At 9:45 a.m., in the study of the Lu Mansion, the newly placed glazed mandarin ducks shimmered with iridescent light in the sun. Jiang Wan held the account books of the Yan Family, her fingertips tracing the ink characters, "The withered plum blossoms have yet to fall, and the spring breeze rises once more." A faint smell of mold from the West City Rice Shop still clung to the edges of the pages. Lu Jingyuan stood by the window, watching a flock of sparrows in the courtyard, and suddenly spoke, "The third branch sent ten carts of charcoal to the West City yesterday."
"The third branch has always been afraid of the cold, but summer has already arrived." Jiang Wan tucked the account books into a hidden compartment. "Mr. Zhou says that when the charcoal carts passed the old Yan Family residence, the wheel ruts were three inches deeper than usual."
Lu Jingyuan turned, his jade pendant swaying at his waist. "The old Yan residence was sealed long ago. Unless..." He paused, his gaze resting on the silver hairpin in her hair. Last night, an unknown hand had bent the head of the hairpin; clearly, someone had broken into their bedroom.
Chapter 260