Tigers Sniff the Rose - Chapter 143

Chapter 143

The Yan family’s eldest son, his household, and the elder Yan were preparing to return to Lingnan. Meanwhile, Yan Sanlang, seizing the opportunity presented by Wei Shu’s return from his diplomatic mission and the court’s opening of trade routes to the Western Regions, planned to head to Hexi to seek his own fortunes. Since the Yan family already had the second son, Yan Shang, serving as an official, that was more than enough to ensure the family's standing. Yan Sanlang had no intention of following his second brother's path.

Unable to dissuade her husband, Sanlang’s wife had no choice but to take their children and follow the rest of the Yan family back to Lingnan.

They entrusted Yan Xiaozhou to Yan Shang, leaving her in Chang'an. The reason was self-evident: to find her a suitable husband.

Yan Shang had already learned from Mu Wanyao about the entanglement between his sister and Yang Silang. He felt both shocked and conflicted, not knowing how to broach the subject with her. Because Yan Xiaozhou was exceptionally sensible and never showed any distress in this regard—and furthermore, Yang Silang was already betrothed—Yan Shang could only keep a close watch on his sister, discussing with Mu Wanyao that they would wait until Yan Xiaozhou had forgotten Silang before talking about marriage.

Mu Wanyao naturally agreed.

She and Yan Shang were certainly capable of supporting a young woman; not to mention that she never lacked money, even a clean official like Yan Shang, having reached his current position, would not be short of funds—provided he remained uncorrupt. Moreover, Mu Wanyao quietly suspected that the reason Yang Si was interested in Yan Shang’s sister was because she herself used to constantly whisper to Yang Si about Yan Shang, sharing their mutual tastes regarding the opposite sex.

Perhaps it was her constant praise of Yan Shang that had made Yang Si particularly desire a young woman with Yan Shang’s temperament.

Yan Xiaozhou was so innocent.

And so, Mu Wanyao committed herself to being a good sister-in-law, ensuring that Yan Xiaozhou lived comfortably in Chang'an.

This led to another problem: since the Yan family was leaving, should Yan Xiaozhou live in her brother and sister-in-law’s Princess residence, or should she live alone in the house next door? Yan Shang no longer lived there, and with such a large, empty courtyard, the question of whether or not to sell it arose.

Yan Shang felt there was no need to spend an extra penny maintaining an empty house; his sister could simply live with them.

Mu Wanyao was indifferent.

The elder Yan hesitated for a moment and said, "It is better to keep the house."

Seeing his second son’s puzzled expression and the Princess’s nonchalance, he hesitated before adding, "If you two ever have a conflict or an argument, keeping this house gives the second son a place to go."

Yan Shang was stunned, then his face flushed hot with embarrassment, feeling both annoyed and amused. The implication of his father’s words was that if he and Mu Wanyao argued, she would throw him out and not let him come home. Yet, although Mu Wanyao was a Princess with a fiery temper, she had never treated him that way.

Sure enough, the elder Yan shouldn't have spoken. As soon as he did, Mu Wanyao’s gaze fixed firmly on the matter.

Mu Wanyao grabbed Yan Shang’s arm and immediately decided the fate of the property: "Sell it! It must be sold! Arguments before sleep are resolved in bed; no matter how fiercely I quarrel with Second Brother Yan, I will never allow him to sleep in a separate bed from me."

The elder Yan: "…There are always inconvenient times."

Mu Wanyao: "There are no inconvenient times!"

She threatened Yan Shang: "It doesn't matter if we quarrel, but I will never let you sleep apart from me, even if it kills me."

As long as they didn't sleep apart, problems could often be half-solved by morning, and fully resolved after a few more nights. She had discovered that between men and women, physical contact was exceptionally important. Even when she and Yan Shang were at their worst, once there was physical contact, their attitudes would soften.

And once attitudes softened, they were in the mood to communicate.

Two people who liked each other would definitely want to touch each other’s bodies. If Yan Shang and she were used to sleeping apart and he had no desire to touch her, then that was when their relationship would truly be in trouble.

Yan Shang felt embarrassed by Mu Wanyao’s categorical statement. Although he also intended to sell the house, he and Mu Wanyao were clearly thinking of different reasons. He gently pushed Mu Wanyao, signaling her not to be so intimate in front of others.

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow: You consider your own father an outsider?

Yan Shang coughed lightly.

Seeing the young couple exchanging glances, the elder Yan couldn't help but smile, and he ceased to voice any further opinions on the mansion.

When he first arrived in Chang'an, he had been filled with worry, fearing that his second son had married the Princess just for career advancement, or that he had been coerced by the Princess.

He was a man who had been timid his whole life, afraid to ask or voice opinions on many things, but when it came to his children’s life-altering events, he had finally summoned the courage to act, after praying for his late wife’s protection.

He had stayed in Chang'an for half a year, cheekily living next door to the Princess’s residence, observing how his son and the Princess interacted daily. If his son had been forced, he would have taken his children and fled overseas to prevent them from suffering, even if it meant being a coward one last time. But after half a year, he realized that his second son and this proud, arrogant Princess were, as Yan Shang had said, truly in love.

The Princess was such an arrogant woman, yet every time she was with his son, her gaze would unconsciously follow him, revealing her determination to keep Yan Shang to herself. Her every word and action told everyone: Yan Shang is mine; he is my possession, my exclusive property.

Mine, mine, mine!

No one can take him from me!

His daughter-in-law was so possessive, yet his son was gentle and obedient to her in every way; this left the elder Yan with complex feelings, yet he was ultimately comforted.

Thus, once Yan Shang saw to it that his sister moved into the Princess’s residence and the house across from it was sold, Yan Sanlang set off for Hexi, and the elder Yan, the eldest son’s family, and the third daughter-in-law boarded an ox cart and returned to Lingnan.

As they sat in the cart, the sun set, painting the sky in red clouds. The elder Yan looked back at the majestic and imposing city of Chang'an, filled with emotion as he recalled the past—

Such as the year he had passed the imperial examinations to become a Jinshi, the very first year the Great Wei had held them;

He had been lucky, passing on the first attempt and placing third, attracting invitations from the Princesses and noble ladies of Chang'an;

He had lived a quiet and fragile, perhaps even timid life, but the most courageous thing he had ever done was to discard the official position about to be placed in his hands, eloping with that woman, and spending the rest of his days wandering the vast land with his children…

The elder Yan thought of his late wife, sighing softly, his handsome face tinged with sorrow and tenderness.

The spring wind was bitingly cold; he clutched his sleeves and turned his head away, no longer looking back at Chang'an, nor looking back at his old memories. A man of the past like him was already old; the future of Chang'an belonged to young people like his second son and the Princess.

There was no need to dwell on it—

At the residence of the Eldest Princess of Luling, hearing that Yan Shang’s father had left, the Princess sat up on her couch with a hum, though the expression in her eyes was complex.

Because she felt that Chang'an was restless lately, the Eldest Princess had become cautious. She did not touch politics, but she had people investigate recent events. Mu Wanyao was her top priority for information, which was why the servants would report even something as trivial as the elder Yan’s departure to her.

The Eldest Princess felt uneasy, wondering if the elder Yan’s departure signaled that Yan Shang’s family was leaving so he could plot something in Chang'an.

And the elder Yan…

Memories surfaced in the Eldest Princess’s eyes. She recalled long ago, when her brother held the first imperial examination, the third-place finisher also seemed to be named Yan. At the time, all the Princesses had been captivated. That Yan scholar in his prime had been so clean and bright, causing a sensation far greater than this Second Brother Yan, who had grace but was more measured in his movements.

Twenty-some years passed, and another cycle had begun.

After deep contemplation, the Eldest Princess instructed her servants: "From today on, I will pray for my late husband; invite Taoist priests and shamans to conduct rituals. I will stay behind closed doors for a month; we shall not participate in anything happening outside."

In the third month, when the results of the imperial examinations were posted, the gate of Princess Danyang’s residence was nearly trampled flat, either by those seeking recommendations from Mu Wanyao or by those who had the nerve to come to Yan Shang with their writings.

Because Yan Shang was the Director of the Bureau of Evaluations in the Ministry of Personnel, he was responsible for the imperial exams. This was his first year in charge, and he had changed the rules and adjusted the types of exam questions. The scholars who had previously thought themselves secure were now panicking, and the noble families had come to inquire about the situation.

Fortunately, Yan Shang had a good reputation, and no one dared to go too far.

Yan Shang was merely attempting reform—something he had discussed with his mentor years ago, arguing that it was unfair for the imperial examinations to focus solely on poetry and essays.

Back then, Councilor Liu had told him to compromise with the noble families.

Now, Yan Shang was breaking that monopoly little by little, testing different directions. He didn't have to fight the noble families to the death; probing them bit by bit was enough.

That year, the number of successful candidates from commoner backgrounds was thirty percent higher than in previous years. The noble families found this proportion acceptable, while the commoners were invigorated. This was exactly as Mu Wanyao had planned: hold the Ministry of Personnel, and the commoners would have a chance.

Yan Shang wasn't denying the noble families their path to survival or forcing them into a desperate struggle. The noble families also felt that since commoners were destined to rise, having a calm and elegant man like Yan Shang as their leader was better than facing someone ruthless and severe.

Both sides understood the situation; those who needed to yield did so, those who needed to rise did, and the atmosphere was one of kindness and harmony.

After the examinations, with the reshuffling of officials, Wei Shu was assigned to the Ministry of Rites, promoted to the position of a Director in the Ministry of Rites, responsible for the trade routes between Great Wei and the surrounding nations, utilizing all that he had gained from his years as an envoy.

In the fourth month of that year, a military rebellion occurred in Taiyuan Prefecture; the Magistrate of the Northern Capital of Taiyuan was killed by rioters, shaking the central government. The government wanted to dispatch officials from Chang'an to suppress the riots, but the officials in Chang'an were unwilling to go to the provinces, and upon hearing how chaotic Taiyuan had become, they declined one after another, fearing they would never return.

Yan Shang volunteered for the post, requesting to go to Taiyuan to settle the chaos and pacify the people. He promised that once Chang'an had selected a new Magistrate for Taiyuan, he would return.

Since no one in the central government wanted to go, and Yan Shang did, his transfer order was issued with great speed. Yan Shang went to Taiyuan as an Inspector, and the court granted him ten thousand troops to quell the rebellion.

Once Yan Shang arrived, affairs in Taiyuan began to stabilize. The officials in Chang'an were left with complex feelings, hearing continuous reports of victory from Taiyuan—how Yan Shang stabilized the situation, how he visited every household, how he opened the government offices and ate and lived with the people, how he reformed policies… During this time, Yan Shang had only used his troops once, and since his arrival, not a single person had died in Taiyuan.

The court had to admit that when it came to practical affairs, Yan Shang never faltered.

By the sixth month, Chang'an no longer cared about affairs in Taiyuan. The central government dispatched a new Magistrate to take over, ordering Yan Shang to return to the capital. That month, the Emperor went to the summer palace to recuperate, just as he did every year. Everyone had grown accustomed to this annual arrangement; not a single year had it been changed.

Before departing Chang'an this time, the Emperor once again left the Crown Prince in charge of the court.

Mu Wanyao was summoned by the Emperor. The world said the Emperor doted on this youngest daughter, whom he had also married off, and always liked to take her to the summer palace to spend time together. However, as to the truth of the situation, Mu Wanyao was likely the only one who truly knew—

The summer palace was at the foot of Mount Zhong. The next morning, Mu Wanyao went to pay her respects to her father. The minor eunuchs in attendance said that the Emperor was feeling unwell and needed to rest, so he would not see the Princess.

Mu Wanyao’s expression faltered slightly: "Is Gonggong Liu not here?"

The minor eunuch bowed: "Gonggong Liu is in Chang'an handling affairs; he did not follow us this time."

Mu Wanyao said impatiently: "Then have Cheng’an come to see me. I must ask how my father is feeling, must I not?"

The minor eunuch continued to smile apologetically: "Gonggong Cheng is suffering from a severe illness and did not follow us either. Only servants like us are here."

Mu Wanyao raised an eyebrow.

The eunuch glanced up secretly and saw the Princess smile at him, neither friendly nor hostile. The eunuch’s heart pounded, and he nearly thought the Princess had seen through them. But Mu Wanyao asked no more questions and turned back to her quarters, much to the eunuch’s relief.

Mu Wanyao chatted briefly with the accompanying officials before returning to rest. With her husband not by her side, she felt a sense of listlessness and found it dull. After reading for a while and finding no meaning in it, and playing the zither with no one to appreciate it, Mu Wanyao sat before her vanity mirror and began to groom herself.

Xia Rong had married, and the capable maid by Mu Wanyao’s side had officially become Qiu Si. After Qiu Si returned from gathering information, she said to the Princess with a worried expression: "They are guarding the summer palace very strictly this year; the servant girl can't go anywhere. No matter how much we offer those eunuchs, they won't let us pass."

Qiu Si: "Your Highness, do you think something might happen?"

Mu Wanyao gazed at her own beauty reflected in the mirror and said leisurely: "Don't fear that something will happen. It would be strange if nothing happened."

Qiu Si grew nervous instantly: "Ah?!"

Mu Wanyao lowered her head as an ivory comb gently brushed through her black hair. She fell into silence, not communicating with the maid. Just then, a chaotic noise erupted outside, piquing the curiosity of the mistress and her servant.

Fang Tong burst into the outer room without waiting to be announced, his voice tense: "Your Highness, something has happened! The Prince of Qin has led an army to surround the summer palace, shouting about 'clearing the palace of evildoers' and 'removing the treacherous'!"

Qiu Si, a fifteen-year-old girl, hurriedly lifted the curtain. Seeing the bloodstains on Fang Tong, her face turned deathly pale, and she looked at the Princess, completely lost.

The ivory comb in Mu Wanyao’s hand paused, and she sneered.

Mu Wanyao whispered: "So, it has finally come to this."

The Prince of Qin rebelling… it was something she and her father had forced upon him with their own hands. From last year to this year, they had finally pushed the Prince of Qin to rebellion.

Because they had to remove the Jiang clan, because they could not let the Jiang clan rely on the Prince of Qin’s power, the Emperor had to trap the Jiang clan—the strongest noble family—during his final years. How could the Prince of Qin not resent it? How could he not rebel? Noble families, noble families—they were like the Emperor’s demon—

In his remaining years, the Emperor was determined to suppress the noble families so they would have no chance to rise.

Before he died, he had to ensure the commoners suppressed the noble families.

Without waiting for the servants to ask again, with a "clatter," Mu Wanyao slammed the comb onto the table and stood up. She walked toward the outside, her sleeves fluttering, her presence aggressive. As she passed Fang Tong, she pulled the sword from his waist. The fabric of the tent brushed against the sharp edge of the sword, instantly shredding into two.

Qiu Si and the other women felt a sense of stability following such a formidable mistress.

As Mu Wanyao walked out with her sword, she ordered: "Climb the watchtower, change the flags! Proclaim that the Prince of Qin is rebelling, and call the feudal lords from all four directions to come to Chang'an to protect the Emperor!"

"Bring all the officials remaining here to see me! Tell them the Prince of Qin has rebelled, so they need not hesitate. Tell them to temporarily replace the generals, mobilize the troops, and ensure the Emperor’s safety—they will be richly rewarded for their efforts!"

Orders were issued one by one, orderly and calm. The people gradually found their pillar of strength and were no longer panicked.

Fang Tong followed closely behind Mu Wanyao: "Your Highness, where are we going now?"

Mu Wanyao raised her eyes, a mocking light in her icy gaze. She looked toward the Emperor’s bedchamber, her voice strange: "We are going to see my father’s bedchamber… to see what his goal was for this trip to the summer palace, and how sick he truly is that he dared not even see me."

There was no longer the affection of father and daughter, only the relationship between ruler and subject. Mu Wanyao wanted to see if the Emperor was truly as she had imagined!—

Dust and fog whirled on Mount Zhong. The troops that had been buried there for days and months rose, led by their generals, charging down the mountain toward the summer palace. These soldiers belonged to the Southern Administration and were no different from the Prince of Qin’s private army.

With the Jiang clan providing borrowed troops and passage, they were naturally invincible!

As the cavalry charged, the Prince of Qin, also armored and holding a long sword, crossed onto his fine horse. Since the retreat of the Li clan, the Prince of Qin had taken charge of the Ministry of War, managing it for nearly a decade; it had become an iron barrel, listening only to his orders and not those of the Emperor. The Emperor had pressed him step by step, and who would be willing to retreat again and again?

The Prince of Qin swung his sword, taking the lead to attack the palace. His personal guards slaughtered the guards outside, and he shot an arrow to kill the scout on the watchtower, his voice thundering like lightning: "Soldiers! You are all heroes of Great Wei! In recent years, my father has become old and confused, doting on my sixth sister. My sixth sister is but a girl, and she has been deceived by a traitor like Yan Er."

"The court is held by them. For a time, the court only knows the name of Yan Suchen, but not my father! Today, we are going to clear the palace of evildoers and rescue my father from the hands of these treacherous villains! Men, if you believe in me, charge in with me!"

"If we succeed today, you shall all be rewarded!"

The soldiers were inspired, their momentum even stronger. Ferocity and excitement welled in their eyes as they stared intently at the summer palace. They believed the Prince of Qin’s words, feeling they were performing an act of justice. Under the leadership of the Prince of Qin’s guards, voices of agreement rose from all directions—

"Long live the Prince of Qin!"

"We shall not fail Your Highness’s orders!"

The summer palace fell into clamor and panic, collapsing into chaos, as they watched them take the city and sack the land, spreading like locusts. The officials following the Emperor panicked, scrambling to find His Majesty, scrambling to find Princess Danyang, the only one who could take charge—

Less than ten miles from Mount Zhong, Yan Shang had been lurking in the wasteland with his troops, waiting for over a month. He had left the capital under the guise of the Taiyuan riots, but the true imperial edict he had received was to guard against the Prince of Qin’s rebellion.

The Emperor, Mu Wanyao, and Yan Shang all knew that under such pressure, the Prince of Qin would be forced to rebel. But to crush the noble families, this step was essential.

Scouts climbed the watchtower daily to look toward Chang'an. This day, no sooner had they climbed than they saw the movement of flags. The scouts immediately reported to the governor on horseback; dust and smoke rolled as several horses sped across the plain. Yan Shang took a deep breath, having guessed the situation.

He mobilized his troops and mounted his horse, his decision made.

At the same time, a messenger galloped frantically on horseback, quickly arriving under Yan Shang’s command. The messenger was panting: "Langjun, this is from His Majesty to you—it is a letter from ten days ago! Please open it personally!"

Yan Shang tore open the envelope, read the letter, and his expression did not change. He handed the paper to Han Suxing, telling him to put it away. Yan Shang continued to mobilize his troops, leading them toward Mount Zhong to save the Emperor.

Han Suxing was nervous: "Second Brother, has the situation changed? What new edict did His Majesty give you?"

Yan Shang raised his eyes slightly.

Few noticed his subtle expression, but if Mu Wanyao were here, she would have seen the shift in his emotions—mockery, exhaustion. But also preparation, and anticipation.

Yan Shang told Han Suxing: "His Majesty didn't give me any new edict. He only told me that my wife is at the summer palace below Mount Zhong."

Han Suxing did not understand: "Wasn't the Princess always with His Majesty? We already knew that. What does it mean for His Majesty to mention this specifically?"

Yan Shang smiled as he watched the rolling dust and waves below Mount Zhong, saying: "He is afraid I would deliberately delay the rescue, deliberately stall for time. In military matters, time is of the essence; every few breaths of delay could lead to a changing situation. He just wanted to ensure I wouldn't delay under any pretext; he just feels… I might delay under any pretext and refuse to save the Emperor properly."

Yan Shang mocked: "What he means is that at the summer palace, there is only Yaoyao. If I don't save her, Yaoyao will die. He wants to see if I will save her or not."

Han Suxing: "…Your Great Wei Emperor is far too suspicious. Second Brother has been working hard for him, yet he still treats Second Brother with such suspicion."

Yan Shang said nothing.

He thought it wasn't like this in the past; even three years ago, the old Emperor hadn't been this way. It could only mean that as the old Emperor’s health deteriorated, his trust in everyone vanished… it seemed only interests could endure.

Yan Shang stopped dwelling on it; he was tired of court struggles, tired of playing cat and mouse with the Emperor. He would only do what he had to do… if this ruler was not worth relying on, he would leave!

Yan Shang ordered his soldiers to drive their horses toward Mount Zhong to save the Emperor!—

The rebel army broke in, burning, killing, and looting, with no rules of conduct. The ministers, hiding in the summer palace, found Mu Wanyao and followed the Princess in terror: "Your Highness, the Prince of Qin’s army is like locusts; we cannot block them!"

As Mu Wanyao walked, she said coldly: "Even if you cannot block them, you must. You only need to hold them for a few breaths; someone will come to save us."

She felt a melancholy deep within her, thinking that this was a perfect opportunity to seize the Ministry of War… no one would stop her from claiming the credit for saving the Emperor!

The ministers: "Who? Has Your Highness sent someone to Chang'an for help? Or have the feudal lords from all directions come to save the Emperor? Your Highness…"

Mu Wanyao spoke sharply: "What does this have to do with you? You only need to fulfill your loyalty to the monarch! The Prince of Qin’s army has already reached the city gates; why are you following me? Why haven't you mobilized the troops? Why haven't you integrated all the soldiers in the summer palace?"

"If I have to do everything myself, what use are you?"

"The Prince of Qin has rebelled! Do you intend to become rebel subjects alongside him!"

Dismissing the ministers, Mu Wanyao, under the protection of Fang Tong and her guards, reached the Emperor’s bedchamber. Eunuchs outside tried to stop her, still not allowing Mu Wanyao to enter. However, this time, Fang Tong and the others acted directly, and Mu Wanyao charged into the palace without hesitation.

She assumed the posture of a loyal child, saying: "The rebels are here! I am here to escort my father out of this place; whoever dares to block me is on the side of the rebels, intending to kill the monarch and claim the throne!"

The eunuchs were panicked: "Your Highness, Your Highness, you cannot break in…"

Whether she could or not, Mu Wanyao broke in anyway.

Amidst the noise and clamor, Mu Wanyao pushed open the door to the bedchamber where her father was supposedly kept. The hall was thick with the scent of medicine, and plain gauze curtains fluttered in the air. Mu Wanyao stepped toward the inner chamber, waving her sword to cleave through the fluttering curtains—

The room was empty!

The entire room was devoid of a single person!

The Emperor was not there at all!

The old Emperor hadn't come to the summer palace at all! He had only used her as bait, only used her as a dagger!

Mu Wanyao sneered. She had gained insight into the Emperor’s intentions. The eunuchs outside, who had been trying to stop her, chased in. Seeing the Princess had already discovered the secret, they turned deathly pale and knelt down with a thud. Mu Wanyao looked back and ordered Fang Tong: "Give them weapons, take them to fight the Prince of Qin’s army alongside the troops in the summer palace."

"You serve the Emperor’s orders, so I will not kill you. But if you let me go to my death, I will not spare you either… go to the battlefield; life and death are in the hands of fate!"

"If you die, I will richly reward your families for your loyalty; if you live, I will not pursue your actions today."

"Let us all leave it to fate!"

The sword in her hand pressed against the smooth floor tiles; her long robes were blown by the wind, yet her slender figure held infinite strength, her eyes burning with the fire of the wild.

She feared the current chaos not at all, and listening to the rebels entering, it was as if she had suddenly returned to that night years ago when she escaped from Wuman. But today was different from the past; today, she knew she was not fighting alone. Mu Wanyao raised the sword in her hand, pointing directly outside—

"Men, fight with me!"—

Tens of thousands of troops, tens of thousands of voices!

The entire Mount Zhong was rolled into dust and smoke. Chang'an shivered at the sound, and the Northern Administration began to mobilize troops! The Northern Administration mobilized troops, but they did not leave the capital!

From Youzhou and Jizhou to the inner pass, the vast plain was laid bare. Yang Si led tens of thousands of troops, galloping toward Chang'an like a black bolt of lightning! With the world under his feet, a long streak of white lightning cut across the horizon, and the heavens grew bright—

In the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince stared blankly at the chessboard in front of him.

In the Qingning Palace in the Chang'an imperial palace, where the late Empress had lived, the Emperor sat with the Grand Director of the Imperial Household, Cheng'an, waiting for news from all sides—

In the city of Chang'an, dark clouds gathered, shrouding the earth for ten thousand miles.

Yan Xiaozhou and several close friends were walking in the streets. As the women laughed and chatted, they heard the thunder in the sky and couldn't help but look up;

At the Zhao Censor’s residence, Lord Zhao detailedly asked about Zhao Lingfei’s experiences over the years, and after pondering, said: "I will make the decision for you. Shall I let Wei Juyuan come to propose to you? You have spent so many years together; he should be responsible to you."

Zhao Lingfei blushed, then pursed her lips and laughed. Suddenly hearing a rumble of thunder, the lightning illuminated her face like snow, and she turned her head to look out the window—

The storm had arrived; let no one hide!