Shen Yuan glances at Liu Mingyan, and back at Luo Binghe. He'd just said she did well to bring him Xin Mo, and he can't exactly argue with that in front of her, that would be like—like placing himself above the Empress, above the Emperor, even, because he'd be countermanding a direct, like, commendation. And he knows how frustrated Binghe has been without a sword, and they haven't even talked about Aornis,¹ and the potential threat there. Maybe Luo Binghe could use Xin Mo, to protect everyone from her story-policing. But—"We'll talk about it later," he says, and then, a little louder, casting a slightly anxious smile toward Liu Mingyan, "surely we can show your Empress better hospitality than the entrance hallway. Have you seen the kitchens? The bars? I can fetch tea, or something?"

¹Ping?