The rumble of the carriage wheels vanished around the street corner. Xie Daoyun leaned against the dark-colored doorway and gazed into the distance, dressed in plain colors. Her skin was snow-white, her features like a painting, touched with pink beneath the setting sun, translucent as crystal. Her slender waist lent her a distinctive grace.
"Child, come back inside."
Xie An called to Xie Daoyun, his face wreathed in smiles. She lifted her face and revealed a smile like a delicate, fragrant orchid, swaying and enchanting. Unfortunately, Luo Xianzhi never saw this beautiful sight.
Seated in the carriage, Luo Xianzhi quietly considered what he would say during his audience with the emperor tomorrow. People often said sons resembled their mothers rather than their fathers, but that was not true of him.
In appearance and temperament alike, he and Luo Youzhi seemed almost cast from the same mold. He had hidden away in Gusu, unwilling to come to Jianye, because he had yet to find the confidence or a clear approach to putting Liang State in order.
But now that he had decided to shoulder Jiangdong, he would show all of Jiangzuo what it meant for a heroic father to have a valiant son, for a tiger father to sire no dog.
The sun rose.
It shone on the shimmering Yangtze River, on the clamorous city of Jianye, and on the solemn imperial palace of Liang State.
There was no court session today.
The emperor had not summoned his ministers, leaving the imperial palace somewhat deserted.
Luo Xianzhi alighted before the palace gates and hurried toward the palace hall under the guidance of the Imperial Guards.
In just three days, Luo Xianzhi had already visited the imperial palace twice.
In this age, even capital officials, let alone ordinary people, might go their