The copper bells at the eaves of the moon-gate in the Marquis's Mansion swayed gently in the west wind. As Jiang Wan stepped into the main hall, her feet treading upon white plum blossom petals that looked like crushed jade, fifteen sheep-horn palace lanterns were being lit one by one. The women gathered around the carved round table fell silent instantly. Second Mistress froze with her gilded nail guards poised in mid-air, her nine-phoenix gold bracelet clinking with a delicate, sharp sound.
"What was Second Aunt saying just now?" As Jiang Wan curtsied, the silver-threaded Twin Lotus pattern on her moon-white skirt swept across the blue-stone floor. She raised her eyes toward the empty rosewood chair at the head of the table, noticing that the Third Young Master, Jiang Mingxuan, was cowering behind a cinnabar-lacquered pillar. The jade stud on his earlobe caught the light—a gift she had bestowed upon her cousin for his coming-of-age ceremony last year.
Second Mistress coughed twice, covering the fine lines at the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. "We were merely discussing the Lu family’s marriage proposal and how it warrants further consideration." Her fingertip traced the gilded incense burner on the table. "The General's Mansion is of such high standing. Though our Marquis's Mansion is respectable, Miss Jiang has lately..."
Chapter 207