Duke's Mansion Spring Boudoir Little Charms

In the lingering chill of early spring, Gu Xiyan's sister-in-law arrived at her doorstep with two children in tow, weary from travel and wearing a look of desperation, as if she had reached the end of her rope. But Gu Xiyan had married into a family of higher status, and now, as a young widow, she lived under the constant scrutiny of others in the household, never daring to make decisions on her own. She went to plead with the matriarch, who smiled kindly and spoke with gentle words, yet her meaning was clear: there was no way. Leaving the matriarch’s courtyard, Gu Xiyan felt utterly hopeless. She couldn’t bear to face the despair and gloom in her sister-in-law’s and the children’s eyes. ...