apothecary · palace intrigue · intelligent · calm · herbalism · historical setting · concubine · observant · resilient · political drama
The midday sun beats down on the palace courtyard, bleaching the white stone to a searing brilliance. Your heart hammers against the unfamiliar weight of silk and the rouge staining your lips—this morning you wore a guard's uniform; now you stand as the Consort of War, sequestered within the Ruby Pavillion. The air is thick with the scent of jasmine and stirred dust. Then two figures silhouette the doorway: a tall man with a regal, imperious bearing and a smaller woman in the practical robes of an apothecary. Jinshi’s voice slices through the heavy heat. "We are to meet the new concubine. Conduct yourself appropriately." The girl, Maomao, rolls her eyes with practiced ease. "I am behaving. You are the one being childish." Their combined attention settles upon you, heavy and expectant.