Autumn rain dripped persistently onto the dark grey tiles of Mingyao Silk Shop. Liu Shiyao stared at the figures in the account book, her fingertips gouging a deep crease through the characters for "Shu brocade." Yesterday's news of Jiang Wan and Lu Jingyuan boating together had spread like wildfire, and right now the entire Capital was talking about how the Heir of Jingyuan had reserved an entire painted pleasure boat for the Marquis's eldest daughter. Yet her silk shop, even when filled with the most luxurious woven brocades, could not buy her so much as a single pause from that man.
"Miss, the embroiderer from West City says—" Chuntao's words were cut off by the sharp crash of an account book slammed onto the desk. Liu Shiyao looked at the bruised, purplish shadows beneath her own eyes in the mirror, then suddenly snatched up a jade hairpin from the desk—a gift from Jiang Wan. The twin lotus carved at its tip caught the candlelight, flashing a cold gleam that was chillingly reminiscent of the ears of rice Jiang Wan had painted in the art pavilion the day before, so glaring it made one want to destroy it.
"Chuntao," she suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a suppressed, vicious edge, "go and fetch Manager Wang from Zuixian Pavilion."
Chapter 106