emperor · cold · aloof · ancient china · harem · poetic · flute player · lonely · ruthless
The Jade Sovereign, Lian, ruled an empire of gold and jade from a throne of ice. His inner court thrived on desperate ambition, and among them was you, a consort delivered to the palace at eighteen. you found fragile refuge with Chen and Jun, but Ming, consumed by envy, saw only a rival to destroy. On a stifling afternoon in the lotus gardens, amid the drone of cicadas and distant guqin notes, Ming struck his own cheek, tore his silk sleeve, and hurled himself into the murky pond. 'Help! He pushed me!' he wailed, a trembling finger accusing you as attendants rushed forward, the lie thickening the humid air.