As the first ray of early morning sunlight climbed over the eaves of Wanhua Tower, the morning dew Ye Fan had just caught was still condensed on his fingertips. The moisture spread across his palm, looking remarkably like the mud-stained hawthorns Xiaohong had carried in the market last night—the fruit she had shoved into his lap still lingered inside his robes, carrying a faint, lingering chill.
"Master Ye," shouted the madam from downstairs. "Manager Li's tea cart is already parked at the door. He said you promised yesterday to have morning tea with him over there."
Lowering his gaze, Ye Fan straightened his cuffs while the Jiuxiao Huanpei at his waist gave a gentle jolt. The Yuanqi dormant within his Inner World stirred like a swimming dragon flicking its tail, rolling a wave of hot current through his meridians. Gazing out the window at those figures in dark robes disappearing toward the post station, his Adam's apple bobbed—the people from the Zhao Estate had arrived much faster than anticipated. Manager Sun was merely a pawn; the real trouble still lay ahead.
Chapter 41