Incense, flowers, birds, insects, and fish.
In the quiet study, the little girl was earnestly holding her brush and practicing her calligraphy.
She did not know how precious the brush was, nor that the ink was a rare treasure. She knew even less that the paperweight beside her was an exceptionally valuable treasure.
The only thing the little girl knew was that if she wrote well, her mother would praise her.
She quietly raised her head and brought her mother's figure into view—the woman was in the pavilion outside the courtyard, with a cup of tea, a book, and a delicate folding fan.
As though she had sensed the girl's gaze, the woman in the pavilion turned her head. A smile was hidden between her brows.
The girl playfully stuck out her little tongue, then diligently resumed practicing her calligraphy.
After watching for a few moments, the woman in the pavilion shifted her attention to a figure entering the courtyard.
This was another woman, very young in appearance. She wore black clothes and a black skirt and carried a black-sheathed longsword, yet her large, gentle eyes were not at all fierce, as though they could speak.
Anyone who saw her would be confused.
"Mother, Yu Huatian sent word that the man has gone to Cold Bamboo Forest." The woman in black spoke softly. "Judging by the time, the consultation should have begun."
The woman gently waved her white-feathered folding fan, stirring the incense smoke with the breeze. "Yuan Shu, do you think there will be a surprise this time?"
"Having one would naturally be best. If not, we can only accept it." Yuan Shu answered seriously.
"This young master is quite interesting, and his bearing is good too." The woman smiled faintly. "That day, I overheard him on Taihu Lake.