The midday light scrambled to fall behind him, clinging to the sharp, well-defined contours of his profile. As his stride carried him past the pine branches, the hem of his robes swept against them, releasing a crisp, cold fragrance. The crane-patterned court attire flickered in the light, while the black leather belt pulled tight around his upright waist, accentuating a dignity so lofty it seemed cold enough to freeze.
Gu Ning felt her heart leap into her throat. Was this truly Xie Mingyue’s husband? As the man’s razor-sharp brows and eyes emerged into the light, the gaze from his eyes—as cold as a mountain pool reflecting snow—stifled her very breath.
Third Master Gu, however, stared in astonishment at Qi Jinshan’s court robes. The crane pattern… that was the attire of a first-rank official. Had Qi Jinshan lost his mind? How dared he violate the sumptuary laws?
Chapter 171