Frost and Splendor
The winter wind in the capital cut like a blade, stinging against the skin. A light snow had fallen overnight, blanketing the tiled roofs and courtyard walls of the Su residence in pristine white. Two massive stone lions stood guard at the main gate, adorned with bright red silk bows that stood out vividly against the snow, lending a touch of festive warmth to the biting cold.
The Su family had risen through commerce. While they lacked the ancient prestige of the capital’s old noble houses, few could rival their wealth. Their silk and brocade businesses stretched across the realm, supplying nearly eight out of every ten bolts of imperial cloud brocade used in the palace. Today marked the coming-of-age ceremony for their eldest daughter, Eleanor Su, who had just turned sixteen. Lanterns and streamers decorated every corner of the estate, while carriages lined the street outside, filling the halls with distinguished guests.
Yet not all who came bore goodwill. Some offered sincere congratulations, others attended out of obligation to the Su family’s riches, and quite a few whispered behind their smiles, eager to see the “nouveau riche” family stumble.
Inside the quiet Orchid-Snow Pavilion, the atmosphere was worlds away from the noisy outer courts. The only sound was the soft patter of snowflakes against the window lattice.
“Miss, if the jade hairpin tilts even a fraction too far, it looks frivolous. Too straight, and it appears stiff. It must sit at this slight angle to truly complement your bearing,” said Hazel Qiu, Eleanor’s personal maid. The two were the same age, both sixteen. Hazel had a round, cheerful face, bright eyes, and quick hands and tongue. She was the one person in this vast mansion whom Eleanor trusted completely.
Eleanor Su sat before a bronze mirror, her reflection revealing a face of striking beauty—delicate brows, luminous eyes, and lips like crimson petals. At sixteen, she carried none of the usual girlish playfulness. Instead, a quiet maturity far beyond her years settled in her expression.
Her mind was not on the ceremony at all. She kept thinking about the account books from the northern branch. Several entries didn’t add up, like a hidden thorn pricking at her heart.
To her, this coming-of-age rite brought no joy. It felt more like a stark reminder: though the Su family was immensely wealthy, in this treacherous capital, money without power was like a house built on snow—doomed to collapse at the first thaw. The weight on her shoulders felt heavier than ever.
“You really do talk too much,” Eleanor said with a faint smile. Her voice was clear and calm, revealing neither joy nor irritation, though a trace of weariness lingered in her eyes.
Just then, the door curtain was flung open and a twelve-year-old girl bounced in—Liora Su, Eleanor’s younger sister by the same mother.
“Sister! Let me see—oh, happy coming-of-age day!” Liora rushed to the mirror, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with pure delight. “Your dress is even whiter and prettier than the snow outside!”
Eleanor took her sister’s warm hand. The guarded look in her eyes softened into genuine tenderness. In this mansion full of schemes and masks, only Liora remained pure-hearted, laughing freely and speaking without calculation. Eleanor silently vowed to protect that innocence—no matter what storms lay ahead, she would shield her sister from the need to build walls so young.
“Slow down, or you’ll startle the guests,” Eleanor said gently, patting her sister’s hand with fond affection.
“Let them be startled!” Liora whispered conspiratorially, leaning close. “You should have seen our elder and second brothers in the corridor just now. Their faces were as black as the bottom of a pot. Cedric kept complaining that Father was wasting money, and Silas couldn’t take his eyes off the gifts, practically calculating their value in silver.”
Eleanor’s fingers paused briefly. A chill passed through her. She knew her half-brothers’ natures all too well. Their father, Elias Su, had built this empire through cunning and hard work, yet both sons were useless. Cedric was all show and no substance, while Silas was lazy and greedy, caring only for pleasure and profit. Since they dared not vent their anger at their father, they directed it all toward her, the eldest legitimate daughter.
“Those two are just heartbroken over the money! The master used the finest cloud brocade—three thousand bolts—just for Miss’s ceremony. They’ve been grumbling about it for days. They don’t understand that this isn’t just a celebration. It’s the Su family showing the capital that we belong here,” Hazel wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Eleanor gave a small, quiet smile. “They’re afraid I’ll spend their future inheritance. But they only see the rice in front of them. They don’t see the abyss behind the Su family. Without this display of wealth, how can the nobles and royals believe we’re still useful? Once we lose our value, the Su family will truly be finished.”
Though young, she saw far clearer than her half-brothers. She had already glimpsed the cold realities of this mansion and the deadly undercurrents of the capital’s politics.
A matron’s voice called from outside, “Miss, the auspicious hour has arrived. The master asks you to proceed to the main hall.”
Eleanor rose slowly. Her moon-white brocade gown flowed like water, embroidered with lifelike winter plum blossoms that seemed to bloom defiantly against the snow. She drew a deep breath, burying all her worries and calculations deep within.
The moment she stepped through that door, she would no longer be merely the young miss of the Su family. She would become a vital piece on the grand chessboard of the capital—and the shield standing in front of her sister.
In the main hall
The air was thick with incense and the sound of music. Elias Su sat at the head, wearing the smooth smile of a seasoned merchant as he greeted guests, though his sharp eyes hid a trace of heaviness. Today’s ceremony was both an olive branch to the capital’s powerful families and a high-stakes gamble.
In one corner, Cedric and Silas stood out awkwardly. Cedric wore a garish red-and-gold robe hung with multiple jade pendants that clinked noisily with every step. Silas’s oily gaze darted across the guests’ jewelry, mentally tallying their worth.
“Look at this spectacle,” Silas muttered sourly. “The old man is throwing money into the river. A ceremony for a girl more lavish than our own weddings. That silk on her costs a fortune per inch—complete waste!”
Cedric snorted, his face twisted with jealousy. “She’s only useful because of her face. If not for that, Father wouldn’t pin his hopes on her marrying up. Just wait. No matter how finely dressed, a merchant’s daughter can’t hide her stench of copper coins. Once she’s married off, everything in this family will belong to us brothers.”
Nearby, several noble matrons whispered among themselves. Madam Delia Zhao, the sharp-tongued second wife of the Vice Minister of Revenue, sneered, “The Su family really doesn’t know their place. A merchant’s daughter putting on such a grand show for her coming-of-age? I hear she even helps manage the accounts. How vulgar—nothing but an abacus in that head of hers.”
Instead of defending his sister, Cedric eagerly leaned in with a flattering smile. “Madam Zhao is right. My father has indeed been too ostentatious. My sister has followed him into business since childhood and lacks the proper grace of a refined lady. I will apologize on his behalf later.”
Madam Zhao gave him a contemptuous glance. *If the Su family falls into the hands of these fools, it won’t last long.* In contrast, Eleanor Su seemed sharp and capable—someone worth using.
At that moment, the announcer’s clear voice rang out:
“The eldest daughter of the Su family—Eleanor Su—enters the hall for the ceremony!”
The hall fell silent. All eyes turned toward the entrance.
A young woman walked in with steady steps, her gown swaying gracefully. Winter sunlight poured through the doorway, casting a soft glow over her moon-white robe. The plum blossoms embroidered on the fabric seemed to bloom with quiet pride.
A collective murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd. No one had expected the daughter of a merchant family to possess such ethereal beauty and dignified bearing. Even the daughters of great clans paled in comparison.
Eleanor knelt gracefully, her posture like a willow—flexible yet strong.
“Daughter Eleanor pays respects to Father and Mother.”
Madam Delia Zhao, stung by her poise, raised her voice with deliberate malice. “What a fine gown, Miss Su. Such exquisite embroidery and fabric must have cost a fortune. The Su family is certainly generous. Though… even proud plum blossoms lose their dignity when tainted by the stench of money.”
An awkward silence fell. Cedric and Silas exchanged gleeful glances, hoping to see their sister humiliated.
Eleanor rose slowly and turned toward Madam Zhao. Her gaze was calm yet piercing, as if she could see straight through the woman’s petty heart.
“Madam Zhao flatters me,” Eleanor said clearly, her voice carrying across the hall. “This gown is a new design from our Cloud Brocade Pavilion. My father has always taught me that the foundation of business lies in sincerity and care. The plum blossoms on this dress took the seamstresses three months of devoted work. I wear it today not to flaunt wealth, but to honor their craftsmanship and to remind myself that everything the Su family possesses was earned honestly, without shame.”
She paused, her eyes sweeping briefly over her half-brothers, who shrank back uncomfortably. Her tone cooled slightly.
“As for the ‘stench of copper coins’… I may not be wise, but I have read a few classics. They teach that true refinement lies not in status, but in the quality of one’s heart. A person with integrity remains pure even in the marketplace, while a corrupt heart makes even a room full of books feel vulgar. Wouldn’t you agree, Madam?”
Her words were soft yet sharp, striking at Madam Zhao’s narrow-mindedness and Cedric’s shameless flattery in one blow.
The hall was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. Several upright officials nodded approvingly. Even Cedric and Silas felt a flicker of unease—this sister of theirs possessed something they could never match: true backbone.
The coming-of-age ceremony proceeded with its traditional three changes of attire and adornments. With each step, Eleanor’s presence grew stronger. Those who had come expecting to mock her now remained silent in quiet awe.
By the time the guests departed and peace returned to the Orchid-Snow Pavilion, Eleanor was exhausted.
Liora immediately rushed over and hugged her. “Sister, those words you said earlier were amazing! Did you see how embarrassed Cedric and Silas looked? It was priceless!”
Eleanor leaned back in her chair, letting Hazel remove the heavy jewelry from her hair. Every word, every glance, every gesture during the ceremony had been carefully calculated. Now that it was over, the accumulated fatigue washed over her.
“Liora,” she said softly, gazing at her own weary reflection, “you must learn to be more cautious in this household. The Su family may look like a mountain of gold, but it is actually an isolated island surrounded by danger. Our half-brothers are unreliable, Father is getting older… guarding this family will not be easy.”
The door opened gently. Elias Su entered, his eyes filled with guilt and tenderness as he looked at his daughter.
“You did very well today, Eleanor. I saw everything.” He sighed heavily. “But precisely because you performed so well… the palace has sent word. The Empress Dowager heard about today’s grand ceremony and has graciously invited you to attend the flower-viewing banquet next month, after the autumn hunt.”
Eleanor’s heart sank like a stone into icy water.
This was no mere banquet. It was a royal selection of pawns—a silent, bloodless game of power. The Su family had finally caught the palace’s eye.
“Father… are we being pushed to the forefront?” Her voice trembled slightly, but she kept her composure.
“Whether this is fortune or disaster, it is too early to tell.” Elias took her slightly cold hand. “Your brothers are useless, your sister is still young. In this family, I have no one else to rely on but you. My child… are you afraid?”
Eleanor clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. The sharp pain cleared her mind.
“Yes, I am afraid,” she answered honestly. Her voice, however, was steady and clear. “But I know we cannot hide. Even if the vermilion gates of the palace hide a dragon’s lair, I must step inside. For the Su family—for Liora—I must carve out a path of survival.”
Outside the window, the last remnants of snow were melting. Cold wind still howled, and in the distance, the eaves of the imperial city loomed through the winter mist like a crouching beast, patiently waiting for its prey.
The game that would decide the fate of the Su family had only just begun.
