protocols of life, no amount of planning could have prepared her for the sharp, piercing pain that came with that final act of defiance. The rope, the icy ground, the silence that followed—each detail was etched into her mind. She had never imagined herself as a victim, let alone an orchestrator of her own demise.

The night promised only the darkening of shadows, with the chill of winter beginning to assert its dominion over the once verdant garden. The dim lanterns flickered like spectral eyes, their flickers casting eerie shadows across the creaking wooden corridors. Within the cold, desolate courtyard, the wind whispered as if in mourning, and with it, the soft flutter of light snowflakes mingling with the chill.

In the main house, Gold蕊, with her cheeks flushed from the warmth of the kitchen fire, held two steaming, golden-brown sweet potatoes. She pushed open the heavy curtain and entered the room where for the last several months, her mistress, Wei Lingxi, had been confined.

"What have you there for me, Miss?" Wei Lingxi, her eyes flickering with curiosity, saw the sweet potatoes, their skins cracked and glistening with honeyed, her appetite piqued instantly.

"It's these," Gold蕊 said, placing the potatoes on the table, their heat warming the wooden surface.

Silver蕊, puzzled, asked, "Where did you get these? They are not often seen in the market."

Gold蕊 smiled, "I traded them with two buns for a while, then roasted them over the stove. They smell delicious."

Silver蕊 couldn't help but chuckle. "Trading two buns for two sweet potatoes? You've got a knack for business, that's for sure!"

Feeling the sting of her friend's jest, Gold蕊 grumbled, "Of course, two buns are worth more than two sweet potatoes. But Miss, your appetite has been poor of late, so I thought bringing a little something new would be nice."

"Thank you, Gold蕊. That's very thoughtful of you," Wei Lingxi replied, her tone filled with genuine gratitude.

"Miss, you're too polite. Just as long as you enjoy them, I'll keep looking for more," Gold蕊 said, her eyes twinkling with longing.

Wei Lingxi broke open the sweet potatoes and began to eat them, her spoon scraping out the tender flesh. She savored each bite, lost in the warmth that seeped from within.

A commotion woke the stillness of the courtyard. The lanterns danced in the wind, and the sound of snowflakes falling was momentarily drowned out by voices.

"Silver蕊, what's this?" Wei Lingxi called, eager to find out what had caused the ruckus.

Silver蕊 appeared, her voice hushed. "The mistress, it's Lady Er's steward. He came to say that Lady Er has hung herself, and she is lying in state in the southern courtyard. They're asking for help from all the households."

"Lady Er?" Wei Lingxi was taken aback. The previous Lady Er had lived, albeit not without her faults, but she had never ended her own life. In her last life, Lady Er had met her demise, but not through this method. This was something entirely unexpected, something that seemed to have forged a new path, diverging from the one she had known.

A shiver ran down her spine as she thought about her husband, Xiao Hang, and the potential danger he may face in his campaign to the south. Their journey through life had been unpredictable, and what had happened in the past often had a way of shaping the future, sometimes in ways she had never anticipated.

"Are you alright, Lady?" Silver蕊, sensing the sudden stillness, asked cautiously.

Wei Lingxi shook herself, her mind returning to the present. "Nothing, just... concern for... him."

Silver蕊 nodded understandingly, "I'll go and check on Lady Er. If you need anything, you can send for me when you're ready."

Silver蕊 left, and soon after, she reappeared. "The mistress, the other houses have been summoned to help. You might as well go and see for yourself."

Wei Lingxi nodded and put down her spoon. She rose, leaving the sweetness of the sweet potatoes behind, and accompanied by Gold蕊 and Silver蕊, she made her way to the southern courtyard.

The courtyard was already crowded with the female members of the household, and within the dimly lit room at the southeastern corner, a bed was adorned with tattered bedding, the air thick with the musty smell of neglect and the sharp scent of fresh blood.

The smell was overpowering, and Wei Lingxi, covering her nose with a handkerchief, walked in, her heart heavy with sorrow.

"Lady NINE, finally you've come," Lady Six said, tears brimming in her eyes. "How could my sister-in-law be so fragile? She couldn't even grasp what was hers and ended up taking her own life!"

Lady Seven stood there, her expression devoid of emotion, her eyes reflecting a sorrow that seemed to be reserved for the late Lady Er.

Wei Lingxi shed tears that she did not feel, her words a hollow echo of herself. "How fragile her heart must have been... truly unexpected."

Their conversation was interrupted as Xiao Yang, the eighth daughter, arrived. Her expression was devoid of emotion, as if she had already seen too much death.

"It seems that Lady Er's ambitions were far too grand for her. She did not gain what she thought she would, and instead, she lost her life!" Xiao Yang said, her tone filled with detachment.

Wei Lingxi, looking away, refused to acknowledge the jab at her own abilities.

Suddenly, Xiao Sepeng, the son of Xiao Hang, burst into the room, falling to his knees at the side of the bed, his sobs echoing throughout the room. His actions were so forceful that the shroud covering his mother's face was dislodged.

The sight of Lady Er's lifeless face, her eyes wide and her tongue sticking out, her mouth a dark purple mess, was too much for the women. They recoiled, cries of shock escaping their lips.

Wei Lingxi felt her stomach twist, the sight of a hangman's noose and this final, grotesque tableau a first for her. She turned, retching, the taste of bile rising in her throat.

Presently, Song Yingyu, the ninth daughter, came strolling in, supported by her maids. She moved with a careful grace, her hand protectively cradling her belly. Her eyes met Wei Lingxi's, and she uttered a cold sniff, not even a "Auntie" escaping her lips.

"All, come out," Song Yingyu said, her voice cold and commanding.

The women hurried from the room, only to find Song Yingyu standing there, draped in a luxurious fox fur, her posture regal, her gaze scanning the crowd.

"Have you seen the end of Lady Er?" she asked, her tone a mixture of boredom and condescension.

The women fell silent. They were more than willing to forget the macabre scene they had just witnessed.

"From this day forward, we will hold a funeral for Lady Er. The coffers are depleted, so each household must contribute ten taels of silver. She was a member of our Xiao family, after all. We must do this with dignity. Are there any objections? None, then we shall part ways."

The women dispersed.

Wei Lingxi and Xiao Yang made their way to their residence together. As they neared the pavilion, a cold wind hit them, and Wei Lingxi, unable to hold back any longer, clutched the fake rock and vomited, the sight of Lady Er's death weighing heavily upon her.