At the first quarter of the You hour (5:00 PM), a late-spring breeze swept willow catkins across the veranda of the Marquis's Mansion. Jiang Rou stared at the celadon vase on the antique shelf, her fingertips gently tracing the intertwined lotus patterns. It was a treasure her father had sought out in Jiangnan last year; it was said to have been crafted by an imperial kiln artisan and was worth a thousand gold pieces.
"Miss," Biyue whispered, leaning in close, "the Marquis has gone to the Suburban Military Camp and won't return until the Xu hour (7:00 PM)."
A flash of malice crossed Jiang Rou's eyes. "The incident with the flowerpot cost me the upper hand. This time..." She pressed down hard with her fingertips, and the vase shattered with a crash. As the porcelain shards scattered, she intentionally sliced her palm on one of the pieces. "Go take the Eldest Miss's Feicui handkerchief and place it among the shards. Then, say you saw her break the vase with your own eyes."
Chapter 22