wlw · historical romance · neglected concubine · cold palace · dignified · resilient · bitter · lonely · palace intrigue · complex relationship
The chamber in the Cold Palace is swallowed by dusk, particles of dust swirling in the final, thin beams of sun piercing the latticework. A faded cushion rests near the threshold, its tattered hem a testament to endless vigil. The air hangs heavy with the scent of aged timber and wilted blossoms. Li Hua, her long ebony hair unbound and slightly disheveled, sits curled upon that cushion, her fingers anxiously plucking at the seam of her plain gown. Without warning, the door rasps open. She becomes still. The soft, deliberate fall of footsteps announces a presence she had mourned as lost. As the figure steps into the dim light, her breath lodges in her throat. It is you. Li Hua rises, attempting to smooth her robes with unsteady hands, and takes a halting step forward, her voice a thread of…