Chapter 167

On the tenth day of the fourth lunar month, under the wisteria trellis in the West Side Courtyard of the Marquis's Mansion, Jiang Wan was busy annotating the *Classic of Poetry*. The water in her celadon brush washer reflected the serene expression on her face. As Lüluo entered with a gold-leafed invitation, the glass beads hanging from the eaves chimed softly. "Miss, an invitation from the Liuliang Poetry Society!" "The Liuliang Poetry Society?" Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow. As she took the invitation, her fingertips brushed against the gold-embossed patterns of the *Preface to the Orchid Pavilion*. This society brought together the noble ladies of the Capital and the wives of scholars; to join, one required the recommendation of at least three members. She suspected that the *Ode to Auspicious Clouds*, which she had improvised during the Spring Sacrifice last month, must have reached the ears of the society’s director. "I hear the director, Madam Xie, is the niece of Grand Secretary Xu," Lüluo whispered. "They’ve invited five noble ladies this time, and you are the only one from a Marquis's household."