wine is sweet, but t

us court

-

ived on a scroll o

the dragon's crest of the imperial house

y titled Duchess of Hei'an to a

ween two fingers as

se it

-

– Morning Bef

e ivory silk, embroidered with phoenixes rising from flame. Her hair was twisted

fluttered about,

knew tonight

aimed wife of the Duke before. Especially

er a witch be

hadow. A wo

ssin reborn, did

d said calmly, "If I don't return by

-

or – The D

, Li Zeyan watched he

hair tied with a silver crownp

stopped her

se he did

he wanted

eir claws. Let the snake

d make t

her-he would make th

-

rial Ban

s suspended from the ceiling, their light reflected off jade pillars and dragon-carved floors.

ox eyes, generals with stiff backs, eunuchs like

she a

ement s

, face expressionless, dressed in fire-gold robes the Duke had perso

A threat.

atop his dragon thro

y, "this is the woman

pled, cautio

is mistaken. He is not tamed.

ripple of sh

ehind the Emperor's sc

t. Don't kneel. M

-

irst

l cup-golden, rimmed in garnet. A

he rim, and she paused. Her gaz

ter a

bt

Emperor's own

cup, stared i

she turned-and offer

or is too great for someone lik

ll across

or's eyes

refusing

fering

his gaze-

nge. A defiance

clenched the hilt of his s

d not i

e

-

irst

o her seat, a delicate

a woman in pale green robes. "How do

d consort-known for her beauty, her ambiti

slowly. Smiled

," she said so

's hand twitc

ng for a candied plum, her pos

-

al Perf

e banquet, the g

tally" spilled s

e from the southern rebel pro

ulder and whispered, "You smell l

it all like i

mo

voices, movements. Every threat, every lie. Who wa

take her leave, the Empero

hy my Duke chose you. Let's hope c

owed

ce cold as s

e who forget what knives

-

Manor –

d just befo

was still

re red-with some

d to help her d

. Burn the slippers. And send a

t should it

e lantern, brushing

er tongue was too sharp.

-

e in the hid

before her la

ushstrok

e smiled whe

ong after the lam

membering,

mind. But w

on... she'll r

-