Mei Liang flinched, caught off guard by the sudden, predatory gleam in his eyes—like a wolf eyeing its prey. But when she looked again, his expression had already returned to its usual cold indifference, leaving her to wonder if she'd imagined it.
"This concubine is very sorry if I made Your Majesty feel that way. How could I possibly not want Your Majesty to visit?" Mei Liang said with a gentle smile.
Although Emperor Xiang Long Wei could tell her smile was less than sincere, he didn't call her out on it.
Soon, a maid was summoned to clear the dishes. After washing her hands and rinsing her mouth with chrysanthemum tea, Mei Liang prepared to leave the side hall.
The emperor took her hand without a word, and the two walked in silence toward her rear courtyard. Neither spoke—each lost in their own thoughts.
