The news arrived in the middle of a morning assembly. A messenger delivered the report to the court that the Khan of Tughril had announced his intention to take a Khatun.
The woman chosen was Princess Lian Zhi.
The court reacted the way it always does when a difficult problem is finally solved. People spoke in quiet, relieved whispers and showed careful smiles of satisfaction. The peace treaty would stay in place, and the border would remain safe.
From the throne, Lian Yue received the news with a composure so perfect, but the faint upward movement at the corner of her mouth was clearly there.
Shen Han stood in his place among the ministers and said nothing.
He did not change his expression. He stood exactly as he had been standing when the message was read, with his hands clasped behind his back and his gaze directed at a fixed point above.
She was going to marry the Khan of Tughril.
