On March 25, the lingering spring rain finally stopped, leaving the sky washed clean, clear and bright. Morning light filtered through the lattice windows, casting a soft glow over the grey bricks and dark tiles of General Zhenwei's Mansion, draping the dignified estate in a gentle halo.
Lu Jingyuan stood before the bronze mirror, his slender, powerful fingers removing the last scale of his armor. The slight clinking of metal sounded like the lingering echoes of the storms he had weathered in officialdom. Shedding his armor, he changed into a dark cyan brocade robe, the fabric woven with subtle yet magnificent patterns that exuded quiet strength. The face in the mirror looked somewhat exhausted; days of rushing about and scheming had left faint dark shadows beneath his eyes. Yet his gaze remained as bright as cold stars, filled with tenacity and resolution.
He reached out to pick up the jade amulet for warding off harm that Jiang Wan had worked through the night to finish. The jade was warm and smooth, carved with exquisite patterns. The moment he tucked it close to his chest, he seemed to feel Jiang Wan's warmth and care, and a surge of warmth flooded his heart. His fingertips brushed against the jade pendant with the qilin motif at his waist—a token left behind by his father, carrying the family's honor and expectations. At that moment, the pendant felt as heavy as a thousand jun, burning like a hot ember, constantly reminding him of the heavy responsibilities resting on …
Chapter 163