The morning light of the Laba Festival filtered through the ice-cracked window panes of the Warm Chamber, making the golden-brick floor shimmer. On the twelve sandalwood screens of the Jingyuan General's Mansion, the mother-of-pearl inlaid qilin motifs flickered in the candlelight, standing in stark contrast to the "Map of Pacifying Mobei" hanging on the wall. Jiang Wan, dressed in a pale green silk skirt embroidered with intertwined lotus patterns—the hem accented with subtle, silver-threaded wheat ears—had only just crossed the threshold when she felt Cousin-Aunt Wu’s gaze sweep over her temples like the prick of a needle.
"Miss Jiang’s attire is quite elegant today," Cousin-Aunt Wu remarked, sitting upright in the rosewood chair of honor. As her fingers toyed with her Feicui prayer beads, the nine-pheasant motif on her navy blue, gold-woven Di Yi rose and fell with her movements. "I hear that the daughters of the Marquis's Mansion always wear Shu brocade; this intertwined lotus pattern of yours is a rarity."
Mrs. Li, sitting in the hall, hurried to chime in, though her eyes remained fixed on the Mandarin Duck Jade Bracelet on Jiang Wan's wrist. "Miss Jiang’s skill in managing a household is renowned far and wide. My own daughter always complains that the ledgers are like heavenly scripts; do you have any clever methods?"
Chapter 117