Meeting the family 1

Duke Shenxiu's residence, the main courtyard. Duchess Fu's room.

The Duchess sat still as her lady's maid slowly applied the black eye pence under her lids. The golden rays of the sun swept into the room, even reflecting slightly on the brass mirror in front of her.

She blinked as soon as her maid finished drawing the faint black line and sat up. She accepted the handkerchief from her maid and dabbed lightly at the edges of her eye.

She glanced at the maid silently going about their duties, frowning slightly when she did not find her second-rank maid, Yiru.

She turned to her maid who was quietly putting away her cosmetic products and asked, "has Yiru returned from the bamboo courtyard?"

Her maid froze and took a deep breath, she bit her lips gently and shook her head, "not yet, your grace".

Duchess Fu's eyes narrowed at her maid's reaction but she said nothing. "Send her in as soon as she gets back".