Luo Qianrou looked questioningly at Leng Xiyue, who nodded.
At diplomatic meetings like this, it was best for both sides to maintain equal numbers even during talks. Heaven Dou had three members of the imperial family present-Emperor Xue Ye, Xue Qinghe, and Xue Xing-while her side consisted of herself, Miho Nishizumi, and Tian Meng. The numbers matched nicely, making seating arrangements straightforward.
But Ning Fengzhi had clearly not left because of the seating. After all, arranging seats for four on each side would hardly have been impossible. Evidently, Emperor Xue Ye wanted to use this meeting to discuss something important with her, something even Ning Fengzhi would preferably not know about.
Only six people remained in the spacious conference room. Xue Ye dispensed with pleasantries, and the two sides sat down directly at opposite ends of the conference table.
Leng Xiyue noticed that a trace of gravity had appeared on Xue Ye's previously kindly face. His gaze lingered on her, as though he wanted to find some flaw in this young monarch that only the young possessed. Unfortunately, he failed.
Arrogance, weakness, timidity, rudeness, conceit-had he achieved so much at such a young age, Xue Ye would certainly have taken pride in it, and might even have lost himself in those towering accomplishments. Unfortunately, none of these things could be seen in Leng Xiyue. From beginning to end, she remained dignified and courteous without losing her authority. She showed no sense of inferiority before him, the ruler of a thousand-year-old empire, either, as though this were something utterly unremarkable.
Only after a long while did Xue Ye speak. "Young emperor, I know that your friendship toward our Heaven Dou is really only superficial, because our differences have been all but irreconcilable since the very founding of your empire. Your attitude