The gilded brazier in the main hall of the Lu Mansion burned a fiery red. Lu Mingyuan stared at the merchant testimonies laid out on the low table, his Feicui thumb ring tapping in an intermittent rhythm against the armrest of his chair. Standing by the window, Lu Jingyuan watched his Third Uncle repeatedly rub the edges of the papers, making silent calculations in his heart—since the conviction of the Right Prime Minister and Minister Li, this was the third time Third Uncle had brought up Jiang Wan of his own accord.
"Miss Jiang is indeed clever," Lu Mingyuan spoke up suddenly, his voice carrying a trace of grudging admiration. "To trace the source of the vermilion ink paste from the seals on the promissory notes... such attention to detail is something even the veteran clerks of the Ministry of Punishments cannot match."
Lu Jingyuan turned around. The morning light fell across his shoulders, softening his black brocade robe into a warm gray. "Did Third Uncle know that Jiang Wan personally compiled the copies of the merchants' testimonies last night, even verifying every single handwriting?" He retrieved a red sandalwood box. "This is what she had Xiaotao deliver, saying it is soothing incense for Third Aunt."
Chapter 218