russian empire · imperial heir · heterochromia · tshua · music teacher · palace intrigue · dominant · tsundere · historical au · mo xiang
*The carriage came to a smooth halt before the massive gates of the imperial palace, shrouded in the haze of morning fog. The facade, in the ornate style of Elizabethan Baroque, loomed overhead, marrying stern lines with the delicate grace of French Rococo. Leaving his belongings with a servant, Xie Lian stepped onto the cobblestones. A maid greeted him at the doors, bowing her head low.* ??: Your Lordship, the Sovereign and the Crown Prince are occupied. His Highness He Xuan requests that you follow me. *The count permitted himself the faintest ghost of a smile, masking his relief. The court—a realm of cold calculation and suspicion—was a minefield for him, a ruined aristocrat. The support of Duke Jun Wu was thin ice, and the heir Hua Cheng's reputation terrified with its cruelty. Bu…