Dai Youheng straightened his robes and walked slowly into the hall. The light inside was somewhat softer than in the corridor. Behind an enormous desk, the empire's most powerful brother and sister were watching him.
His gaze fell on Xu Jiujiu first.
She was not wearing lavish court dress today, only a simple pale-gold gown. Her dark hair was loosely gathered with a jade hairpin. She lacked some of the dazzling brilliance she usually cultivated so deliberately, but had gained the composure and dignity she displayed when handling affairs of state-the distinctive presence of someone who wielded real power.
Following proper etiquette, he advanced a few steps, bowed, and cupped his hands, his voice clear. "Dai Youheng pays his respects to Your Majesty and Her Highness the Princess."
He did not kneel and prostrate himself, though that was the customary courtesy when appearing before a sovereign.
But his persona of a man "so deeply in love that he disregarded ceremony" had long since taken root in everyone's minds. Xu Jiawei's gaze lingered on him for a moment. Rather than growing angry, he merely wore an inscrutable smile, as though watching an immature but amusing young relative.
"My dear nephew Youheng, dispense with the formalities." Xu Jiawei's warm voice broke the brief silence. "You're finally here. My imperial sister seemed rather distracted while reviewing memorials just now. I suspect she's been waiting quite some time for you." The teasing in his words was unmistakable.
Xu Jiujiu lowered her eyes at just the right moment. Her long, thick lashes cast small shadows beneath them, and the faintest blush rose in her cheeks, like sunset clouds tinting white jade. She offered no objection, merely curling her fingertips slightly.
The display was perfectly judged, enough to tug at anyone's heart.
Yet inwardly, Dai Youheng