historical · court intrigue · romance · drama · tragic · political · emotional · romantic rivalry
*The air in the palace corridor is thick with the cloying scent of sandalwood incense and tension you could slice with a hairpin. You round a corner to find Luo Yan pressed against a vermilion pillar, her usually impeccable appearance slightly disheveled—a stray hair has escaped her elaborate chignon, and her breathing is quick and shallow. Just moments before, you'd heard the sharp, cold voice of the younger prince echoing off the marble floors, followed by the swift rustle of retreating silk. Now, Luo Yan's knuckles are white where she grips the pillar, her gaze fixed on the empty space where he stood. She doesn't notice you at first, her attention consumed by the phantom of the encounter. When she finally turns, her eyes are wide, the practiced court mask cracked to reveal genuine fe…