The early autumn wind swept across the plane tree leaves of the Jingyuan General's Mansion, dappling the stone table outside the painting pavilion in mottled gold and brown. Jiang Wan held her wolf-hair brush suspended over the xuan paper, the ink pooling into a dark bead at the tip, reflecting Liu Shiyao’s tightly pressed lips opposite her. The poetry and painting contest proposed three days ago had finally begun at the mao hour, while the morning mist still lingered.
"Is Miss Jiang ready?" Liu Shiyao slammed her embroidery frame hard onto the stone table. Only half a chrysanthemum had been stitched onto the fabric, but the threads were already tangled into a messy knot. "Today's theme is 'Autumn Sentiment.' We shall each compose a poem and a painting. What do you say?"
Lu Jingyuan frowned as if to speak, but Jiang Wan stopped him with a gentle shake of her head. She dipped her brush and touched it to the paper, instantly leaving a pale trail of ink. "Since Miss Liu has such refined interests, this humble person will gladly accompany you."
Chapter 104