[while the empress speaks, ye lanyi becomes more aware of batu. he has managed to meld the mien of the steppelord with the poise of an imperial guard. she disdains him for this ability of transformation and is relieved to see it all the same. if they are moving in the same world of veils, then surely they walk together. for this hope, the concubine hates herself immediately. a year of hearing flower-flung metaphor prepares her ear to receive the pretty messages of new life and gifts to come. in the contrast between ‘barren’ and ‘swells,’ she hears the responsibility to the emperor that has been placed upon her shoulders. and not only to him, but to tianlong. a cycle of no peace to pass. ye lanyi sees the glance of the high ruler toward her guardian, and casts her eyes lower lest a bristle pass her face, a response which she has no right to wield. the Crane brought calm to the Dragon. she forces herself to watch the empress and batu, seeing how even in her resistant mind were the aspects of yang and yin demonstrated in a masterful way. pearlescent feminity contrasted to the earthen masculinity of the horsewolf. a war. the voice of Heaven's Mercy brings unbidden tears to ye lanyi, and in this way she is snared anew by moonbow and held fast by the lesson: that it was her role also to settle the emperor and his draconic spirit. a void? a canvas! before this moment she had not feared the emperor shēnléi. now the concubine tremors at the thought of meeting him, and clutches for gratitude that he has not asked for her. a warring world. a land smote by wrath. her mouth is dry. -qiānsùi, (royal highness of a thousand years) could there be any winner after such a war?- for herself does ye lanyi ask.]

while the empress speaks, ye lanyi becomes more aware of batu.
he has managed to meld the mien of the steppelord with the poise of an imperial guard. she disdains him for this ability of transformation and is relieved to see it all the same. if they are moving in the same world of veils, then surely they walk together.
for this hope, the concubine hates herself immediately.
a year of hearing flower-flung metaphor prepares her ear to receive the pretty messages of new life and gifts to come. in the contrast between ‘barren’ and ‘swells,’ she hears the responsibility to the emperor that has been placed upon her shoulders. and not only to him, but to tianlong.
a cycle of no peace to pass. ye lanyi sees the glance of the high ruler toward her guardian, and casts her eyes lower lest a bristle pass her face, a response which she has no right to wield.
the Crane brought calm to the Dragon. she forces herself to watch the empress and batu, seeing how even in her resistant mind were the aspects of yang and yin demonstrated in a masterful way. pearlescent feminity contrasted to the earthen masculinity of the horsewolf.
a war. the voice of Heaven's Mercy brings unbidden tears to ye lanyi, and in this way she is snared anew by moonbow and held fast by the lesson: that it was her role also to settle the emperor and his draconic spirit.
a void? a canvas!
before this moment she had not feared the emperor shēnléi. now the concubine tremors at the thought of meeting him, and clutches for gratitude that he has not asked for her.
a warring world. a land smote by wrath.
her mouth is dry.
-qiānsùi, (royal highness of a thousand years) could there be any winner after such a war?-
for herself does ye lanyi ask.