The road was winding up a steep hill, tediously long. In the winter ground wind swirled incessantly among the bleak grey hills, in Summer it was scorching hot. The wheels bumped along the ancient road. They would bump along for many w mile yet. Behind them lay the steppe, and beyond the canal was a stretch along the foothills.
The city was known for it's numerous sellers and buyers who usually flooded it from different directions. It was decorated with different colored lanterns, paper cuttings that were hanged throughout the routes. The roadside stalls were open and their owners could be heard calling customers.
The city was full of young children playing with each other, kites or balls. There were also vendors who sold homemade items. Some hawkers sold candied hawthorn berries. The street hawkers peddled their wares very nicely. The women on the streets dressed themselves with colourful clothes and shawls.
A carriage stopped in front of the Zhong Mansion. The atmosphere was very cold as the late evening snow had started falling little by little. The white snowflakes filled the trees and bushes. The carriage's door was pushed open and it flung open with a 'bang'. Zhi Meng Yao took out the footplate and placed it in place. Chow Yi Nuo stepped on it and with the help of Zhi Meng Yao, she got out the carriage.
Chow Yi Nuo closed her eyes and took a deep breath, this was where everything was going to take place.
"Finally, I am home!" Chow Yi Nuo pronounced as she shot her eyes open and walked in. The guard lions at the gate were partially covered with snow.
The gatekeepers looked at Chow Yi Nuo with eyes that showcased they had no respect for her, she was the daughter of a mere concubine and she had no official rank in the family. Also she was a plump, ugly lady whose beauty could not be compared to that of her mother and elder sister, Zhong Guiying. Chow Yi Nuo looked at them for a moment before she stepped on the foot of one of them. The middle-aged man yelped in pain.
"Learn to respect those in authority!" Chow Yi Nuo pronounced as she looked at the other gatekeeper, she walked up to him and lifted his face and looked at him coldly before she let go and walked into the courtyard through the big gates.
Zhi Meng Yao walked proudly showing off because her master had finally taught those arrogant gatekeepers a good lesson. She had never been that proud.
Chow Yi Nuo's eyes fell on her elder sister, Zhong Guiying. She was wearing a pink Han Fu dress with embroidered yellow flowers on the bodice. Her hair was shining from ointments and her body excessively jeweled. She had bright eyes and white teeth. She seemed to be very proud by how she had her chest high up showing that she was the mistress of the Mansion. A queue of servants stood behind her. Chow Yi Nuo searched her new memory and found out that she was Zhong Guiying, Zhong Kexin's elder sister.
Chow Yi Nuo averted her eyes from Zhong Guiying. It was indeed an insult in everyone's eye towards Zhong Guiying. As Chow Yi Nuo walked past Zhong Guiying without formally greeting her, Long Xin Yi, her second sister stopped her. She had been dressed in a white Han Fu dress that was embroidered with pink flowers. The heavy ornaments on her head seemed as if it would tip her head back.
Chow Yi Nuo was actually surprised that her head could actually hold so much jewelry since her hair was wrapped around it and weaved in a way that it would all fit. She was gorgeous with pale skin and dark eyes.