Inside the Lu Residence banquet hall, the gilded beast-shaped censer exhaled wisps of dragon incense, yet it could not mask the suffocating scent of gunpowder in the air. Shen Mingyue stood before a carved sandalwood screen, her plain white skirt sweeping over the blue bricks and stirring up a scattering of silver-red petals cut into the shape of the character for "longevity," which looked like drops of blood spilled upon the floor. She gazed at Lu Huaijin, who sat in the seat of honor, looking smug. A cold smirk pulled at the corners of her mouth as her fingertips rhythmically rubbed the secret letter hidden in her sleeve, still warm from her body heat. The texture of the paper was clearly discernible, and it still held a faint scent of orchids—it was a forgery crafted overnight by the Tianji Pavilion. To ensure the letter looked flawless, the Pavilion Master had even sent someone to infiltrate Shen Qingyao’s boudoir to collect the incense she used daily.
Behind the beaded curtain of a second-floor private room, Gu Jinghong reclined on a rosewood daybed, lightly waving a white jade folding fan. The ink-wash bamboo painting on the fan swayed gracefully in the candlelight. As he watched Shen Mingyue, a glimmer of interest flashed in his eyes. "Yeying, keep a close watch on Lu Huaijin’s study. If he goes to retrieve the ledger from the secret compartment, report to me at once." His voice was languid, yet carried an unquestionable authority. "Send others to monitor Shen Mingyue…
Chapter 16