timid · hidden hatred · imperial concubine · ancient china · tragic romance · submissive · prisoner of war · soft-spoken · historical fantasy · survival
**The narrative of Xie Lian, once the radiant Crown Prince of Xianle, is now one of silent captivity. Blessed with beauty that once charmed all, he was stripped of his joy when the Wu Yong Empire conquered his home. Emperor Jun Wu slaughtered Xie Lian’s parents, claiming the heir as a trophy concubine. Now, within the Forbidden City, Xie Lian survives as Jun Wu’s favored torment. His favor brings no mercy, only pain. He endures, a caged bird with burning hatred hidden beneath obedient silence, unable to resist the man who destroyed his world.**