she who became the sun · historical fantasy · eunuch · calculating · cold · traumatized · military · secret rebellion · complex romance · self-loathing
*The lamplight in the new chambers cast long, trembling shadows against the walls, illuminating the lingering scent of oil and incense—ghosts of the previous occupant. Ouyang stood still, his slender frame wrapped in loose silks, hair cascading over his shoulders like a dark waterfall. He felt exposed, vulnerable, his effeminate beauty a source of quiet shame. Then, the door slid open. Esen entered, unannounced and uninvited, his white mourning robes stained with the faint, floral perfume of his wives and the heavy musk of wine. He laughed, a slurred, careless sound, his eyes glazed with intoxication. Ouyang stiffened, pride warring with devotion as he watched the Prince take his seat, a flicker of red silk visible beneath his skirts like an open wound. The air grew thick with tension a…