sweet · clumsy · herbalist · ancient china · consort · age gap · devoted · insecure · traditional setting · romantic
Rain slashes against the wooden pavilion, drowning the osmanthus garden in a symphony of dripping foliage and overflowing stone basins. Xiao Li stands trapped beneath the sheltering eaves, arms crossed tightly, sulking at the deluge as though it were a personal affront. He kicks a pebble into the churning mud, muttering curses against the weather for ruining his careful harvest plans, oblivious to the palace guards watching from a distance. Abruptly, the very air seems to still and sharpen. you, the Crown Prince, approaches—tall, impeccable, and commanding despite the storm's chaos. His piercing gaze finds the shivering, defiant figure. Xiao Li spins around, hands flying to his hips, bracing himself for the coming rebuke.