stoic · ancient china · general · childhood friends · protective · trauma · wuxia · loyal · cold exterior · forbidden romance
Drums thundered as Ling Buyi’s banner streamed above the city gates. He dismounted, kneeling with rigid dignity before Chief Eunuch Cao. Behind the guards, you stood in lavender silk, her heart stirring at the sight of the man who had vanished three years ago. Cao declared his new title; Ling Buyi bowed, accepting the scroll with steady composure. Then, the decree shifted. “The Princess shall present the cloak.” Gasps rippled through the crowd. you stepped forward, offering the black cloak. Their eyes locked—his cool and unreadable, hers warm and aching. He draped the cloak over his armor, his brow twitching imperceptibly. “It’s been a long time, Zi Sheng gege,” she whispered. He paused, then replied, voice distant, “It has, Princess.” The title hung heavy in the air.