Ancient times

            As Snowfall and her companions continued with there walk, Ningjing told her the name of each building and structure they passed.

          When they reached a garden Ningjing informed her again "this is lotus garden. This garden was made specially by grandpa for zumu. Zumu is very fond of lotuses so when she was newly married into the family she would go out to look for lotuses so grandpa built a lotus garden for zumu so that she wouldn't have to go out looking for them but rather have her beloved lotuses within her reach. Although now she rarely comes here because of her health she always makes sure to come during grandpa's memorial. He died in this garden in her arms, isn't that so romantic" said Ningjing dreamily.

         "It really is" said Snowfall smilingly, then she frowned in thought "wait you mean zumu is still alive" asked Snowfall.

        "Yes of course, although she's not as strong as she used to be and spends most of her time indoors" replied Ningjing.

         "Then what are we waiting for let's go visit her" said Snowfall dragging Ningjing and Bai Jun along before they could even protest.

        The lotus courtyard, was the largest courtyard in the whole Han manor. It was the most furnished and decorated and housed the old zumu. The old zumu closed her eyes as she used her rosary and recited some chants when suddenly one of her maid servant announced "second miss and sixth miss have arrived".

        The old zumu opened her eyes surprised. She smirked slightly "second miss, hmm after nine years of ignoring my summoning she suddenly shows up, fine let them in".

          Snowfall, Ningjing and Bai Jun entered the hall and curtsying lowly while greeting "the daughters of the family pay there respects to zumu".

          "Rise" she said in monotonous voice.

          They all rose. Snowfall looked up only to see that the zumu was staring at her coolly. She was surprised. What had she done wrong? She only came to greet her what's up with the old lady.

        
          Zumu was waiting expectantly for Snowfall to start apologizing but it never came. She kept staring back at her with that confused expression on her face. She didn't seem apologetic in any way. When she was fed up with staring she finally asked "won't you apologize?"

         "Whatever for zumu" Snowfall questioned back.

          "Hah! You pretend like you don't know" said the zumu.

          "I really don't please tell me where I have wrong you zumu" asked Snowfall getting more and more confused by the whole situation.

          "I summoned you for the past nine years yet you never showed up and today you suddenly show up telling me you have not done any wrong?! Bah!" Said zumu in disdain.

          Ah Jiangxue, what have you done this time Snowfall thought to herself.

          Rather than get scared Snowfall thought but wait didn't she here the news of my memory loss. "Zumu I'm sorry if I did such thing but I really do not remember as you know something is wrong with my head so I can't remember anything" she simply said.

          Zumu frowned and the skin between her brows creased. "What do you mean you can't remember anything" she questioned.

         "Haven't you heard zumu? How strange everyone else knows, either way, I fell into the pool a few days back, on the way I hit my head and fainted and now something is wrong with my head so I can't remember anything" narrated Snowfall.

          "Such a thing happened in this family and yet I was not informed, hmm fine. Anyways why are you and Ning'er wearing those.... things?" asked zumu.

         "Oh you mean our clothes" asked Snowfall pretending like nothing was wrong with what they were wearing.

         "Those aren't clothes, those are rags" said zumu plainly.

         "Well this is what father's consort commissions for our courtyard" said Snowfall nonchalantly.

          "Nonsense! How can members of the Han family wear such horrible clothing" said zumu in outrage. "Bai zhi summon the entire family to the main hall we need to have a little chat" said zumu to her lady maid. "Yes my lady" replied Bai zhi.

         When the family arrived at the main hall, they all paid there respects to zumu. Then the master and mistress or rather acting mistress took there sit while all the other consorts and there children stood.

          The master was the first to speak "mother we heard that you had summoned us whatever for".

         "It has come to my notice that a lot of things have been happening in this manor recently that I have not been informed of".

         "What ever do you mean mother" asked the master.

         "Like the fact that Jiangxue has forgotten everything and yet no one cared to tell me" replied zumu in a cold tone.

         "Well mother...." Began consort chen.

          "I'm speaking to my son consort chen you'll get your turn to speak when I'm ready for you" said zumu cutting her of with a frosty tone. Consort chen quickly sat down, blushing slightly with embarrassment.

         "Mother forgive your son. He has failed you. I'm sorry you had to find out this way. I was simply worried about your health that's why I didn't inform you please mother have mercy on your son" said the master kowtowing before he's mother.

         The old zumu's eyes soften towards her beloved son and she said "rise my boy. Now to you consort chen, how is it that the servants of this manor are dressed more lavishly than the members of this family".

         "I...I don't u... understand mother" stuttered consort chen lowering her head.

          Zumu arched a brow, "really you don't" she asked. Consort chen shook her head with looking up. "Alright Ning'er, come here, come and show consort chen your dress" said zumu. Ningjing timidly went forward, slightly embarrassed about her tattered dress. "Now see consort chen, look at what the people of consort Yi's courtyard wear, the poor girl is even embarrassed to show you and yet you are the one in charge of commissioning all clothing yet you couldn't commission even one good dress for there courtyard, bah! Is the Han family that poor?" Asked zumu getting more angry.

          "Forgive me mother, it is all my fault, those maid's haven't been delivering there clothes and I've been too busy to check on them, I deserve punishment" said consort chen going on her knees to beg the zumu.

         "Too busy to check on the only di daughter of this family and her caretakers?!" Asked zumu in outrage.

         "Forgive me mother, I deserve to be punished and also punish all those maid, Lu Zhu make sure all the laundry maids are giving thirty floggings for there disobedience" said consort chen.

         "Zumu please forgive father's consort I'm sure that she was very busy that's why she could come and check on me, she even sent me some medicine unfortunately I spilled it" said Snowfall smiling slightly. Consort Chen's face turned bright red at the remembrance of the embarrassment Snowfall cause her that day.

         Zumu's eyes softened on Snowfall, Jiangxue had always been her favorite grandchild, even though she had ignored her summoning she still couldn't stop loving and doting on her. "Fine" zumu finally said "only because xue'er begged for you, you will have new dresses commissioned to all members of consort Yi's courtyard, also everyone will introduce themselves to xue'er so that she is familiar with all her family members".

          "Yes mother" consort chen agreed reluctantly.

         The first to introduce themselves was the master of the manor, Jiangxue's father, minister Han ling yao. When Jiangxue curtsied to him and met his eyes, he was surprised by the amount of coldness they held even though her smile said differently. The next was consort chen who also received the same treatment.

         The next was consort Chen's children, Han luo cheng and Han Mingxiang. Han luo cheng looked just as proud and conceited as he's sister. He didn't even bother glancing at Snowfall.

          The next was consort Ma and her children, Han Yunxi and Han Molan. Consort Ma looked resentful and Molan had already started flushing red with anger.
Yunxi on the other hand was smiling. "It's nice to see you jiejie it's been so long since I last saw you, how are you feeling now?" asked Yunxi.

         "I'm fine thank you" replied Snowfall.

        Yunxi smiled brightly saying "it's good to hear that now we can focus more on building our sisterly relationship, I hope you don't mind".

         "Not at all" replied Snowfall. With that Yunxi returned to her former position while Molan glared at her and her mother seemed to busy with her nails to even care.

         The next and last consort was consort shu and her daughter, or rather daughter and child as she was expecting. Han Ying Nan was a timid and shy girl. She seemed to have been equally bullied by her elder siblings and consort chen. "Greetings jiejie, I hope you're feeling well?" she greeted timidly.

         "I'm fine thank you, and how are you feeling today Ying Nan?" asked Snowfall smiling reassuringly at her.

         "I'm fine, thank you for asking" said Ying Nan smiling back at Snowfall too.

         "I hope you're taking care of father's third consort well I can see we are expecting a new sibling" said Snowfall cheerfully.
Consort shu blushed while Ying Nan smiled fondly at her mother. "Yes we are expecting a new baby  and I'll do everything to ensure that my mother is okay until the birth of the child" replied Ying Nan more to herself than others.

      The introduction was done and zumu was about to dismiss everyone when Snowfall asked her "zumu can I change the name of our courtyard".

       "Of course you can ask consort chen to help you" replied zumu to Snowfall.

       "No need I can do it by myself, I just need a frame" said Snowfall.

        "Alright, Bai zhi, send a frame to xue'er when we get back to the courtyard" zumu told her lady maid.

         "Yes madam" replied Bai zhi.

        When the meeting was finished, everyone was dismissed. Outside Snowfall, Ningjing and Bai Jun were walking when Snowfall asked "why haven't I visited zumu in nine years".

         "Well consort chen instructed that nobody from our courtyard should visit zumu again" replied Ningjing.

          "That witch! Anyways why was Ying Nan talking strangely when I asked about her mother's pregnancy" she questioned again.

          "Well" said Ningjing as she nervous fiddled with the sleeves of her dress "after Ying Nan was born, consort shu has had many miscarriages. The servants often gossip that it wasn't natural. Her last miscarriage was three years ago when she gave birth to a six months old dead boy".

          Snowfall gasped after hearing what Ningjing said. No wonder she seemed so protective of her mother. No doubt consort chen had something to do with this. She would make sure that consort shu had this baby no matter what, Snowfall promised silently.

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              Finally done!! My fingertips are aching but it was worth it. Well there you have it the three promised chapters and so far the longest chapters I've written. I'll make sure to update again tomorrow. Please vote and comment to tell me what you think. Love you all 💓💓💓.