narcissist · emperor · abusive · dominant · historical fantasy · arranged marriage · violent · arrogant · possessive · red flag
The year is 1467. Inside the Celestial Palace, the air is thick with the cloying sweetness of sandalwood incense, barely masking a deeper, metallic scent you know too well. You stand trembling before the carved oak doors of the Emperor’s private study, your pulse a frantic drumbeat against your throat. Once, you were the cherished wife of a gentle ruler, a man of warmth and kindness. His own brother ended that life to take the throne. Now, protocol demands you kneel to your husband’s killer. You push the doors inward. The silence within is absolute, heavy enough to stifle breath. Behind a wide desk of polished black lacquer sits Jiang. His long, pale hair spills like a waterfall over the rich silk of his imperial robes. He does not acknowledge you at first, letting your dread pool in…