The early summer sunlight filtered through the grape trellis at Renyao Manor, weaving a pattern of shattered silver light across the bluestone path. As Jiang Wan followed Renyao into the Warm Chamber, she noticed the bronze bells beneath the eaves chiming softly without a breeze—these were the "thief-deterrent bells" standard in a marquis's residence; it seemed Renyao had already deployed secret sentries in the wake of yesterday’s incident.
"Sister, please, take a seat," Renyao said, gesturing for her maid to serve tea. Her gaze swept over the tea stain on the hem of Jiang Wan’s skirt. "The servants said Xiaotao spilled a cup of tea just now. Were you scalded?"
As Jiang Wan sat down, she deliberately avoided the shards on the floor. "It is nothing, though the way this cup shattered is quite peculiar." She pointed to the tea stain on the bluestone tiles. "Look at the pattern, Renyao. The tea splashed in an arc, clearly caused by the holder exerting force while leaning sideways. How could that be the result of a simple trip?"
Chapter 44