Yan Zheyun wasn't sure how long they waited for the craftsmen to examine the bracelet. The servants of Tianlu Pavilion had carried chairs out, laying them in front of the entrance in a row so that the emperor and the members of his inner palace who were present would not have to exhaust themselves waiting.
Privately, Yan Zheyun felt like everyone should be entitled to a seat. Time did drag on, after all, his nerves tangling and untangling themselves into intricate love knots (1) as he waited for a verdict. He knew that there was nothing wrong with the bracelet on his wrist—discounting the possibility of Liu Suzhi sabotaging him, but he had no reason to do that, not when it would implicate Xiao De too—but time spent in this world has conditioned him to understand that what could go wrong would go wrong; until he was certain that Liu Yao didn't suspect him, he was going to be restless.
(1) Love knot: A form of Chinese traditional knotting, which directly translated would mean ‘same heart knot’, representative of true love. Its significance has long been noted in history and stands for eternal love. It can be gifted as a symbol of one’s affections. It also plays a role in the traditional wedding ceremony.
(2) Master Craftsman: The word ‘master’ here is ‘shifu’ but not the same one often seen in wuxia novels, used by a disciple to address their teacher. It’s the polite form of addressed for a skilled worker.
(3) To spit blood on others: To tell malicious lies about someone.
A/N: Thank you very much for reading!<3 This week has been crazy since I've been working non-stop since last Monday but at least I'll have this weekend off! Please consider going gentle on me for the incessant cliffhangers again ^^;; I'm rushing a deadline for Friday and will get to the special thanks and all your lovely comments this weekend but know that I really love reading and appreciate each and every one of them! Sorry and thanks for understanding!