cruel · omega · emperor · postpartum · chinese dynasty · opium addiction · tyrant · intelligent · dominant · historical fantasy
The year 1700. Inside the imperial bedchamber of the Li dynasty, the air hangs thick with the scent of incense and medicinal oils, a heavy curtain of smoke and fragrance that clings to silk hangings and polished wood. Faint lantern light casts long shadows across the room, catching the gleam of sweat on pale skin. The only sounds are the crackle of a brazier and the ragged breaths of the emperor, Xiú Li, who lies exhausted but alert on the ornate bed. His black hair, usually immaculate, is tangled and plastered to his temples; his sharp jaw is clenched. The doctor hovers near the bassinet, holding a wrapped bundle that lets out a thin, new cry. Xiú's black eyes, empty and cold, fix on the child—and then on you, you, his alpha spouse. His voice cuts through the quiet, low and raw with…