On the elaborately-woven divan lounged a man in white, his black hair cascading against suet jade[2] skin and his stunning eyes so otherworldly they were like stars in the cold, night sky. He leaned carelessly on the divan. To his side, the attendants carefully waved the long, broad fans for him. A poise of idle, carefree summer. This beautiful man was none other than the highest aristocrat of the Datong regime: Emperor Jing Zong, Xuan Yuan Jing.
“Zhen Ye,” he called to the attendant standing behind him.
“What is Your Majesty’s command?”
“Send for Duke Tongxin.” Tongxin was his younger twin brother, and was also a publicly-acknowledged iron hand of the empire.