Another maid brought the porcelain vase, along with some fresh flowers.
As he arranged them in the vase, Xu Huo asked where it had come from. The maid told him Hu Shan was very skilled at making ceramics. He Pu had even given her a dedicated workshop on the first floor. Besides vases and other containers, she could make human-shaped clay figures. However, Hu Shan was often dissatisfied with her work and would smash it before taking the pieces out to throw away.
"You came at an inconvenient time, Mr. Xu. The castle has been busy entertaining guests these past few days. She probably won't be making anything new."
After the maid left, Xu Huo went to the Study Room on the second floor again and took a Photo of He Pu from the bookshelf. He pried open the Frame, tore the Photo in half, then pieced it back together and put it away. Only then did he go find the Chen Brothers. After giving them a few simple instructions, he returned to his room.
The young Maid came back before dinner, giving him the pawn ticket and the money left over from buying the items. He gave her the Crystal Hairpin from the list, and she left happily.
He didn't go downstairs for dinner. He waited until midnight to leave his room.
The Mr. and Mrs. Ma followed him as soon as he stepped outside.
Xu Huo pretended not to notice and went straight past the Garden Maze to the woods in front of the Annex.
The couple exchanged a glance and picked up their pace slightly.
Before entering the woods, Xu Huo opened the Black Umbrella in his hand.
Raindrops fell on Mr. and Mrs. Ma's faces, but they paid them no mind. It often rained around the