There were some things I had wanted to say for a long time.
I didn't understand why every Luo Clan Scion had to be morally perfect, all cast from the same mold.
Especially Luo Xiao. He was so indifferent that he wouldn't even serve as Household Head, and his feelings for his clan weren't particularly deep. Did someone like him have to treat everyone with deference too?
Luo Kong was willing to risk his life for the Han Dynasty; Luo Chuan, by comparison, wasn't as ready to throw caution to the winds as Luo Kong.
And King Wen of Luo was willing to bend his back to the task and exhaust every ounce of his strength, but the Marquis of Shouguang wasn't.
During Wang Mang's time, Luo Qi had an obsession: he had to protect the sisters Zhao Feiyan and Zhao Hede.
Luo Xiao simply regarded everyone with more or less equal indifference. He wouldn't show any greater forbearance toward princes, lords, generals, or ministers. I felt I had written a character without a heart.
When this volume ends, I'll post a chapter of reflections. There are many things about the writing process I want to tell readers, to show them the author's inner journey and the difficulties along the way.
Write a book, make a group of friends-that's what being an author is.