At 5:45 AM, frost clung to the window lattices of the Lu Mansion study. Mr. Zhou’s breath formed a patch of mist on the paper panes. With trembling hands, he unfolded a secret report; the words "Remnant Plum Pavilion is spreading its net" were blurred by the moisture, looking like smudged ink. Jiang Wan held an embroidery hoop, her needle piercing a half-finished plum blossom into the moon-white silk. A Zhusha pendant attached to the end of the thread swayed in an arc. "They truly couldn't sit still any longer. Jingyuan, it is time to let Chairman Wang perform his act."
Lu Jingyuan pushed a false ledger across the sandalwood desk. As he opened it, a plum petal stained with Zhusha fell out, as red as bait at the edge of a trap. "Chairman Wang went to the Chamber of Commerce this morning; he must be wearing the corner of the Remnant Plum handkerchief you gave him." As he turned, the Flying Tiger emblem on his sword hilt caught the candlelight, casting a sharp shadow on the wall. "Princess, when can the armored cavalry move?"
Ren Yao nibbled on a candied fruit and flicked her soft whip. The tip brushed against a candle stand, snapping the flame in half. "At 7:15 AM, three hundred cavalrymen will surround Cien Temple so tightly not even wind can get through." She tilted a gold-plated wine flagon. "Though, shouldn't we throw a little more 'bait' to the Remnant Plum Pavilion?"
Chapter 272