The water clock dripped to three quarters past the hour of You, and thirty-six sheep-horn lanterns were already lit in the side hall of the county yamen. Thirty-two huanghuali armchairs lined both sides of the room. Wu Dehou sat in the front row, pinching a jade snuff bottle. Catching sight of two withered, yellowed vegetable leaves floating in the celadon bowl on the table, he let out a scoff. "Is Lord Xia trying to give us a taste of hardship?"
Before the chorus of laughter from the assembly had died down, Xia Huai'an strode into the hall, lifting the hem of his robes. The hem of his dark official uniform was still flecked with mud from the field ridges. County Vice-Magistrate Zhou, the Lame Scholar, and the others followed closely behind.
Xia Huai'an took his seat at the head of the table, his fingertips gently rubbing a celadon teacup while his gaze swept over the prominent clan heads sitting below, each wearing a different expression. County Vice-Magistrate Zhou stood with his hands folded by the screen, and the taps of the Lame Scholar's crutch against the floor tiles sounded like the steady beat of a death knell.
Chapter 95