The Empress braced herself for the worst. To her dismay, that worst-case scenario actually came to pass. Until New Year's Eve, the Emperor hadn't sent anyone to fetch her.
Although she had ostensibly come to terms with it, her heart still ached. "I've lived so many years, yet this is the first time I'm spending the New Year in such desolation!" the Empress said bitterly.
Yu Lan, standing by her side, didn't know how to offer consolation, so she changed the subject. "Your Majesty, look at how heavy the snow is outside!"
The Empress's gaze shifted towards the window.
"Indeed!"
In previous years, it never snowed this much during New Year's, but this year the heavy snowfall had been relentless. It started on the twentieth and continued right up to New Year's Eve.
She didn't need to descend the mountain to know. The roads below were simply impassable.
