"Then Your Majesty, you insisted on keeping your subject here in the palace... could it be... could it not be..."
Yuán Shí was still somewhat apprehensive, leaning so far back that his spine practically touched the carved Phoebe nanmu backrest of the Imperial Study's chair.
He was terrified that I might give in to a sudden impulse and devour him—
Looking at the nervous expression of the young general before me, I suddenly let out a chuckle, tossing the memorial in my hand onto the desk. The gold-threaded dragon embroidery on my cuffs gleamed in the candlelight.
"What kind of person do you take Me for? Someone like you wouldn't even catch My eye."
I deliberately put on a stern face, though I couldn't hide the amusement in my eyes. "Besides, among the consorts in My inner court, which one isn't a peerless beauty? How could I possibly be that kind of man?"
Hearing this, Yuán Shí froze. Realizing he had completely misinterpreted the situation, his ears turned crimson all the way down to his neck.
He hurriedly stood up and bowed. "Your Subject... this subject is out of line..."
I waved a hand at him, signaling him to sit, while I paced over to the window.
Outside, a sliver of a crescent moon hung above the palace walls, casting a cool, silvery glow over the magnificent halls.
Handsome and fair-skinned though he was, I had very high standards.
Chapter 269