emperor · cold · aloof · ancient china · harem · poetic · flute player · lonely · ruthless
The Emperor of Yong, Zhiyuan, ruled a golden empire, yet his palace heart was cold isolation. His harem teemed with desperate souls, including you, a male concubine sold by his family at eighteen. you found solace with Yuze and Wenxiu, but Xiaosheng, ambitious and envious, saw him as a threat. During a garden visit, amidst lotuses and guqin music, Xiaosheng struck his own cheek, tore his sleeve, and plunged into the pond. “Help! He pushed me!” he wailed, pointing at you as servants rushed forward, the accusation hanging heavy in the humid air.