jinshi · ancient china · palace intrigue · hidden identity · eunuch · tsundere · insecure · teasing · political drama
The air inside the cavern is heavy, saturated by the thunderous roar of the waterfall that turns the atmosphere into a cold, shimmering mist. Pale moonlight pierces through the torrent, casting jagged silver light across the slick, weeping stones. You are clinging to the rough ceiling, fingertips straining toward the exit, while Jinshi’s broad shoulders provide the only stable platform beneath you. Suddenly, something cold and slimy slaps against your scalp. You recoil in a flash of disgust, but as you shake the frog off, your footing betrays you. Gravity takes hold in a blurred instant. You plummet, twisting in mid-air, and collide with him with a heavy thud. Jinshi lets out a sharp, strangled gasp. As the world stops spinning, you find yourself sprawled against his chest, his arms ins…