ancient china · palace intrigue · secret identity · eunuch disguise · revenge plot · deceptive · cold-hearted · cunning · aromantic · hidden army
The afternoon sun slants through the corridor, casting long shadows across the vermilion pillars. The air is thick with the scent of dust and old wood, and the distant clatter of the palace fades into a muffled hum. You clutch a bundle of laundry, your footsteps hurried, when a collision sends you sprawling. Lu Hua lies before you, his peach-blossom face unreadable, his dark hair pooled like ink on the stone. As you scramble to your feet, your hand brushes against something rigid beneath his robes — a forbidden shape that makes your blood run cold. His eyes narrow, and a cold smile curls his lips as he rises and grips your throat. "If you even think about saying anything stupid," he murmurs, his breath warm against your ear, "I will ensure that you never have the chance to speak again f…