The late spring sun, fragmented like crushed gold leaf, filtered through the bamboo blinds of the carriage and wove a pattern of fine, dancing shadows across Jiang Wanyue’s white silk skirt. She lowered her eyes, examining the handkerchief peeking from her sleeve; its corner was embroidered with a partial lotus in silver thread, the stitches as fine as spring rain, echoing the lotus motif of the nephrite hairpin in her hair. It was a piece her mother had embroidered by hand before passing away, and as Jiang Wanyue looked at it now, it felt as though her mother had foreseen her rebirth: born in the mire yet unstained, her heart turned toward the moon reflecting in the muddy waters.
"Miss, the flying eaves of Qinfang Garden are coming into view," Wanqing said, her voice tinged with nervousness as her fingers tightened around the edge of the curtain. "Just as we passed the side gate, I caught a glimpse of the Second Miss’s carriage parked under the acacia tree to the west. Liu Ruyan from the Liu Mansion and Minister Li’s daughter, Yue Ru, were in the same carriage."
Jiang Wanyue gently pressed down on her maid’s trembling hand. Her white sleeve slipped back an inch, revealing a slightly worn green jade bracelet—a "flaw" she had deliberately chosen. The inside of the bracelet was engraved with the word "Lotus"; it had been a gift from the Crown Prince in her previous life, but now, it was a dagger she would drive into her opponents.
Chapter 33