As the night comes on, the inside of the house was brightly lit, the way Shi Yen liked it whenever she was working on something.
She was seated on the chair in Yuan Shun's study, wearing a pale blue chemise, the thin strap falling loosely over her shoulder. She was looking at the map of the city, familiarizing herself with every nearby road, alley, intersection, and passageway.
Yuan Shun paused at the threshold with a cup of tea in hand. He watched as his wife twirled the handle of a combat knife in her hand without looking, and without fear of accidentally harming herself. She was fidgeting with it as she studied the layout.
He stepped forward, walking towards his desk, the one she was using. He placed down the cup of tea on a coaster. "Oolong," he told her.
