When the snow of Jinling fell on the Liuli tiles of Chengyu Palace, I was facing a bronze mirror, inserting a mutton-fat jade hairpin into my hair. My maid Ruizhu walked in carrying the wedding gown, her fingertips still stained with unmelted snowflakes. "My lady, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here."
The jade hairpin slipped from my fingers with a clatter, shattering into two pieces upon the floor. Staring at my pale reflection in the mirror, I recalled meeting that woman in the Imperial Garden three days ago—she wore the jade bracelet Xiao Chengyu had given me, smiling radiantly as she leaned against his shoulder.
"Tell him to wait in the side hall." I bent down to pick up the hairpin. The shards of Suiyu pierced my palm, and fresh blood dripped onto the moonlight-white fabric of my skirt, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the red plum blossom hairpin he had won for me at the Lantern Festival all those years ago.
Chapter 19