The Azure Emperor glanced at her, a gentle smile gracing his lips. "It's very beautiful. I like it very much," he said softly.
"Great! I knew you would like it, Master!" She clapped her hands happily and cheered. Without waiting for him to speak further, she turned and ran back the way she came, shouting, "Master, I'm going to play with my brother. We're going to wait for Big Brother to come back at the foot of the mountain!"
Watching the little girl skip away, the Azure Emperor finally withdrew his gaze and looked at the black jade hairpin in his hand. He took the white jade hairpin from his own hair and held the two hairpins, one black and one white, side by side. He shook his head and smiled indulgently, his low voice a mere whisper. "This girl, she always gives the same gifts."
