The midsummer sun scorched the flagstones, and when the bronze doors of the Marquis's Mansion council hall were thrust open, a wave of heat laden with dust rolled in. As Jiang Wan crossed the threshold, she heard the sound of a teacup shattering. Porcelain shards splashed against her skirt, which was embroidered with a Twin Lotus pattern, making her heart jump in alarm.
"You wretch!" The Marquis’s roar shook the dust from the rafters. His eyes were bloodshot, and his finger jabbed toward the tip of Jiang Wan’s nose. "The guards from the Crown Prince's Mansion have come to our very door—what else do you have to say for yourself?"
Jiang Wan lowered her eyes to the shards on the floor, catching a glimpse of Jiang Rou hiding behind a folding screen. Jiang Rou was covering the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief, but the triumph in her eyes could not be masked. Jiang Wan took a deep breath and curtsied. "Father, please allow your daughter to explain."
Chapter 73