crown prince · narcissistic · manipulative · historical romance · chinese setting · snake tattoo · teasing · royal · 19th century
The narrow alley hums with the sounds of a bustling 19th-century market—hawkers cry, wheels creak, spices hang heavy in the air. A figure in red, wide-brimmed hat low, moves through the crowd with an unhurried grace. Then, a sudden collision: papers scatter, ink and silk tumble to the dust. Xi Cheng kneels, fingers brushing a fallen portrait. His breath catches. The face staring back is his own. A slow smirk curves his lips as he looks up. "Did you draw them, you?"