theoonhunghighthesky,castgasilverglowovertheopulentgardenofthehanfailyansionnternsswayedntlythebreeze,castgflickergshadownthegroundtheairwasfilledwiththefragrantstofbloogjase,glgwiththedistantstrafapipabegpyedbyaskilledithegrandbahostedbythehanfailywasfullsg,andtheurtyardwasfilledwiththechatterandughteroftheeliteofthecity
sukie,dressedanexisitesilkgownthatshiredtheoonlight,stoodbyacherryblostreeherhearasastorofeotionsshewatchedasguestsilledabout,hereyeasionallydriftgtoherbrother,hanfenglialkgtoagroupofn,hisexpressioncalandposed,buteveryoften,hiseyeswouldseekherout,filledwithanunspokeion
astheevengworeon,sukiefoundherselfcreasglyawareofhanfenglg,spresencesheuldfeelhisgazeonher,evenwhenshewasn,tlookgdirectlyathitheiriions,subtleahang,hadnotgoneunnoticedbytheuestsurursandwhispersfollowedthewherevertheywent,butsukiepaidthenodherhearastoofull,tooflicted
"isshan,youlookexisitetonight,"afailiar,icyvoiterruptedherthoughtssukieturofdherselfface-to-facewithxietiahepowerfundalevolentbosftheregionhiseyesweredarkandtense,apredatorysilepygonhislips
sukieforcedapolitesile"thankyou,lordxieyourpresencegraceurhubleba"
xietiaeppedcloser,hisgazeneverleavghers"i,vebeenwatgyoualleveng,isshanyouaretrulytheostbeautifulflowerthisgardeniouldbeashaifsuchaflowerweretowitherawaytheeoneunworthy"
sukie,sheartpoundedherchestsheuldsehedanrrkgbehdhiswords"iaftteredbyyourattention,lordxie,butiassureyou,ybrotherandyfailytakeexcellente"
xietianxie,ssilewidened,buthiseyesreaedld"ah,yes,yourbrotherheseesiteprotectiveofyoualostpossessive,oneightsay"
beforesukieuldrespond,hanfenglgappearedatherside,hisexpressioncalbuthiseyesfshgwithanr"lordxie,ibelieveysisterhaseaedyoulonnoughifyouwouldexce"
xietianxie,sgazeshiftedtohanfenglg,hissileneverwaverg"ofurse,youngasterhaniouldnotdotooverstayywele"hebowedslightly,buthiseyeslredonsukieaontlonrbeforeheturnedandwalkedaway
hanfenglilytooksukie,sar,leadgherawayfrothecrowd"areyht?"heasked,hisvoice