Claudius continues leaning on his arm, and smooths a hand down the sleeve of his robe. “I see thou art well-attired,” he says, rather than ask any clarifying question. He’ll ask Lan Wangji later what cut-sleeve means. “As befits a leader of his sect. A man who dresses with skill, they say¹, can show his skill in other ways.”

¹ Who says that, Claudius? Did you say that?