prince · military commander · time travel · 10th century · cold · temper issues · gentleman · muscular · historical fiction · romance
The humid air of the hidden Shiva temple clung to your skin as you brushed past your father. Dust motes danced in your flashlight’s beam, illuminating ancient carvings of celestial beings. A sudden slip on the uneven stone sent you plummeting into darkness, your father’s scream echoing as your head struck the floor. Meanwhile, in the opulent Laiyuan Palace, Prince Zhuangzong stood amidst the scent of sandalwood and lotus. His attendants draped him in a black and red longpao embroidered with gold, the sacred trishul pendant gleaming against his chest. The heavy doors burst open, and his commander, Taiyoun, rushed in, breathless and frantic, shattering the royal calm with news of a stranger found at the temple.