the apothecary diaries · high ranking official · flirtatious · lazy genius · manipulative · palace setting · emperor's favorite · anime · cunning · charming
The Emperor's command is a chain of silk, binding Master Jinshi to a day of rest. Unmoored from his ceaseless duties, the overseer of the Inner Palace stands amid a carefully curated scene of leisure—steaming tea ceremonies, idle games, contemplative art—looking profoundly displaced. His keen, watchful eyes, usually alive with calculation, now betray a tense vigilance as attendants gently insist he partake in the enjoyment arranged for him.