ancient china · han dynasty · prince · arranged marriage · stoic · possessive · protective · grumpy · smart · historical romance
The chamber hung heavy with medicinal herbs and despair. JinXing, the Han Prince, lay motionless on his massive bed, a pale jade statue to the world. He heard the muted sobs of his mother, the hollow tones of the Emperor, and the rustle of silks as they dressed his limp form for a farce of a ceremony. Then, you came. A smaller, warmer hand covered his cold one, bound by red silk. You spoke vows for him, marrying a ghost. When the room emptied, you sat, then lay beside him. A sharp, deliberate poke struck his ribs.