On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

On a winter morning, a thin layer of ice had formed on the bluestone path outside Beiyuan, making it slippery to walk on.

Consort Hui stood motionless by the threshold, one hand on the door frame and the other on her stomach, looking down at the newly made cotton shoes on her feet.

This was made by Zhang Ma last night. She said that the roads are slippery in winter, so you have to wear thick-soled clothes to stay stable.

Hongcui stood behind her, holding the cloak in her hands, and urged her softly, "Miss, please go."

Consort Hui didn't reply, but ran her fingers back and forth on the door frame.

The wood was frozen cold by the dry winter weather, and the paint was cracked. When you scratched it with your fingernail, it made a slight rustling sound.

She stayed inside that door for almost three months.

For more than ninety days, she learned to recognize almost every brick in Beiyuan. Like Consort Jing counting bricks, she knew which brick had a corner that was raised, which brick had moss growing in the cracks, and which corner of the wall would have a small patch of sunlight in the afternoon.

But she could hardly remember what the world outside the door looked like anymore.

"Miss?" Hongcui called out again.

Consort Hui took a breath and stepped over the threshold.

As soon as he took a step, his foot slipped.

Hongcui reacted quickly, grabbing her arm and grabbing her arm, her face pale with fright: "Oh dear, girl, be careful! Oh dear, I told you to wear cloth-soled shoes, but you wouldn't, insisting these looked better!"

Consort Hui steadied herself and glared at Hongcui: "How dare you! You've only been calling me 'Miss' for a few days, and you're already so disrespectful! Besides... when did I say it looked good? It was Zhang Ma who said it looked good."

"You can't wear such thick soles! The ground is all ice!"

Consort Hui patted her hand: "Alright, you can just support me."

Hongcui pouted, and the two of them slowly walked forward.

The North Garden is located in the northwest corner of the Prince's Mansion, in a remote location. To get to the main courtyard of the Prince's Mansion from here, one has to pass through two moon gates and a narrow passage.

Consort Hui walked very slowly.

It wasn't because the road was slippery, but because she was afraid to walk fast.

It's a bit embarrassing to say this. She was once a Noble Consort—oh, no, that was a posthumous title, and she's no longer a consort.

A dignified young lady like Su was afraid to walk.

I couldn't quite put my finger on what I was afraid of. But after stepping out of that door, I felt a sudden emptiness in my heart, as if I were walking on clouds, floating aimlessly and without any sense of direction.

She had never felt this way while she was in the palace.

Although Yongshou Palace was also a cage, it was at least a dignified one. Once you stepped out, there were long corridors and passageways, and you were always accompanied by eunuchs and maids. You had to bow and greet everyone you met.

Although those days were boring, at least I knew who I was and where I should go.

But now? She is Miss Su.

A lowly woman who couldn't reveal her identity to outsiders.

Hongcui sensed that she had slowed her pace and asked softly, "Are you tired, Miss? Shall we go back?"

Consort Hui shook her head: "I'm not going back. I finally got out of here, I want to take a walk."

"Then please take your time, don't rush."

The two passed through the first moon gate, and a bright and open space suddenly appeared before them.

The Prince's Garden is smaller than the Imperial Garden of the Forbidden City, but it is very well maintained.

In the middle, a pond was frozen over. The ice was not thick, and you could vaguely see fish moving at the bottom.

Several weeping willows were planted by the pond, their bare branches hanging down, with a few icicles hanging from their tips.

Consort Hui walked to the edge of the pond and stopped, looking down at her reflection on the ice.

She stared at him for a while, then suddenly felt that he was a complete stranger.

She didn't resemble the Imperial Noble Consort, Consort Su, or Miss Su; she was just an ordinary woman, strolling in the garden with her pregnant belly.

Consort Hui suddenly asked, "Hongcui, you said these fish are swimming around down there...aren't they cold?"

Hongcui was taken aback, and followed her gaze to look under the ice: "Aren't fish not afraid of the cold? It's warm down there."

"Warmth? What's so warm about it? How warm can it get underwater?" Consort Hui pouted. "It's just that there's nowhere to go. Everywhere you swim is ice, so it's better to stay put at the bottom."

Hongcui sensed a hidden meaning in her words, but dared not respond, and could only offer a dry laugh.

Consort Hui stood there for a while, and suddenly the baby in her belly moved.

She reached out and pressed that spot, a smile playing on her lips.

The child has been moving around more and more lately. He's fine during the day, but at night he kicks and rolls around.

Every time she kicked him, she would think of the way Lin Yi had placed his hand on her stomach yesterday. His large, warm palm would immediately stop the baby from crying.

I wonder what he's been busy with today.

"Let's go." Consort Hui withdrew her hand and continued forward.

Hongcui quickly followed.

The two walked east along the path beside the pond and turned into a bamboo grove.

The bamboo stalks were bent low by the weight of a thin layer of snow that had fallen overnight. Snowflakes pattered down from the bamboo leaves, landing silently on the remaining snowdrifts on the ground.

As they walked, a maidservant approached from the front, carrying a bamboo basket containing several clean handkerchiefs.

When the maid saw Consort Hui and Hongcui, she stopped and looked them up and down.

Consort Hui's heart jumped into her throat.

The maidservant only glanced at her twice before bowing and saying, "Greetings, Miss."

After saying that, he picked up the basket and left, his steps light and quick, without looking back.

Consort Hui breathed a sigh of relief.

Hongcui leaned closer and whispered, "Don't be nervous, Miss. The Prince has already given instructions. Everyone in the manor knows that there is a Miss Su living in the North Garden. No one will ask any questions."

Consort Hui nodded, but her heart was still pounding.

I suddenly remembered that when I was in the palace, I wasn't afraid to walk alone at night, but now I'm so afraid of being seen if I go out.

People become timid once they have something they want to protect.

After a moment's pause, Consort Hui pointed to a cluster of artificial hills at the end of the bamboo grove and asked, "What's that place up ahead?"

"That's the rockery in the garden. There's also an open space behind it where several plum trees have been planted. I heard they'll be blooming soon."

Consort Hui's eyes lit up: "Plum blossoms? Let's go take a look."

......

There are indeed several plum trees behind the artificial hill, but only one of them has sprouted flower buds.

The plum tree grew in the most secluded corner of the artificial hill, in a sheltered position, with gnarled and vigorous branches and bark covered with a layer of white frost.

The flower buds on the branches have just cracked open, revealing a tiny bit of deep red inside.

Consort Hui, supporting her pregnant belly, went over and stood under the tree, looking up at it.

She also had a plum tree in Yongshou Palace.

Every year when the twelfth lunar month arrives, the plum blossoms bloom all over the branches, their bright red color weighing down the snow, making them especially beautiful.

She used to love sitting under the plum tree drinking tea. She would have the eunuchs bring out a small table, set out a pot of hot tea and two plates of snacks, and she would sit there wrapped in a fox fur coat, admiring the flowers while cursing people.

Who are they cursing? They're cursing that poisonous woman Zhao Shuyu, that coward Nangong Xiong, and those opportunistic palace maids and eunuchs.

She's incredibly good at cursing; she can go on and on from morning till noon without repeating herself.

At that time, she felt that her life wasn't too bad.

Although she wasn't often favored, she at least had a son and a certain status, making her someone of importance in the harem.

What now?

Yongshou Palace is still there, the plum tree is still there, but she can never go back.

No, she doesn't want to go back either.

Because that place is not home, it never has been.

"Miss, it's windy outside, please put this on." Hongcui draped the cloak over her shoulders.

Consort Hui wrapped herself up tighter and continued to look at the plum tree.

The flower buds haven't opened yet, but you can smell a faint fragrance. If you reach out and gently touch the lowest bud, it feels cool to the touch.

"Why does this flower have to bloom in winter?" Consort Hui muttered to herself.

Hongcui, who was rubbing her hands to warm them, smiled when she heard this and said, "It's probably because there are no other flowers to compete with it in winter."

Upon hearing this, Consort Hui was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing: "You little rascal, you're getting better and better at talking."

Hongcui scratched her head sheepishly: "I was just talking nonsense."

Consort Hui shook her head and said nothing more. She stood there in a daze, one hand holding onto the branch and the other protecting her belly.

My stomach got kicked by the baby again.

Consort Hui looked down, her lips moving slightly: "Your father said that once things are peaceful outside, he will give us a proper status. Do you believe him?"

The child kicked again.

Consort Hui took it all as fact.

Just then, she heard footsteps treading on the snow behind her, moving slowly and steadily until they stopped three steps behind her.

Consort Hui knew who it was without even turning around.

Having spent twenty years in the palace, she was all too familiar with the sound of this person's footsteps; it was always so unhurried and slow.

Even if the sky were to fall, this person would still walk in this way.

Consort Hui unconsciously gripped the copper handle of the hand warmer, then took a deep breath and slowly turned around.