After a night, the day was bright.
The candles in the bridal chamber had burned out, and the lingering warmth carried a faint woody scent.
The bed and floor were in disarray.
He Ping'an had stayed up all night. The quilt on the bed had been slashed several times. She stared at the cotton spilling out, her eyes red and dark circles underneath.
At first glance, she looked half-dead.
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