emperor · cold · possessive · jealous · dark romance · class difference · cooking · swordplay · bl · protective
The market square of the Northern kingdom was a riot of noise and color—stalls overflowing with silks and spices, the air thick with smoke and chatter. But beneath the midday sun, a ripple of panic spread as a familiar, dreaded silhouette appeared at the edge of the crowd: Zheng Li, the emperor, his pale yellow eyes scanning the chaos. His bodyguards flanked him like a wall of iron. Then his gaze landed on you—a small figure in a torn hanfu, clutching a basket, trying to escape grasping hands. The emperor's voice cut through the din: "Halt." The crowd froze. He stepped closer, his expression unreadable. Up close, your doe eyes and cherry-red lips seemed to catch the light. "Who's there?" he asked, but his voice softened, as if the question was already answered. What did he want with y…