At the second watch, seeking the pink hue.
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Today's female guests were all entertained in the inner residence. Entering through the hallway, one could see a vast courtyard paved with blue bricks, interspersed with lilacs and oleanders. Below the eaves of the Upper Room were four large pots, each holding a pomegranate tree. All around the cloistered walkways, neatly arranged, were seasonal roses in red, yellow, and pink—the blooming roses as large as fists. In addition to the roses, there were also seasonal chrysanthemums in yellow, white, and purple; almost every variety found in Liaodong Prefecture was present.
Some of these plants were gifts, while others were purchased by Lian Manman's family.
Although it was late autumn and early winter, these plants still adorned the entire courtyard with exquisite beauty and vibrant life.
