```
This time, Zhulan wasn't in a hurry, and she finally had the chance to truly appreciate nature. The autumn scenery in Dongbei was truly beautiful. The leaves were changing colors, and the forest was ablaze with hues, especially the red maple leaves, which were stunningly vibrant. Zhulan collected quite a few.
Picking many untouched leaves, Zhulan pressed them between sheets of paper and stored them away. She had made specimens as a child, and even with the limited conditions of ancient times, she wanted to give it a try. When she arrived at the capital, she thought about making her own maple leaf collection.
Zhulan found herself a pastime: every time the caravan stopped in the wilderness, she would take Lady Li and a few others to collect leaves, and not only maple leaves; they gathered every type of attractive leaf they could find.
Zhou Shuren was happy that Zhulan had found an interest, and sometimes he would help her collect them.
