After the Black Medicine Powder incident, Nangong Jian, accused of treason, was stripped of his position and investigated. The Nangong Residence was raided, and the Nangong couple was sentenced to beheading. All men in the Nangong Residence were conscripted, and the women were reduced to court prostitutes.

The corpse of Nangong Qinglin had been left in the Imperial Hospital, exposed for several days, and astonishingly no one had claimed it.

None of her close companions showed up.

Hong Yuying, who had fallen out with Nangong Qinglin during the flower viewing festival, was secretly pleased on hearing the news.

"That ignorant Nangong Qinglin thought she was all that after joining the Imperial Hospital, only to die there unclaimed," Hong Yuying had just finished a set of Fist Technique in the training room, drenched in sweat.

Hearing about these gossips from the maids, Hong Yuying remarked sarcastically.

Winter had arrived, and normally, winters in Xia Capital were not cold, but this year was unusually cold. Just into the season, the trees in the courtyard were already frosted over.

"Yuying, mother heard that Lady Nangong's body hasn't been claimed yet. I have already arranged for her burial in your name," said Zhuge Rou, accompanied by several elderly nannies as she walked over.

Seeing her daughter all sweaty, she lovingly wiped the sweat from Hong Yuying's forehead.

"Mother, why bother claiming her body? That woman made me a laughingstock in front of the Empress Dowager and the Crown Prince last time," Hong Yuying complained unhappily.

"Yuying, you're still young. Repaying evil with kindness will benefit your reputation," said Zhuge Rou. She often found her eldest daughter troublesome; if only she were half as clever as her younger sister, becoming the Crown Princess Consort would be a matter of time.

"The reputation of Hong residence women is all taken by my younger sister. Mother, it's almost the end of the year, do you think she will come back for New Year?" Hong Yuying complained.

Her talented younger sister hadn't returned in over two years.

The last time was due to their grandfather's grand birthday celebration.

Since childhood, her sister Hong Mingyue had joined a sect and had left the Hong residence at six or seven years old. Hong Yuying barely remembered her face, only recalling that, despite her young age, she was extremely beautiful, far beyond herself.

Sometimes, Hong Yuying was secretly relieved that her younger sister had joined the sect, unconcerned with worldly fame and status, otherwise, she would never have a shot at being the Crown Princess.

"Your younger sister sent a letter a while ago, saying she's currently on a mission for the sect," Zhuge Rou mentioned her younger daughter, her face full of pride and fondness.

"My younger sister can already take on missions for the sect? So she's an Inner Sect Disciple now?" Hong Yuying envied her. She was still only in the Innate Realm, while her younger sister, a year her junior, was reportedly close to breaking through to the Great Primordial Dan Realm and was soon to challenge the Reincarnation Realm.

"Your younger sister was fortunate and talented. If she succeeds in this mission, she might become a core disciple," Zhuge Rou's younger daughter had always had good fortune. She was born under auspicious clouds, believed to be the reincarnation of the martial star from heaven.

Everyone in Hong Residence thought Zhuge Rou's child would be a son, not knowing it would be a beautifully crafted baby girl.

However, Hong Mingyue also made them proud. Her future cultivation was destined to surpass that of the Old Marquis of Hong Residence, transcending beyond Daxia.

"Yuying, accompany mother to the Puji Temple outside the city to offer prayers today, praying for blessings for your father and younger sister. Your father has been extremely busy lately due to General Nangong and the Imperial Hospital issue," Zhuge Rou said.

Hong Yuying wasn't interested in praying or worshipping Buddha, but she couldn't refuse the orders of her mother Zhuge Rou. The mother and daughter got into the Hong Residence's carriage and left the city one after another.

When they reached the city gate, thin, feather-like snow began to float down from the sky.

Having spent so long in the warm Xia Capital, Hong Yuying saw snow in the city for the first time.

She couldn't help but be curious, pulling back the carriage curtain,

just as a carriage passed by theirs.

Seeing that carriage, Hong Yuying's eyes instantly brightened.

The carriage was pulled by a fine horse, one even more precious than the Red Horse owned by her older brother, as recognized instantly by Hong Yuying once she saw it.

When running in the snow, its speed was like a gust of wind, leaving no trace on the snow.

The last time Hong Yuying was at the Spiritual Beast Store, due to Ye Lingyue, she wasn't able to choose a suitable Spiritual Beast, which she harbored resentment for ever since.

Seeing that fine horse today, her soul was completely captivated.

She glanced ahead; her mother's carriage had already taken a different path forward, and upon looking at the carriage pulled by that fine horse, it turned into a secluded snow-covered road outside the city gate. Without hesitation, Hong Yuying ordered the coachman to follow that carriage.

She noticed that the carriage bore no emblem of any officials, assuming that the other party was at best a wealthy family from Xia Capital.

"Miss, your mother is still waiting for you up front," Hong Residence's coachman reluctantly said.

"Just follow it if I told you to, a lowly coachman dare to command me, believe it or not I could fire you," Hong Yuying glared, forcing the coachman, in order to keep his job, to chase after the carriage on the snowy road.

They passed through a dense forest.

Finally, Hong Yuying caught up with that carriage.

Ahead, outside the Hot Spring Palace, Feng Xun had just disembarked from the carriage.

Hearing the carriage sound behind him, Sword Slave grimaced.

"Prince, that carriage has been following us since the city gate, should we..."

"Do not worry, that's a carriage from Grand Protector Hong's Mansion," Feng Xun's eyes flickered, his complexion paler than the snow on the ground.

The weather was turning colder lately, and with Ye Lingyue busy with the affairs of the Imperial Hospital, Feng Xun's Cold Syndrome showed signs of flaring up again.

He had been staying in the Hot Spring Palace these past days.

But if the geothermal heat of the Hot Spring Palace still couldn't stabilize his condition, he would have to return to Beiqing to seek a remedy.

"Stop right there," shouted Hong Yuying as she leaped down from the carriage.

"I am interested in buying your horse; name your price."

"How audacious, what impudent girl dare to be disrespectful to Prince Feng," upon hearing this, Sword Slave's eyebrows furrowed and he thundered a furious roar, scaring Hong Residence's coachman to stumble off the carriage, and Hong Yuying was jolted as if punched in the chest.

Prince Feng?

Hong Yuying was stunned for a moment; that carriage belonged to the Prince Feng of Beiqing.

"Sword Slave, let it be," Hong Yuying looked forward again, only to see a young man turning his head back.

It was just a fleeting glimpse, but Hong Yuying felt her breath and heartbeat suddenly stopping.

Thin snow, like willow catkins, fell on the young man.

Hong Yuying's brother Hong Yulang and her father Hong Fang were both good-looking men, but compared to the youth before her, they paled significantly.

He was like the first winter plum blossom, cold and noble, attracting everyone's gaze.

After instructing Sword Slave, he entered into the Hot Spring Palace, leaving behind only a chilling figure for Hong Yuying.

It was like the sublime beauty of Spring snow, vanishing in a flash.

Hong Yuying stood before the carriage, as if enchanted, until she was chilled to the bone, and even when Zhuge Rou's carriage arrived, she remained standing in front of the Hot Spring Palace, statue-like.