The Lantern Festival banquet had not yet concluded by the time darkness fell.
Mei Gongxue had rested for a while in a side hall, and feeling no further physical discomfort, she took Hongxiu and left the palace early. Although she had endured much unpleasantness throughout the day, her emotions had settled significantly. The night was not at all cold, and with the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the full moon hung high in the sky like a disk of white jade. The bright moonlight fell upon the earth, merging with the snow-covered ground to create a scene of breathtaking beauty. Mei Gongxue’s steps slowed in spite of herself.
Upon returning to the carriage belonging to the Marquis Manor, she lifted the curtain and stepped inside, only to be met instantly by an unfamiliar scent of alcohol. Before she could even react, a figure seized her wrist and pulled her into a scorching embrace.
Chapter 31