The night had deepened, and the sound of firecrackers echoed incessantly inside and outside the Capital.
Once dinner was served, Shuangxi sent the young eunuchs away to enjoy their treats. Aside from the guards on duty, he was the only one keeping watch outside Yuhe Palace.
The snow on the flagstones had been cleared away early, but the snow piled on the treetops and the heavy eaves appeared even brighter on this moonless New Year’s Eve. Its ethereal glow reached into the palace, making the plain white window screens appear even more translucent.
Chapter 86