At the first light of dawn, the bluestone courtyard of Qinghe Courtyard was coated in dew, shimmering like scattered diamond dust. Jiang Wan sat before the carved dressing mirror, her fingertips repeatedly stroking the plain handkerchief peeking from her sleeve; the Twin Lotus embroidery stung her palms. When Wanqing entered with a gilded tea tray, the steam rising from the enameled copper teapot could not thaw the frost in Jiang Wan’s eyes.
"Did you not sleep at all last night, Miss?" Wanqing set down the tray, catching sight of the shadows beneath Jiang Wan’s eyes, which looked like ink spots dispersed by the wind.
"Box up the rose cakes freshly made in the small kitchen," Jiang Wan said suddenly, tucking the handkerchief into her lotus-patterned sleeve pocket. "And prepare three catties of sinking incense. We are going to Ciyun Temple."
Chapter 51