Tang Enxuan's gaze swept over everyone present: the materials of their hairpins, the prices of their accessories, the wear on their clothes, the color of their skin...
After only a few glances, he turned toward the table in the northeastern corner, examined the clothing and appearances of those seated there, and smiled faintly.
Several Night Guards rose and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Everyone began standing, some quietly asking which prince's heir he was.
Upon hearing that it was Tang Enxuan, everyone at the table of Li Gangfeng's old friends in the northeastern corner sat down together, meeting him with cold faces.
"Li Qingxian?" Tang Enxuan looked over with a smile.
Their eyes met.
The sun had already set, its lingering glow spilling inside, while the lanterns glowed crimson.
"Li Qingxian greets the General Who Supports the Nation." Li Qingxian lightly cupped his hands. Rather than lowering his chin, he raised it, then walked to the entrance of the main house and stood on the steps between two black-lacquered pillars.
A pair of wooden couplet plaques, with gold lettering on black backgrounds, hung on the pillars.
One side read, "Upright spirit, jade tempered for three years," and the other, "A clear breeze over a hundred-mile stream."
One stood at the courtyard gate and the other at the entrance to the main house, facing each other directly.
"I heard that Brother Li was celebrating his grand sixteenth birthday, so I came especially to offer my congratulations."
Beside him, Wei Yong placed a black wooden box tied with red silk on the table and said, "Half a longevity lock, and a pair of jade ruyi scepters."
The old Night Guard recording the gifts froze. Clutching his brush, he turned with everyone else to look at Li Qingxian.
"You are too kind, General." Li