It was the dead of winter. Outside, snow fell heavily, covering the courtyard in a thick blanket. As evening approached, the light and shadows played across the landscape, and the sunset cast a red glow on the white snow.

In the dimly lit room of the main hall, the burning charcoal occasionally crackled softly, particularly noticeable in the quiet space.

Li Wanchao broke the silence first, “Some time ago, Father acquired a wolf-hair brush, saying he’d placed it with Grandmother to give to me when the time came. I was waiting for Grandmother to send someone with it, but half a month has passed with no sign. I’m forced to come to Grandmother’s myself to ask for it.”

Besides the Old Madam Li, Li Wanchao’s stepmother, Chen Shi, and stepsister were also seated in the hall.

Li Wanchao’s mother had died of illness years ago, and her father had remarried his own cousin, who was now Chen Shi.

Chen Shi was the daughter of Old Madam Li’s sister. After she married into the Li family, the Old Madam doted on this double-related niece even more.

And Chen Shi was not a gentle or peaceful person.

With this stepmother, Li Wanchao’s life became difficult.

Some time ago, Li’s father had obtained a wolf-hair brush, said to be a rare and precious item. However, he didn’t send it to Li Wanchao but left it with the Old Madam.

Li Wanchao knew that her father was still angry about the previous incident… and to this day, he refused to acknowledge her.

She had learned about this wolf-hair brush from an insider.

The Old Madam had intended to “forget” about it without anyone noticing, but she hadn’t expected Li Wanchao to come to her door directly.

Hearing Li Wanchao’s words, she gave a dry laugh, “Is that so? If Chao-jie hadn’t mentioned it, I would have truly forgotten.”

The Old Madam was over fifty, and her sixtieth birthday was approaching. She had many white hairs, and wrinkles lined her eyes. On her not-so-kind face, her shrewdness was even more apparent.

Her stepmother, seated to the side, said sarcastically, “Chao-jie is so filial, going to her grandmother for a brush.”

Li Wanchao raised her eyes to look at the beautiful woman opposite her.

When a woman marries, she serves her husband first, and then her mother-in-law. Chen Shi had married her cousin and had her mother-in-law to take care of her. The Old Madam, considering her sister’s sake, wouldn’t be harsh on her.

Chen Shi hadn’t suffered much over the years and lived well. Her face was well-maintained, showing no signs of aging.

She raised her wrinkle-free hand and adjusted her meticulously styled hair. The jade ring on her hand was dazzling.

Li Wanchao withdrew her gaze, unprovoked by her words, and lowered her eyes, saying, “It’s not that I’m not filial. I often visit the main hall during festivals. But the things Father gives are naturally important to his children. Since Grandmother forgot, I had to come again.”

As soon as Li Wanchao said this, another person spoke up with mockery.

It was her stepsister, Li Wanshu.

Chen Shi had twins, a boy and a girl. Li Wanchao was seventeen this year, and her younger siblings were two years younger than her.

Li Wanshu said, “You did such a scandalous thing, you’ve completely disgraced our Li family. Father doesn’t want to acknowledge you anymore. Stop using Father as an excuse!”

As soon as she said this, the room fell into a brief silence. The sound of wind and snow outside grew louder, as if a biting wind was entering the room through the cracks in the windows.

Li Wanchao’s face, which had been flushed by the charcoal fire, seemed to turn paler.

She was naturally fair-skinned, with a delicate and refined beauty, like a small jade Guanyin, pitiable and lovely.

Seeing her face turn pale, Li Wanshu became even more smug, “When you were cavorting with someone at the gathering, why didn’t you think of Father? When you were disgracing our family, why didn’t you think of Father?”

The matter dated back three months.

Li’s father, Li Guan, was the prefect of Enwen Prefecture, known for his integrity and respected in the area. Even though Li Wanchao’s birth mother had died early, she was still the legitimate eldest daughter of the Li family. In Enwen Prefecture, many noble daughters would associate with her for the sake of the title “eldest daughter of the prefect’s family.”

Three months ago, she had been invited to a gathering but didn’t know why she had been drugged. When she woke up, a man was lying beside her.

Fortunately, the people who stumbled upon them that day were all women, so Li Wanchao’s face wasn’t completely lost.

Later, Li Guan had rushed over…

Li Wanchao recalled the disappointed look in her father’s eyes, and her face uncontrollably turned ugly.

He had been ignoring her for three months. He had finally taken the initiative to give her something, even if he initially wanted to do it through her grandmother… Li Wanchao was content with that.

But now, even a brush was being withheld from her.

Li Wanchao snapped out of her memories and gave a dry laugh. Her face showed no signs of shame or anger.

She was beautiful when she wasn’t smiling, but even more beautiful when she smiled.

Even this forced smile was unbelievably beautiful.

Li Wanshu hated Li Wanchao, but even so, she was stunned by her beauty.

They had the same father… how could she be so beautiful?

Looking at her face, she was filled with jealousy and said unkindly, “What are you laughing at? If I were you, I would have jumped into the river already. You’re still laughing, still have the nerve to ask Grandmother for things.”

Li Wanchao still showed no shame upon hearing her words.

In this family, having a face didn’t make her life any easier.

They were all shameless, so what did she need her face for?

She stopped smiling and said calmly, “I just find it funny. Why are Father and Sister angry with me? I vaguely remember that at the gathering, Sister poured me a glass of water…”

She suspected that Li Wanshu had tampered with her drink, but she had no proof.

Li Wanshu immediately argued, “You’re talking nonsense!”

Seeing that the topic was about to go off course, Chen Shi intervened, “Alright! It’s just a brush, Mother, give it to Chao-jie. Look at Chao-jie’s posture, if she doesn’t get it, she’ll be (laizhe-to hang around) and won’t leave.”

These words were extremely harsh, portraying Li Wanchao as a petty person.

Li Wanchao replied, “Mother, you’re being too serious. I just thought Grandmother forgot and came to ask. If Grandmother doesn’t want to give it, I wouldn’t dare to ask further.”

Hearing her say this, the Old Madam’s expression turned unpleasant.

She was truly sharp-tongued, just like her deceased mother, always being sharp-tongued and annoying when arguing over things.

She sneered and gave the old nanny beside her a look.

The nanny understood and took out a brush box from the cabinet and handed it to Li Wanchao.

“I was just busy and forgot for a moment. Would Grandmother covet your things? Since you’ve come all the way, take it back.”

Li Wanchao took the brush.

Now that she had obtained the item, she didn’t want to stay any longer. Without saying anything more, she rose, took her leave, and went out.

As she came out of the main hall, the cold wind immediately rushed in, making Li Wanchao’s face ache. She put on her cloak, and the maid beside her held up an umbrella. The two stepped into the snow.

Li Wanchao’s courtyard was Guining Courtyard, which was some distance from Old Madam’s Chengming Hall. It was still evening when she left, but by the time she reached Guining Courtyard, it was already dark.

The lights in the room hadn’t been lit yet.

Wen Chen hadn’t returned yet.

Wen Chen…

He was the man who had shared a night of passion with her at the gathering.

The man was a poor scholar.

Li Wanchao had seen him at the school before.

He was extremely handsome, with the appearance of a banished immortal, but his background was the opposite extreme. He had no father, no mother, no brothers, living alone in Enwen Prefecture.

Because of his background and appearance, she had some impression of him.

Before that incident, they had never spoken a word or had any interaction. Her impression of him was limited to being cold and aloof.