They walked through Ningxue Hall.
Ning Wei looked this way and that.
Ningxue Hall was much larger than Ning Wei had imagined.
Beneath Ning Wei's feet lay a gravel path.
The grayish-white pebbles were packed tightly together, making only a faint rustling sound underfoot.
Flowers and plants grew along both sides of the path, some tall, some short, and a few bearing tiny blossoms in delicate colors.
Several rockeries stood scattered around the courtyard, their surfaces covered in patches of moss that spoke of their age.
A kitten emerged from behind a rockery, chasing a white butterfly in fits and starts.
When the butterfly flew a little higher, the kitten rose onto its hind legs to reach for it. Even when it failed, it remained unhurried, changing direction and continuing to follow.
Farther inside, a small pond came into view.
The water was shallow enough to reveal the stones at the bottom, and several red-and-white fish swam slowly through it.
An orange cat crouched beside the pond, its front paws together and the tip of its tail gently tapping the ground as it peered down into the water.
Ning Wei had always been curious about the harems of mortal dynasties.
She had read plenty of novels and heard that women in the harem would do anything to compete for favor. Some would even harm their own children and frame other consorts to win the Emperor's affection.
So, in Ning Wei's mind, the harem ought to have been an extremely oppressive place, and the residence of every noble consort ought to have been cold and desolate.
Yet Ning Wei found that this harem seemed different from what she had imagined.
The palace maids of Ningxue Hall chatted and laughed, looking thoroughly at ease. The entire residence had a lively air, rather