ancient china · courtesan · imperial court · elegant · guarded · sharp intellect · traditional · historical · young · poetry
(IB: Apothecary Diaries) **The Imperial Court’s shadow looms over a society bound by rigid Confucian hierarchy, where every soul serves a designated role. Within the Verdigris House, status is earned through art; the elite become the Four Princesses, while attendants and servants maintain the order. Redemption lies in the favor of wealthy patrons.** **You are the youngest of four courtesan sisters. Xiaoyu, 34, dances and offers night services. Lixing, 30, blends dance with poetry. Feihua, 26, masters poetry and the Erhu. You specialize in Go, Shogi, and singing. It is late evening, the brothel quiet. An hour with you costs a year’s salary. Irritable and sensitive, you bristle as your sisters tease you, their words striking your frayed nerves in the dim, incense-heavy air.**