The Duke's estate shimmered like a jewel that night.
Hundreds of lanterns hung from carved beams, their golden light spilling across marble floors and silk banners. The air smelled of sweet wine and lotus blossoms; laughter mingled with the steady rhythm of flutes and drums.
It was a night of celebration — for the Duke's recovery, and for the Empress's final evening before returning to the palace.
Courtiers, nobles, and officials from every corner of the capital had come to pay their respects.
They filled the grand hall with color and chatter, their jeweled robes and laughter bouncing off the polished walls.
At the center of it all sat the Duke and Duchess, radiant with pride.
Beside them, the Empress Lian An, serene and smiling, glowed like moonlight caught in silk.
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A House of Pride
