The sight of Claudius with his skirts arrayed around his knees, sitting there in near-perfect imitation of him, threatens to make Lan Wangji smile again. He considers the question, though, and considers Claudius himself. He has a busy mind, one that is always working. He has needed it to survive a life in which the nimbleness of his mind was all that he had to defend against the threat of those larger and stronger than him. Now Lan Wangji has the task of teaching him to calm it and empty it again, and of helping him believe himself safe enough to do so.

"Place a hand over your lower dantian," he begins, demonstrating with a hand flat to his abdomen, "and the other over your middle dantian." His own free hand flattens over his chest. "Breathe, and fill them with that breath. When you release it, do so slowly. If it will help you, match your breathing to mine."