The rainy season in Jiangnan always arrives unannounced. A fine, needle-like drizzle drifts down, shrouding all of Lin'an City in a hazy veil of mist. On the bluestone pavement, puddles reflect the grey, heavy sky. Pedestrians hurry past under oiled-paper umbrellas, leaving behind a trail of footprints of varying depths that are washed away by the rain almost as quickly as they appear.
Su Wanning stands by the window of Tingyu Pavilion, gazing out at the rain-drenched scenery. The writing brush in her hand hovers over the xuan paper, lingering and refusing to touch down. She is dressed in a pale green ruqun, the sleeves fluttering gently in the breeze. A white jade hairpin is slantwise thrust into her hair; this simple yet elegant attire accentuates her refined and otherworldly beauty, though the faint trace of melancholy between her brows adds a touch of weariness to her appearance.
"Mistress, this is the newly arrived Huizhou ink." The maid Bi'er's voice comes from behind, interrupting her thoughts. Su Wanning collects herself, nods slightly, and says softly, "Just put it down." Yet her gaze remains fixed on the outside world, as though longing for something, or perhaps trying to escape from it.
Chapter 224