The time spent in Zhu County was the happiest period of Chu Qingmeng's life. After her injuries largely healed, she and Mo Liujin would ride horses together to watch the sunset, fish by the river, and watch the maple leaves drift down. Every corner of Zhu County echoed with her laughter. Whenever Mo Liujin went to the county office, she would take Chunhe and Xiazhi out to wander the streets, and whenever there were new and interesting trinkets, she was always the first to arrive. At night, while Mo Liujin handled official business, she would often sit beside him, keeping him company by reading popular tales. Sometimes, when he had no official duties, the two of them would stroll through the night market to watch street performances and guess the riddles on lanterns. Life passed with great ease and comfort.
Before she knew it, winter arrived, and the weather grew increasingly cold. Chu Qingmeng found herself unable to leave the room much. This was her first winter here, and she had originally hoped to enjoy the snow and build snowmen. Unfortunately, despite following the Mansion Physician's instructions to maintain her health with expensive medicinal tonics all this time, it was all to no avail. When the air suddenly turned chilly, she would cough for a long time, each fit leaving her breathless, which was why she rarely went outside anymore. Even when she did step out, she would cover her mouth and nose with a thick cloth to avoid inhaling the cold air as much as possible. L…
Chapter 27