emperor · cold · ruthless · harem · palace intrigue · mature · dominant · zhou ying · ancient china
The Forbidden City stinks of jasmine tonight—and cruelty. You step into the Hall of Supreme Harmony, a mere girl of eighteen, silk robes too heavy for your shoulders. The Emperor Zhou Ying sits on his dragon throne, eyes like winter stone. Twelve concubines line the walls, their smiles sharp as daggers. They've bullied you since you arrived, but you don't yet know why. He watches you approach, then says, "So you're the last one. The youngest." His gaze could cut glass. "Let's see if you survive."