Reflection

Yesterday, in my muddleheaded state, I wrote Xiren as Qingwen. It has been corrected.

Before crossing the threshold of YiHong Courtyard, Aunt Xue had hesitated as well.

But in the end, she still stepped inside.

For these past few days, whenever she thought of the contents of that letter, she had tossed and turned in melancholy, unable to eat or sleep in peace.

Those like Madam Wang, whose rough edges had long been worn away by reality, might lament the loss of youth and the fading of beauty, but they would not dwell on it too deeply.

But Aunt Xue was different.

She had always possessed an innocent, romantic nature, and with her careful daily upkeep, time itself seemed to have slowed its steps upon her.

This had originally been Heaven's favor and blessing.

Yet precisely because of that, when the inevitable decay of age finally began to show its power upon her, the panic and unwillingness it brought Aunt Xue were more than ten times stronger than what others felt.

Thus, although she often spoke of being old, behind the scenes she tried every possible means to resist the ravages of time.

So she began chasing after everything currently in fashion, appearing even more aggressive and daring than young married women.

Tang Style palace gowns with deep V-necklines, embroidered platform shoes low in front and high in back, Flower Rope Golden Bells tied around her ankles, even certain things that were still popular only in brothels...

As for methods like floral essence medicinal baths, Cucumber Slices, and Egg White Masks, Aunt Xue rotated through them all, refusing to overlook any possibility.

Yet no matter how she struggled, nature's laws still descended upon her with cruel inevitability.

Half a year ago, when she discovered the fine lines at the corners