Li Wei did not linger long after leaving Lady Wu's quarters, the descended the stairs at an unhurried pace, his steps steady despite the weight of what had just been set into motion. The murmurs behind the closed doors felt louder now, as though the building itself had taken note of his movements.
A curtain brushed his shoulder as he passed, its silk cool against his sleeve. ~rustle~
By the time he stepped back onto the street, the district had grown denser and more ambient
Lantern light reflected off polished wood and lacquered railings, casting uneven shapes across the stone road. Open air carried layered scents of incense, wine, warm oil.
Beneath them all, the faint tang of old smoke that never truly left the capital. The young master adjusted the fall of his cloak and moved on. An antique shop lay several streets away, far enough from the main thoroughfares that casual patrons rarely wandered in by accident.
