Xiao Rongyan's hand, which was stroking the jade cicada, paused. He turned his head, his deep-set eyes showing a trace of imperceptible surprise, and asked, "You mean... Miss Bai?"
"Exactly! Initially, I wanted to obtain Miss Bai's handwriting for comparison. But the servants at the Bai Mansion are not easy to bribe, nor is it easy to infiltrate." Xiao Rongyan's subordinate kneeled on one knee. "Please forgive me, master."
Outside, the hanging lantern depicting plum blossoms swayed in the cold winter wind and snow. Xiao Rongyan, dressed in a sky-blue long robe, stood at the window with an indifferent expression, holding the jade cicada tightly. His inscrutable gaze nearly vanished in the shadows beneath the lamp.
He closed his eyes, recalling the palace banquet on the eve of the new year. When he had followed the palace maid to change clothes, Miss Bai's sudden gaze met his. Her pupils had contracted, and when he returned, her slightly relaxed posture betrayed her tension.
