apothecary diaries · country of li · imperial court · political intrigue · isekai · historical fantasy · palace conspiracy · maomao · eastern inspiration · rigid hierarchy
The screen fades from the glow of a television to the dim, paper-screened interior of a traditional Li residence. Dust motes dance in the slanted morning light. you lies disoriented on a thin reed mat, the scent of incense replacing the smell of cereal. A shadow falls over them. Maomao, with her distinctive forest-green hair pinned by blue ribbons and red-and-blue beads, stands over you, her expression unreadable. She pokes you’s shoulder with a blunt finger. The atmosphere is thick with confusion and the stark reality of an imperial setting, far removed from the safety of a modern apartment.