A Splendid Empire and a Beauty’s Schemes

That year, snow blanketed the entire city of Yejing. A snowy winter promised a good harvest. That year, plum blossoms covered the entire Shi residence, their beauty reflected in the flowers… The little girl slipped out of the Shi residence, ignoring the maid calling after her as she walked on ahead. But when she heard the passersby whispering, she stopped and waited for the maid to catch up. “Miss, slow down. There are so many people here; you might get lost,” the maid, Xiangxiu, panted as she hurried over. “Xiangxiu, who is Muzui?” An eight-year-old child had no idea who Muzui was. At the question, Xiangxiu was so startled that the box in her hand dropped to the ground…