fortune. Usually, in the Yaen family, no one dared to use it except for the Prince. Who would have thought the young lady would throw it away?

Once he recovered from the shock, only the drifting winter snow surrounded him, with no trace of her white-clad figure.

The next day, as the sun barely peeked over the horizon, Zuoyu was still nestled in her warm room, with extra down feathers added to her silk bedding. Outside, the cold wind howled, and it had snowed all night long. The sunlight reflected off the snow through the window, casting patterns on her face as she awoke in the shifting light and shadow.

Suddenly, the door burst open, letting in a rush of cold air. Zuoyu sneezed from the chill. Zi Luo, wrapped tightly in her new coat from last winter, hopped from foot to foot to keep warm. Seeing the situation, she quickly reached out to latch the door shut. The room's fire blazed back to life.

Zi Luo smiled and said, "Miss, did you hear? The Noble Heir Yaen fainted from the cold in the snow last night. The Jingning Earl Mansion sent people to bring him back overnight. I heard this morning that he has a high fever and is quite delirious."

High fever that won't break?

Though she intended it this way, Yaen Ting was a smooth operator, not one to be easily taken advantage of. She didn't believe he would truly act like the grand master she imagined in her mind.

Suddenly, she recalled their first meeting two years ago. He was a spirited young man, and when he saw her, his eyes sparkled. From then on, he rode alongside her, cradling her in the palm of his hand.

That tender demeanor and his expressive nature were evident, but over time, he changed. He was no longer the boy he once was.

Perhaps he truly loved her, or maybe he was only ever in love with her appearance.

She let out a cold laugh, wrapped herself in a blanket, and said calmly, "Is that all? He hasn't nearly paid enough."

Zi Luo dared not say more, knowing that the young lady was no longer the same as before.

The white and red plum blossoms outside the window smiled, their beauty unique amidst the wind and snow.

Even the air carried a crisp, invigorating scent.

Cui Zuoyu gazed longingly at a cluster of red plum blossoms. That year, Zi Luo died saving her, leaving her alone in the desolate palace.

The cold palace was bleak and lonely, with only a tree of red plum blossoms for company.

Her thoughts returned to the present as she shook her head slightly, her gaze filled with unwavering determination and depth.

The past doesn't just fade away; it becomes etched deeper and clearer in memory.

"The weather's been getting colder lately. I heard the Plum Leaning Forest just outside the west side of town is in full bloom. Since you've been feeling down, maybe a trip there would lift your spirits," Zi Luo suggested as she added more charcoal to the stove.

The fire crackled to life, filling the room with warmth. Cui Zuoyu remained silent, her gaze drifting back from the red plum blossoms outside the window, her expression distant.

Zi Luo felt a pang of sadness. Her mistress, once so warm and carefree, now seemed lost in a fog. Only when someone mentioned the Noble Heir did a flicker of light return to her eyes. In the past, the thought of visiting the Plum Leaning Forest would have delighted her, but now, nothing seemed to spark her interest.

According to past experience, the snow would stop after three days, and today marked the second.

"That purple silk jacket you're wearing, you've had it for a while, haven't you?" Cui Zuoyu suddenly asked, looking at Zi Luo.

Zi Luo hesitated, unsure of her mistress's intent, and gently touched the jacket. "You made this for me last year, and I couldn't bear to wear it until now. It's only been ten days."

The fabric wasn't anything fancy, but it was clear it had been well cared for and was very clean.

"Let's go to the tailor shop soon and get you a few new outfits," she suggested, bringing her gaze back.

"Huh?" Zi Luo was surprised, then quickly shook her head. "Miss, that's really not necessary. I have winter clothes."

"This winter is especially cold. If I remember correctly, your clothes are lined with cotton, right? You should get another set lined with down to make it through the winter."

Her clear voice mingled with the birdsong outside the window, sounding like music to Zi Luo's ears. A hint of anticipation flashed in Zi Luo's eyes as she said, "Thank you, Miss."

She remembered that winter when the biting cold pierced Zi Luo's body, revealing the tattered gray clothes underneath, lined with nothing but cotton fluff. It was then she realized why Zi Luo had stayed up all night sewing winter clothes for her. Zi Luo had taken the cotton from her own clothes to fill hers.

The clothes had torn, and Zi Luo's eyes were wide open, cotton fluff stained with blood flying everywhere. That scene was something she'd never forget.

"Zi Luo—" she called softly.

"I'm here, Miss," Zi Luo turned back with a gentle smile.

"If you ever need anything, just let me know," she said, looking into Zi Luo's eyes.

Zi Luo was slightly surprised but just smiled it off.

Due to the actions of the Profound Secret Pavilion, in just a few days, the Yongjing Marquis Mansion had lost tens of thousands of dollars, forcing the Yongjing Marquis Madam to sell her dowry to cover daily expenses.

When it rains, it pours. The Yongjing Marquis was found to have accepted bribes, and the Madam had to discreetly pay off officials to avoid disaster. The mansion was shrouded in gloom.

The Madam believed that Cui Waner and Yaen Ting's public alliance had angered the ancestors of the Yaen family, leading to a collective effort in court to suppress Cui Qiao.

Cui Qiao, with no way to voice his grievances, prepared lavish gifts only to be thrown out. Mrs. Qian tried every possible way to meet with the Madam, only to be turned away, until she finally learned the Madam would visit the Plum Leaning Forest.

The Yongjing Marquis Mansion was still putting on a facade of prosperity, but the storerooms were already empty.

Cui Qiao knelt in the ancestral hall, his face dark with frustration. He had hoped that by marrying Cui Zuoyu into the Yongjing Marquis Mansion, the two families could support each other and rise together in the political arena.

But now, because of Cui Waner, everything had gone down the drain. The Cui family didn't have much wealth, and they had to rely on Shaang Qingya day and night.

With just the meager salary from his government position, the entire Cui family would be left with nothing to eat.

Waner knelt to the side, casting a timid glance at her furious father. Since he entered the room, he hadn't uttered a word, and his face was as dark as a stormy sky. She was so frightened that she didn't dare to make a sound.

Earlier, because of her involvement with Yaen Ting, her father had nearly resorted to family discipline. If it hadn't been for her mother, Mrs. Qian, intervening with tears, she would have been in serious trouble.

She didn't know how much time had passed, but her legs were growing numb from kneeling, and any slight movement sent a jolt through her nerves.

"Waner."

Her father's somber voice came from above, and her heart leapt into her throat as she stiffly looked up.

"Father, Dad," she stammered.

In the entire household, her father was the one person she couldn't afford to provoke. When he was enraged, she was always the one who ended up hurt.