The inner chamber was lit by candlelight. Xie Mingyue looked at Madam Luo, whose hair was styled in an extremely simple knot, secured by nothing more than a thin silver pin—a stark contrast to the jewelry-laden hair of her past. Her outer garment, though made of fine silk, had been washed until the color had faded to a dull, wretched pallor.
After the Luo family had fallen, Xie Mingyue had assumed that Madam Luo would have kept some money for herself; she might not have been as luxurious as before, but she surely should have been able to lead a comfortable, modest life. She had not expected to find her in such dire straits.
"Madam Luo, there is no need for such formalities. Today, you and I are meeting only to discuss business," Xie Mingyue said calmly, sipping her tea.
Chapter 209