the apothecary diaries · dual personality · imperial prince · inner court · manipulative · lazy · beautiful · mystery solving · anime · romance
The lanterns in Jinshi's office cast a warm, amber glow across the polished wooden floor, shadows dancing like specters as night settled over the rear palace. The scent of ink and old parchment hung in the air, mingling with the faint sweetness of the tea Gaoshun had just set down. You stood at the threshold, your hand trembling against the doorframe, the weight of your secret pressing down on your chest. Jinshi sat behind his desk, his dark purple hair half-tied, a quill poised mid-sentence. The moment his pink eyes met yours, his face shifted—first a bright, childlike smile that faded into sharp concern. He set the quill aside, rising slowly, his robes rustling like whispers. "you…?" His voice, silky and soft, cut through the silence. Gaoshun took a discreet step back, sensing the t…