As soon as the word "caning" was uttered, Liu's legs went limp with fear, and she staggered, nearly falling into the tea table beside her. Seeing this, Mrs. Zhou hurriedly reached out to support her, but she pushed her away, and the gold hairpin in her bun fell off, tumbling to Jiang Yan's feet with a clang.

The farce finally came to an end. Liu, supported by Mrs. Zhou, walked out in a panic. The hem of her brocade skirt was stained with tea, like a painting that had been smeared. Behind her, the people kept pointing and whispering: "Look! That's the woman who stole the manuscript!" "She looks exactly like Concubine Liu in the storybook, even her walk is the same!"

Jiang Yan walked briskly to my side. The tassel of the bamboo flute, like a playful elf, gently brushed against the back of my hand, bringing a touch of coolness and a refreshing feeling. "Mr. Jinxin, I am also a loyal reader of yours. Could you please give me a signed copy?" He lowered his head slightly, his eyes gleaming like stars, and a charming smile curled his lips.

I looked at the stars in his eyes, put on a stern face, and said in a serious tone, "I can sign, but..."

"But what?" He seemed to have sensed my thoughts and took a step closer. The scent of ink and osmanthus on his body intertwined together, forming a unique and charming aroma, which made Miss Li and the others on the second floor couldn't help but cheer.

"But I'll have to exchange it for a sugar painting." I remembered the note he sent last night. It had a phoenix with wings that fluttered, so lifelike it looked like it was about to take flight. "I want the kind from Master Zhang, with wings that flutter three times."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan burst into laughter. His laughter was hearty and cheerful, drawing the attention of everyone present, as if he were the center of the world. The young marquis, holding up his wooden sword, approached us like a curious little follower, the tassel of the sword nearly tangling with Jiang Yan's belt. "Sister! Does Jiang Zhuangyuan want to marry you? I'll lend him this sword as a betrothal gift!"

Sunlight, like golden threads, filtered through the teahouse's carved windows, illuminating the sugar-painted phoenix Jiang Yan handed me. The phoenix's wings fluttered gently, its tail feathers dusted with tiny specks of gold dust. In the sunlight, they shimmered with a dreamy radiance, a stark reflection of the boundless tenderness in his eyes. I knew this farce, ignited by brush and ink, was but a minor footnote on my path to fame. The true brilliance was just beginning, amidst the sweet fragrance of the sugar painting and Jiang Yan's smile.

Downstairs, Boss Wang tirelessly scrambled to reprint his storybook, his energetic voice announcing the arrival of another craze. Upstairs, Miss Li and the others were passing around the new sugar paintings Jiang Yan had brought, their laughter echoing throughout the private room. The young marquis ran joyfully around the room, chasing after Mrs. Zhou's fallen hairpin, his childlike laughter seemingly dispelling any gloom. I quietly gazed out the window at the newly cleared sky, its azure blue like a jewel washed by rain, pure and bright. Suddenly, I felt that even the air of this rain-washed capital was filled with the sweet aroma of honey—a brand new and beautiful life, forged from the grievances of a past life, a life uniquely mine. Every setback and challenge was like a touch of color on the canvas of life, ultimately weaving together into a vibrant and vibrant picture. And within this beautiful canvas, I will write my own glorious chapter.