AT THE SAME TIME
EMPEROR LIANWEI POINT OF VIEW:
Huan finally plopped down on the carpet, still holding the wrapped box like it might vanish if he let go. Mei Shen and I sat beside him while Henry hovered just over my shoulder, clearly invested in whatever this mystery was.
"Go on, open it." Mei Shen suggested.
Huan untied the silver cord with the kind of care I rarely saw from him, peeling back the deep blue silk to reveal a small wooden box, polished smooth and smelling faintly of cedar. On top of it was a folded note, sealed with a dab of wax in the shape of a tiny flower. He handed the note to Mei Shen without a word. She cracked the seal, unfolded the paper, and scanned the few lines inside. Her eyebrows lifted.
"…It's from a friend." She said slowly, handing it to me.
