Flor de Hibisco Perfumada

The ninth month of winter had arrived, and the biting wind swept along with the snow, seeping through every crack and slashing at Xie Yun’s face like knives and axes. She lifted her skirt as she hurried through the corridor, disregarding the curious and disdainful gazes of the maids and elderly servants around her, and went straight to the front of Qinghui Hall. She hesitated for a long moment before finally kneeling.

“Sister, I beg you, please save Grandmother. Three days have passed, and you clearly promised me—”

Before she could finish, a young woman emerged from inside, dressed in a brand-new autumn-yellow embroidered gown, her features lively and charming, a heavy gold bracelet glinting on her wrist. Upon seeing Xie Yun, she glanced sideways with a smirk and said, “Oh, so it’s you, Auntie Xie. The Lady has just taken a nap. Perhaps you should come back at another time.”

She emphasized the word “Auntie” with pointed derision, and more and more servants gathered nearby to watch the spectacle.

Xie Yun was momentarily startled, then lowered her gaze.

The woman before her, so pleased with herself, was Yi Xiang, who had once been Xie Yun’s chief maid. Somehow, she had been drawn over to Xie Yuming’s side, and now stood before Xie Yun with an air of triumph.

Of course, Yi Xiang had latched onto Xie Yuming, and Xie Yuming was now the Lady of the Pingjing Marquis’s household.

Xie Yun had lived in Qinghui Hall for a year, but three days prior, she had handed it over to Xie Yuming herself.

Three days ago, she was the honored Lady