Reborn as the Weakest Heiress, I Gave My Inheritance to the Enemy's Daughter novel · Chapter 17 of 24

Chapter 17: The Buyer's Letter

They read it by the one candle Zhaoxue could still light.

Linxia sat on the edge of the bed in Zhaoxue's spare robe, which stopped halfway down her forearms.

Zhaoxue had pulled on her underdress and sat cross-legged beside her, the paper flat on her knee.

The gate disciple had gone away shaking, with a promise that she would tell nobody she had been to this room.

"Open it," Linxia said.

Zhaoxue worked her thumbnail under the green wax.

The seal split cleanly along the beak.

The paper was heavy, cream-coloured, written in a flowing hand that had never been taught to hurry.

*To the Steward of Cloud Pine, from the Pavilion of the Jade Crane.*

*The deed to the Silver Stream is drawn and awaits the Pine Seal pressed beside your hand. Our envoy will wait at the ford below the east gate with forty riders and will come up when the third lantern rises, to restore order on the mountain.*

*You will open the east gate yourself, quietly, during the third lantern. Our banners are in your care. The old man must not wake. The heiress is to be dead before the envoy arrives, so that no one with the Seal remains to dispute the deed.*

*You will have your seat at our table the morning after.*

Zhaoxue read it to the end and put the paper down.

She was surprised how calm she felt.

"That's it," she said. "That's the whole thing."

"The Seal," Linxia said slowly. "He needs it pressed on the deed."

"And he needs me dead, so no heir can say the spring was never sold."

"It's on my neck."

"Yes. That's why he said to keep you close. He wanted to know where to find the Seal and me on the same night."

Linxia's jaw set.

"He was very friendly about it," she said. "'She wears it well.'"

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