Date: Unspecified
Time: Unspecified
Location: Zhongguo (China), Liaodong Province, Shuntian Prefecture, Shenyang City, Imperial Palace, Inner Court
"You always had a sharp nose for these kinds of things," the Emperor remarked, shaking his head at Corey's remark.
As he spoke, he stepped away from his throne and slowly descended the marble steps of the dais. While walking, he casually loosened the tight layers of his imperial attire and rolled up his sleeves, as if preparing to fight with his own hands.
The movement alone was enough to unsettle the entire hall. What shocked everyone even more was what he didn't say. He never denied Corey's accusation. The imperial descendants and their noble relatives exchanged uneasy glances. The imperial guards and shadow guards stood rigid in place, their training keeping them silent, but the tension in their posture was obvious.
