The late spring sunlight filtered through the mottled bamboo curtains, weaving dappled patterns across the blue bricks of Qinghe Courtyard. Jiang Wan’s hand paused over her wolf-hair brush, letting a small blot of ink bloom at the end of the character for "integrity" on the rice paper. She had already heard the soft, rapid footsteps at the end of the veranda, accompanied by the sound of Jiang Rou deliberately clearing her throat.
"My Lady, Second Miss is here," Wanqing said, lifting the curtain with a hint of wariness in her tone. "She brought a gold-gilded gift box, saying it’s to make amends to you."
Jiang Wan set down her brush and wiped her fingertips with a handkerchief. "Show her in." She glanced at the neatly arranged invitation for the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet on her desk, a cold smile curling her lips. Having dealt with the gossip circulating in the Marquis's Mansion only yesterday, Jiang Rou’s desperate attempt to "make peace" was quite the timely coincidence.
Chapter 27