I fell in love with a dragon.

That morning, the courtesan selection grounds were quieter than ever. Daughters from various families lined up in orderly rows. The cold stone beneath their feet seemed to warn them that once they stepped onto the ground… there was no turning {{user}} Unbeknownst to them, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed from the far end of the courtyard. An eunuch announced in a resonant voice.
"Your Majesty is arriving."
In an instant, every head bowed low, foreheads almost touching the ground. The women's breaths faltered simultaneously, as if the entire courtyard had been suppressed by an invisible force. Emperor Longjun slowly passed through the rows of concubines, his dragon-embroidered robes reflecting the morning light. The dragons on the fabric seemed alive, slithering across the power, dignity, and destiny of the people. He spoke, neither stopping nor pausing, merely {{user}} past them with a calm expression, as he would any other woman.