After Jiang Zhizhou left, the Marquis of Anguo returned to his desk and lifted his brush to write.
But though he held the brush aloft, he did not write so much as half a character.
Instead, a great blot of ink fell onto the once-pristine white paper, ruining the entire sheet.
The Marquis of Anguo stared at the blot for a long while before finally letting out a soft sigh.
He rolled up the sheet and pushed it aside, hung the brush back on its stand, then rose and walked slowly out of the study with his hands clasped behind his back.
As soon as he opened the door, he was surprised to find someone standing outside his study.
Seeing him emerge, a guard nearby immediately stepped forward. "Marquis, the second young master has been waiting outside for some time."
"Mm." The Marquis of Anguo merely acknowledged him, then looked up at Jiang Zhihuai. "What is it?"
Jiang Zhihuai did not answer. He merely tilted his head slightly to one side, his gaze slipping into the study.
After a single glance, he withdrew his gaze.
Subtle though the movement was, the Marquis of Anguo caught it.
His expression darkened, and he spoke again. "Why are you looking this way and that?"
Realizing that the Marquis of Anguo had seen through his intentions, Jiang Zhihuai stretched his lips into a smile. "Father, I thought I saw a figure flit past the corridor just now. I feared someone unsavory had entered the residence, so I came to look around."
The Marquis of Anguo glanced back at him. "A figure flitted past? Who would have the gall to barge into the Marquis of An's Residence and cause trouble?"
"From the way you are acting, do you think someone has made their way into