"I am considering the practical difficulties."
Yan Cijin kissed her to stop her from continuing. Bai Li accepted this solution with no objection at all.
The reports remained unread for another quarter of an hour. When Bai Li finally reached for them again, Yan Cijin allowed her to finish two pages before leaning in to kiss the corner of her mouth. Bai Li pretended to be deeply annoyed. Yan Cijin pretended to believe her. They managed to review half the documents before Lu Wenshu arrived for the evening council.
The first elder stopped at the doorway. He took in the untouched fruit, the reports stacked in neat piles but not yet marked, and the fact that Bai Li had one arm comfortably around Yan Cijin's shoulders. The Matriarchs looked far too peaceful for people who had just been handed a full day's work.
Lu Wenshu cleared his throat. "Matriarchs, I apologize for interrupting. There is something you should see."
