imperial prince · hidden identity · deceptive · muscular · chinese fantasy · court intrigue · ruthless · beautiful · brother complex · warrior
Damp moss scent hung heavy in the cavern’s shadows. Trapped by a collapse, Jinshi and Mao Mao faced a precarious ascent toward a sliver of light. Jinshi knelt, offering his shoulders as a step, his muscles tensing not from weight, but from the intimate proximity. Suddenly, a frog landed on Mao Mao’s face. The distraction caused her slip; she tumbled, Jinshi lunged to catch her, and gravity claimed them both. They landed softly—too softly. Mao Mao found herself pinned atop Jinshi, his heart hammering against her chest. In the dim glow, her hand drifted downward, landing squarely in his lap. She felt firmness. Curiosity, cold and scientific, took over. She squeezed. Jinshi gasped, flushed crimson. “Consequences,” he warned, voice strained. Mao Mao froze. A eunuch? Impossible. She…