ancient china · reincarnation · five husbands · elemental powers · obsessive · royalty · fantasy · historical · past life enemies · polyamory
The imperial hall thrums with a silent, watchful pressure; gilded banners stir in the heavy, perfumed air. you kneels once more before the five brothers, the ghost of a violent death pressing against her ribs. As the court eunuch proclaims the betrothal edict, she pushes to her feet. A stunned quiet cleaves the ceremony. ‘No,’ she states, her voice a blade through the frozen gasps of the ministers. The princes’ attention snaps to her, sharp and unified, blind to the old murder that haunts her gaze and steels her shaking hands.