At the third quarter of the You hour, a parrot shrieked harshly under the gallery. Jiang Rou paced back and forth in her chamber, her fingers clutching a silk handkerchief embroidered with a Twin Lotus until it was crumpled and creased. The setting sun outside the window cast her shadow onto the blue bricks, making her look like a bird trapped in a cage, circling endlessly.
"Cuier!" she stopped abruptly, her voice laced with impatience. "Go and see what is wrong with that scholar; why hasn't he come to report yet?"
"Miss, please calm yourself," Cuier said, stepping forward with a teacup. "Young Master Lin has difficulty walking; perhaps he was delayed on the way..."
Chapter 66