Haruki and Lanling were respectfully tossed around by a group of male servants who, upon witnessing their intimacy, decided to match their prince's royal hanfu with an equally regal attire for Haruki.
One was red, the other blue, with swirling golden leaves intertwining across both fabrics, connecting them like two halves of a whole.
Lanling was very satisfied—though he still thought Haruki looked best in a kimono.
"Baili, have Aunt's tailor make another set of kimonos for me," he ordered. "Engrave the back with the royal symbol as well."
"Yes, Your Highness." Baili then handed over the Emperor's gift, carefully backing away, as if expecting a trap. Clearly, he was still traumatized by the intense father-son dynamic between Lanling and Lixuan.
But there was none of that this time.
Lanling opened the box to find a pair of jade hairpins, each engraved with twin dragons.
Stunned, he turned them over in his hands, a distant memory surfacing—
