Dayong Dynasty, Jinghe seventeenth year, winter.
Lead-gray clouds were heavy over the imperial city, and fine snow foam was swept up by the north wind, swirling and falling on the glazed tiles of the Yangxin Hall, and then sliding down the tiles, accumulating a thin layer of white frost on the bluestone slabs.
The Eighth Prince's Mansion, located in the northwest corner of the imperial city, looked deserted even in the most common snow color in winter.
