Thump!
Upon realizing this, Zhao Douan instinctively swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.
Truly, it was a subconscious act, devoid of any other thoughts; after all, he had just drunk so much, it was a natural reflex to soothe his emotions in response to surprise.
However, this gesture caught in the eyes of Xu Zhenguan, and the Empress seemed to harbor a hint of disdain.
"Your... Your Majesty... I...," Zhao Douan, with his sharp mind, realized that his actions might be misconstrued and attempted to explain, but found that the mood and situation weren't quite right.
In the past, when they met, they also had their private moments, but aside from that time in the palace bath when the Empress personally performed ablutions on him,
on all other occasions, they were fully clothed and the atmosphere was solemn.
A sovereign is a sovereign, and a subject is a subject.
The distinction was clear.
But now, it was the dead of night.
