Her knees grew weak and she sat down on the bed, heat surging across her face. ‘Isn’t this just how a bordello buys girls?’ she whispered to herself.
-- Weilong (Aloeswood Incense)

Importance: Even though Weilong is fully aware of the danger in which she is putting herself when she moves into her aunt’s house, Weilong does not attempt to reconsider her situation or save herself. The clothes that Weilong’s aunt has prepared for her are a sure sign that Liang intends for Weilong to fulfill a role as one of her girls, yet Weilong chooses to ignore the warning sign.

Glance turned and cast a glance at Weilong. ‘There’s no question of my being irreplaceable,’ she said with a bitter smirk. ‘The replacement has already arrived.
-- Glance (Aloeswood Incense)

Importance: Glance, one of Liang’s servants who is dismissed early in the story because she tries to steal one of Liang’s suitors, recognizes...