The late autumn rain fell like needles, piercing the bluestone pavement outside the Mingyao Silk Shop. Liu Shiyao stared at her henna-stained fingertips in the mirror, then suddenly gripped the cosmetic box, digging her nails into the face powder. Snow-white dust cascaded onto the ledger, blurring the characters for "expenditure." Chuntao, huddled by the door, looked at the dark shadows beneath her mistress's eyes and recalled the few ruffians she had seen in the back alley yesterday—all of them scowling, with short blades tucked into their waistbands.
"Is everything handled?" Liu Shiyao asked abruptly, her voice like silk submerged in ice water.
"Yes, Miss," Chuntao replied, trembling as she handed over a purse. "Wang Bao accepted the fifty taels of silver. He said he would lie in wait in the bamboo grove behind Cien Temple. And..." she lowered her voice, "Xiaocham from the Marquis's Mansion accepted the bracelet; she promised to lead Miss Jiang through the west side gate at ten o'clock tomorrow."
Chapter 107